Stupid question...
I guess the track record says otherwise, but... is it a stupid idea for Edmonton to attempt to trade Smith instead of Koskinen? Or are you guys seriously thinking that you retain Smith because there's a higher chance he randomly becomes good in the playoffs?
I was thinking that something along the lines of sending Smith back to Arizona to make the room for the starter goalie you acquire could make sense.
But, if you seriously cannot access a proper 1G I think it's worth taking a gamble rather than stand pat. In that case, keeping Smith to mentor a younger ish goalie on the cusp of breaking out makes sense.
If I'm the Oilers, if no 1G, I think Vejmelka is someone I'd attempt to buy early to see if he breaks out, but in such a scenario, I think keeping Smith to mentor the goalies would make sense. When the Flames absolutely peppered the dude, I was impressed by his composure. I also wouldn't directly look at his SV%. Dude's tandem/mentor in Arizona is Scott Wedgewood. Nothing against Wedgewood, but that guy is pretty young as well. A guy like Smith could help boost Vejmelka in the same way he did with Rittich and his age could mean injuries are (silver lining) an opportunity for the young guys to get playing time and more time for Smith to heal from injuries and more time to mentor. Even if it's a flash in the pan like Rittich, I think Edmonton fans would be happy with that end result for the coming two seasons if they seriously cannot access any top 15 starter via trade or otherwise. Rittich was relatively close on par with Binnington during the regular season that Binnington got super hot and won the cup. I honestly though both guys were on par with each other and it's strangely coincidental that both guys are struggling at the same time. (Rittich's downfall started earlier though as a mental part of his game and IIRC a portion related a little to him worrying about getting playing time and another contract). It's honestly a reasonable gamble for the next two seasons vs standing pat.
ie:
Koskinen + Klefbom (IR) + X for Vejmelka?
Smith + Vejmelka/Skinner this season and next season. It might not be a guaranteed top 15 tandem, but I think it has the chance of being ranked somewhere between 10-20.
Vejmelka/Skinner for the seasons after in a platoon. (Rolling the dice for a tandem comparable to Merzlikins/Korpisalo)
Also unlocks some cap space from both Koskinen and Klefbom... maybe to shore up the D?
Hell, why not blow your load on Chychrun? Top 4 and grit. Him and Nurse together in the top 4 could help make that D corps more respectable. If you cannot get that top starter, shore up the defense as you go.
Koskinen + Klefbom (IR) + X + X + X for Vejmelka + Chychrun?
(Conceptually, although it failed for the Flames, it was like what we did idea wise with our acquisition of Smith + Hamonic when our attempts to acquire certain goalies fell through around the time of the expansion draft)
Nurse - Bouchard
Chychrun - Ceci
Broberg/NM/Lag/Keith - Barrie
Vejmelka - Smith - Skinner
I still think it's worth the Oilers putting together an eye watering package to attempt to shake someone free that isn't normally in the rumor mill. But if that fails, I think Arizona makes a ton of sense as a trade partner. Heck, the Yotes might also be able to help the Oilers round out their roster a little as well.
