Speculation: EDM Trades
- Thread starter TFHockey
- Start date
I don't know what is supposed to mean. Certainly Edmonton fans weren't aware Kane planned to go under the knife to fix his knee. He is still recuperating from his abdominal surgery. He hadn't been on the ice yet.
Captain Mountain
Formerly Captain Wolverine
- Jun 6, 2010
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We still don't know if Kane will be back or not prior to the playoffs.
And what's the speculation? That the Oilers will go small/medium game hunting at the deadline? They were going to do that regardless.
And what's the speculation? That the Oilers will go small/medium game hunting at the deadline? They were going to do that regardless.
ManofSteel55
Registered User
The Oilers SHOULD be looking for the following.
1) 2nd pair defenseman, ideally a right shot, but doesn't have to be, as long as he can play right side - to play with Nurse. Troy Stecher is a fine (albeit undersized) defenseman, but he shouldn't be on a starting top six heading into the playoffs. I wonder if Luke Schenn might be an answer to this riddle Edmonton seems to always face. He's not a long term option of course, but could be a good upgrade for this year.
2) Goalie upgrade - There aren't many goalies out there, and nobody who is a huge upgrade on Skinner that doesn't come with a cap hit we likely don't want to deal with, so I'm hoping that Edmonton can make a move for one of Utah's goalie's. I've like Karel Vejmelka for years, but he's having another great year and looks like he may be the better option for UHC to hang on to long term. I'd be interested in Connor Ingram as well, but he's struggled this year. He was solid last season though, so maybe he can rebound. Part of me is interested in the rebound possibility of John Gibson, but that's a hefty gamble even at 50% cap hit.
3) physical depth defenseman - mostly this is me hoping for a Josh Brown upgrade prior to the playoffs, even if he is our #7/8 ideally.
4) 4C faceoff specialist - this is less important due to our depth at forward, but I wouldn't mind trading for a 3C who we can play as our 4C.
1) 2nd pair defenseman, ideally a right shot, but doesn't have to be, as long as he can play right side - to play with Nurse. Troy Stecher is a fine (albeit undersized) defenseman, but he shouldn't be on a starting top six heading into the playoffs. I wonder if Luke Schenn might be an answer to this riddle Edmonton seems to always face. He's not a long term option of course, but could be a good upgrade for this year.
2) Goalie upgrade - There aren't many goalies out there, and nobody who is a huge upgrade on Skinner that doesn't come with a cap hit we likely don't want to deal with, so I'm hoping that Edmonton can make a move for one of Utah's goalie's. I've like Karel Vejmelka for years, but he's having another great year and looks like he may be the better option for UHC to hang on to long term. I'd be interested in Connor Ingram as well, but he's struggled this year. He was solid last season though, so maybe he can rebound. Part of me is interested in the rebound possibility of John Gibson, but that's a hefty gamble even at 50% cap hit.
3) physical depth defenseman - mostly this is me hoping for a Josh Brown upgrade prior to the playoffs, even if he is our #7/8 ideally.
4) 4C faceoff specialist - this is less important due to our depth at forward, but I wouldn't mind trading for a 3C who we can play as our 4C.
This wouldn't shock me, but I hope it doesn't happen. Stecher has been just as good beside Nurse as Ceci has been in the past. We need someone better than Ceci.
Understandable to want someone better than Ceci. If you're looking for a 4C faceoff specialist, Nico Sturm should be available as a rental for like a 4th or 5th round pick.
ManofSteel55
Registered User
I do. I'm not sure if our management does though. We look set at C with McDavid, Draisaitl, Henrique and Janmark, but I'd prefer to have Janmark as LW and someone a bit better at faceoffs at 4C. Our wing depth is so strong at the moment though that I'm not sure who comes out if Janmark moves over.
Is there a particular reason that you feel like Derek Ryan isn't working out for that 4C faceoff role?
ChaoticOrange
Registered User
We really, really don't want Ceci back. At any price.
as for the OP, I think Edmonton looks for the following:
Priority 1: 2nd pairing RD
Priority 2: top 6 winger
Priority 3: (if 1 doesn't happen) 3rd pairing puckmoving LD
Priority 4: Calvin Pickard upgrade
1 is pretty self explanatory.
2 isn't, so I'll get into it. Knob hates Jeff Skinner and the wheels are absolutely coming off of RNH 5v5. He's glued to McDavid and is getting outproduced by the likes of Connor Brown and Podkolzin.
3 - if RD prices are too high, Nurse-Kulak has worked pretty well for long stretches as a 2nd pair. We'd then need to create a strong 3rd pair with Emberson on the right side and Stecher as the 7th D.
as for 4, I think management is set with Skinner, even if fans aren't. We need to upgrade Pickard though, he's been pretty humdrum despite getting virtually all of the soft starts, which is harder on Skinner because then he takes all the tough ones.
It's a pretty straightforward reason - he's cooked. His boots are gone and he's having a hard time keeping up with the play. We also have a young guy, Noah Philp, who's much bigger and faster pushing in the AHL for his job
ManofSteel55
Registered User
He's lost a few steps in terms of his footspeed. He's such a smart player, but it looks like his physical tools are starting to slip a bit. I'd much rather have him available as an injury fill in, than as a day in, day out player at this point.
EDIT - ChaoticOrange beat me to it. I was trying to be nice, but CO is on the money.
Makes sense as it relates to Ceci. You typically don't pay a 3rd to get rid of a guy that you'll pay to bring back. Would you want Sturm for a 5th in '26 then?
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Evans and Savard are good depth center and RD options for the Oilers. Not sure how much Evans is asking for an extension but something tells me he is after a 5 year deal and the Habs can only offer 3 years in term.
Evans is a very solid 200' center who is very good on faceoffs. Savard on the bottom pairing is a perfect spot for him IMO. Both have playoff experience and know what they got to bring to the table for the team.
Local media speculates Kane is out until the playoffs. That's the speculation. They might actually have the cap room to make something happen.
Oh gawd. No.
I read Lowetide's piece on RNH and I was dismayed at what he wrote. Nuge has to step it up. He can't have a season like this. So you're right, a top six winger. UGH.
And yeah Noah Philp should already be in the NHL. It's a shame that Derek Ryan is taking up his roster spot.
Faulk carries a hefty contract. Three years at $6.5 Million. I don't know if the Oilers can absorb him into the line up without some big time retention.
ChaoticOrange
Registered User
Evans is solid and Edmonton should be interested. Not for the prices Habs fans want though.
Savard isn't needed or wanted. Emberson is doing a solid job as 3RD for us and playing a lot of PK. We also have Stecher as another 3RD. We need guys that can play higher in the lineup and that isn't 2025 Savard.
I like Sturm. He'd be a good option at 4C, plus having another German would be cool.
ChaoticOrange
Registered User
Ideally the Oilers get a goalie but I doubt it. Skinner is so overrated by Edmonton fans and media. People praising a goalie that has an under .900 save percentage halfway though the season on a Cup contending team. Definitely a d-man that can play the right side on the second pairing. They also do need a center, even if he is just a 4th line center that can skill penalties, win faceoffs, and has some speed and grit. Maybe Philp from the minors could fill that spot.
ponder719
M-M-M-Matvei and the Jett
ChaoticOrange
Registered User
God he scares the crap out of me. I know he's been decent lately but he and Nurse would be such a tire fire haha
I see Clifton as more of a good bottom pairing guy. Murphy's underlying numbers are terrifying, even with a Chicago tax.
ponder719
M-M-M-Matvei and the Jett
I could absolutely see them both encouraging each other's worst instincts, yeah. I just want the Flyers to actually make some moves in the direction of getting younger, and moving Risto while he's finally showing some measurable grasp on the "defense" part of "defenseman" is a great place to start there.
I am hoping the reason Philp is not in the NHL right now is because he didn't play last season and they want to give him lots of minutes in the AHL rather then play on the 4th line with the Oilers and only play 8 minutes a game. Maybe he gets called up later in the season to finish the year on the Oilers.
