Value of: Julius Honka to the Oilers

[KarmaPolice]

I notice that Honka is again starting in the AHL for the 3rd season in a row. However, he's put up some fine numbers there, and is very good on the PP and has a right-handed shot. All things the Oilers could use.

However, I have no idea how much the Dallas franchise value him. Has he been seen as a disappointment somehow? Are they just really taking their time with his development? Is he realistically available at all? What would the Stars be seeking in return for his services?

For the future, the following top-6 could be very nice for the Oilers.

Klefbom - Larsson
Sekera - Honka
Davidson - Benning

I might consider moving Nurse for him, if you need another young Dman coming back in a potential deal.

What's the knock on Honka? There must be a reason (or reasons) that he's starting in the AHL in what is basically his 21 year old season (which is still very young, mind you). But, as mentioned before, this is now 3 seasons in a row. Is his his smaller size really affecting his defensive play?

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[A91]

While the idea of acquiring Honka is intriguing, Nurse has been excellent in a lessened role this season. You won't find many if any Oil fans who agree with this idea.

 

[Vatican Roulette]

While the idea of acquiring Honka is intriguing, Nurse has been excellent in a lessened role this season. You won't find many if any Oil fans who agree with this idea.

Might be so, I see them on the same level.

 

[Crocoduck]

He's not available, Management are really high on him. There are a few factors as to why he's still playing in Cedar Park. The Stars have too many D on one way deals, at the moment. There are 2 regularly sitting in the press box. Until that is sorted out, he might as well be playing big minutes in the AHL. I have no doubt he'll be getting some time with the Stars at some point later this year. He is by far the Stars best D prospect and I can't see how some here are saying Honka and Nurse are at all similarly valued.

 

[Vatican Roulette]

He's not available, Management are really high on him. There are a few factors as to why he's still playing in Cedar Park. The Stars have too many D on one way deals, at the moment. There are 2 regularly sitting in the press box. Until that is sorted out, he might as well be playing big minutes in the AHL. I have no doubt he'll be getting some time with the Stars at some point later this year. He is by far the Stars best D prospect and I can't see how some here are saying Honka and Nurse are at all similarly valued.

Because Nurse is a top defensive prospect around the league, just like Honka.

 

[Crocoduck]

Because Nurse is a top defensive prospect around the league, just like Honka.

Honka is more well rounded. He may not have the size of nurse, but he does play physical, while actually having a better offensive and defensive game. Nurse really only has size on him. Add in that he is the ultra coveted right handed d, I dont see them equally valued.

 

[Vatican Roulette]

Honka is more well rounded. He may not have the size of nurse, but he does play physical, while actually having a better offensive and defensive game. Nurse really only has size on him. Add in that he is the ultra coveted right handed d, I dont see them equally valued.

To each his own.

 

[Frozen Failure]

And Dallas would be insane to even entertain the thought of trading Honka. The knock is too many D on one ways, John Klingberg, and the fact that there isn't a reason to rush him to the NHL quite yet... we're happy with where he is and he'll stay in the AHL until we get rid of some of the older guys in front of him who are getting a shake.

So... this is going to devolve into "how about McDavid" or "Eberle and your next four 1st rounders" or "get out".

Though could they interest you in a lightly used Johnny Oduya or Jamie Oleksiak?

 

[A91]

Honka is more well rounded. He may not have the size of nurse, but he does play physical, while actually having a better offensive and defensive game. Nurse really only has size on him. Add in that he is the ultra coveted right handed d, I dont see them equally valued.

Watch the next Oiler game and see for yourself why they are equally valued. The knock on Nurse has always been he overcomplicates things, this season he has taken a simple approach. By doing so he looks much better defensively, has scored some key goals and key plays offensively, and is extremely physical. In reality most would agree with the statement that Nurse > Honka. However, thats not the point of the thread.

 

[Vatican Roulette]

How would Dallas be insane for dealing Honka?

 

[seafoam]

If Honka wasn't loaned to the WHL by his Finnish club, this would have been his first season in the AHL, so the arugment that's he's not in the NHL after three AHL seasons seems like a ploy to try and downplay the value of him to get message board fans to agree to a prosposal more to your liking.

 

[serp]

Honka is absolutely not available for anything the Oilers want to part with .

He already should be with Dallas but instead of waiving the dead weight we're dragging it around forever.

 

[snipes]

Honka is more well rounded. He may not have the size of nurse, but he does play physical, while actually having a better offensive and defensive game. Nurse really only has size on him. Add in that he is the ultra coveted right handed d, I dont see them equally valued.

Nurse has better skating, strength, physicality, and he's very good on the PK. He's on the first unit PK team and the Oilers are 2nd in PK%. Nurse has looked good this year, vastly improved.

I don't see how you can say an AHLer has more value when he's a tiny Dman who has never even played an NHL game.

 

[Frozen Failure]

How would Dallas be insane for dealing Honka?

Um... because he's a precious commodity? Young talented, cost controlled RD don't exactly get flung around with reckless abandon. We see the prices that teams ask for with their RFAs, why is a guy who is tearing up the AHL and looked pretty good in his NHL pre-season going to even be remotely thought about trade bait?

If he was 24 and floundering the AHL sure, but he's 20, after two solid years in the AHL and likely going to be on the big squad before the year is up.

 

[Crocoduck]

Nurse has better skating, strength, physicality, and he's very good on the PK. He's on the first unit PK team and the Oilers are 2nd in PK%. Nurse has looked good this year, vastly improved.

I don't see how you can say an AHLer has more value when he's a tiny Dman who has never even played an NHL game.

Honestly, Have you seen a single game Honka has played since being drafted? He is a great skater, but I'm guessing Nurse is "better" because he won a skating contest against his team mates? Colour me impressed.

 

[me2]

Is he being protected in the expansion draft by Dallas?

 

[Ghost of Kyiv]

Is he being protected in the expansion draft by Dallas?

He is Dallas' 2nd most valuable defensive commodity, so of course we would if we had to. Though he's exempt from the draft so there's no need.

 

[snipes]

Honestly, Have you seen a single game Honka has played since being drafted? He is a great skater, but I'm guessing Nurse is "better" because he won a skating contest against his team mates? Colour me impressed.

Nurse is an elite skater, that's been known for years. His skating is outstanding, that's not to say Honka isn't a good skater as well but he's not on Nurses level.

Nurse isn't a great skater because he won a skating contest, he won a skating contest because he's a great skater.

 

[Crocoduck]

Is he being protected in the expansion draft by Dallas?

Yes, he is exempt. If he wasn't, they don't have many D on their roster that they'd need to protect. Klingberg, Johns and Lindell are all that are worth protecting Oduya will be a UFA, and Jordie, Oleksiak, Nemeth and Hamhuis will be exposed.

 

[Ghost of Kyiv]

I notice that Honka is again starting in the AHL for the 3rd season in a row. However, he's put up some fine numbers there, and is very good on the PP and has a right-handed shot. All things the Oilers could use.

However, I have no idea how much the Dallas franchise value him. Has he been seen as a disappointment somehow? Are they just really taking their time with his development? Is he realistically available at all? What would the Stars be seeking in return for his services?

For the future, the following top-6 could be very nice for the Oilers.

Klefbom - Larsson
Sekera - Honka
Davidson - Benning

I might consider moving Nurse for him, if you need another young Dman coming back in a potential deal.

What's the knock on Honka? There must be a reason (or reasons) that he's starting in the AHL in what is basically his 21 year old season (which is still very young, mind you). But, as mentioned before, this is now 3 seasons in a row. Is his his smaller size really affecting his defensive play?

This doesn't really come across as an honest inquiry about Honka. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd go so far as to say this is just you intentionally trying to downplay his value. But, I'm sure it's just coming across that way completely by accident.

 

[Joey Moss]

Nurse for Honka before the season would be a no go.. considering some glimpses he's shown this season and especially last game against Toronto it's a hell no. See if he keeps it up, but no reason to move Nurse for Honka right now. Although Honka would definitely help us.

 

[me2]

He is Dallas' 2nd most valuable defensive commodity, so of course we would if we had to. Though he's exempt from the draft so there's no need.

I thought this was his 3rd year in the AHL. Checked it is. So I'm guessing it is assumed the NHL is going to not count slide years.

 

[serp]

I thought this was his 3rd year in the AHL. Checked it is. So I'm guessing it is assumed the NHL is going to not count slide years.

Time in the AHL doesn't count for expansion as long as you are still eligible for junior while playing there. Pretty much only will effect european players.

 

[Ghost of Kyiv]

I thought this was his 3rd year in the AHL. Checked it is. So I'm guessing it is assumed the NHL is going to not count slide years.

Yeah, they don't count. Stars hockey ops confirmed it over the summer too.

 

[teddygmr]

Oilers would be smart to acquire Ryan Murphy. He is now healthy and Dregger reported a few days ago that a few teams have inquired on him. Justin Faulk gets all the prime PP time for the Canes and they also have Pesce and Nakladal as right shooting dmen.
Murphy 23, needs a change of scenery. He has 65 points in 82 AHL games and 35 points in 125 NHL games with limited ice time. In the right situation, he can use his vision, shot and skating to run a pp.
I wonder where he will land?