Rumor: Rumors & Proposals Thread | Forwards & Goaltending Under a Microscope, Which Bottom 6 Forwards Do You Keep?

[foshizzle]

You know......it wouldnt surprise me if Toronto took Nurse. They have the cap. They need a Big D. Maybe a Jones-esq trade that Darnell would waive his NM for?

That was my reasoning too. Has cup finals experience and Berube loves his big, rugged D men

 

[MessierII]

Donato and Duchene who both had 30+ goals and 60+ and 80+ points respectively signed $4m and $4.5m contracts respectively for 4 years so I don't see evidence of an inflated market quite yet until we see the Frederic contract lol.

The thing with both those guys is they are really 3rd liners. Donato has never sniffed those numbers before but because Chicago is so awful he managed to play on the top line with Bédard and get PP time. On any other team he’s getting 30 points on the 3rd line. With duchene he’s so god awful in the playoffs he reverts to a 3rd liner and he’s 35 and signed until he’s 39.

 

[Heavy Dee]

 

[K1984]

The problem becomes who are you going to play with Nurse? Like I don’t know who you could acquire that will work with him.

Bottom pair with Stecher.

Make him earn his ice from there.

 

[Shizuka]

Not to put a damper on the rumination and speculation, but Bowman in his year end presser already clearly stated that the D group is set, essentially, and the changes would come in the F core and goaltending (hmm....). I know everyone is eager to see Nurse's albatross contract removed but barring some miraculous occurrences and impeccable timing I don't see that happening. Maybe one guy gets moved off D, if that. Leppanen is a wild card but even though he led the Finnish Liiga in scoring, I don't know if he can transition into an NHL role right away, that's kind of doubtful.

 

[K1984]

This is what Stauffer said word for word

On this note - Bowman did not f*** around after the Hawks got swept in 2016. The results were disastrous, but regardless I don't perceive paralysis by analysis as much of an issue with him.

Right or wrong Ken Holland took an older school holistic approach to roster building. Patience, stability, continuity, etc. There is utility to it, but not as much now as in 2003 when you didn’t have to manage cap. We’ve needed someone ruthless for years, hope we have it now.

 

[Canovin]

If Nurse waives his NMC it's to Toronto so I could see a package around Nurse+Kane for McCabe+ or Rielly+. Preferably McCabe. The Oilers lose toughness but we gain cap space.

Nurse, Kane, Arvid, Skinner x2, Henrique gone, opens a ton of cap space for Oilers to cook.

Sign Fabbro

Ekholm-Bouchard
McCabe-Fabbro
Walman-Kulak

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

Not to put a damper on the rumination and speculation, but Bowman in his year end presser already clearly stated that the D group is set, essentially, and the changes would come in the F core and goaltending (hmm....). I know everyone is eager to see Nurse's albatross contract removed but barring some miraculous occurrences and impeccable timing I don't see that happening. Maybe one guy gets moved off D, if that. Leppanen is a wild card but even though he led the Finnish Liiga in scoring, I don't know if he can transition into an NHL role right away, that's kind of doubtful.

While I also very much doubt the team is moving on from Nurse - it's also possible that since his presser, someone has called with an offer, in which case they could be talking to Darnell and Connor/Leon about it. (Darnell to waive the NMC, and to gauge how Connor and Leon feel).

Again, I very much doubt this is happening - I agree with most posters that it is Arvi-Kane-Henrique - however, it isn't impossible that things have changed this last week.

There are far more teams trying to get better this year than worse, and there aren't many top 4 dmen available in FA. Some teams on the bubble may even like his experience and think they have the proper righty to pair him with,

 

[foshizzle]

This is what Stauffer said word for word

Which means trading Arvidsson would result in more cap July 1 than today. Really a nothing burger

 

[FlameChampion]

Not to put a damper on the rumination and speculation, but Bowman in his year end presser already clearly stated that the D group is set, essentially, and the changes would come in the F core and goaltending (hmm....). I know everyone is eager to see Nurse's albatross contract removed but barring some miraculous occurrences and impeccable timing I don't see that happening. Maybe one guy gets moved off D, if that. Leppanen is a wild card but even though he led the Finnish Liiga in scoring, I don't know if he can transition into an NHL role right away, that's kind of doubtful.

Most GM aren’t going to say what their plan is. Their press conference are kinda useless for the most part. Maybe the most important thing was him saying he expects some change. I also didn’t really get the impression like he thought we were close in the finals.

That being said, I don’t expect him to do much with the defense.

 

[Shizuka]

While I also very much doubt the team is moving on from Nurse - it's also possible that since his presser, someone has called with an offer, in which case they could be talking to Darnell and Connor/Leon about it. (Darnell to waive the NMC, and to gauge how Connor and Leon feel).

Again, I very much doubt this is happening - I agree with most posters that it is Arvi-Kane-Henrique - however, it isn't impossible that things have changed this last week.

There are far more teams trying to get better this year than worse, and there aren't many top 4 dmen available in FA. Some teams on the bubble may even like his experience and think they have the proper righty to pair him with,

Yeah, just trying to provide some perspective because we tend to run away with the speculation in the off season here. It's very doubtful he moves, for all the reasons you cited. There is a small chance I guess, but I really doubt things shift on the back end that much. If anything, it might be Ekholm (but again I doubt it).

As thoroughly disappointed as we are with the result yet again this season, they did reach the finals once more. I'm not sure where else Nurse will get that chance, and he is playing with his friends here. Further to that he has a young family now, not sure if he'd really want to uproot them all and move somewhere else though I suppose it's easier when they are really young like that, and not in school yet? I just do not see it happening.

 

[Wreckus]

Not sure if true or not. Not on X/twitter so someone else will need to confirm.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

Which means trading Arvidsson would result in more cap July 1 than today. Really a nothing burger

How is trading Arvidsson a different approach?

 

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

He's a small 32 year old that put up 3rd line production mostly with one of the premier centers in the league at $4m. If I'm a GM why am I doing the Oilers a favor? What's the selling point of taking Arvidsson at that caphit?
The only GM that I could see taking him for free is Ken Holland ironically, he has a history of taking salary dumps because he doesn't squeeze GMs.

All I'm gonna say is that the LA Kings have 22 million in cap space and Arvidsson is close friends with Adrian Kempe

The Skinner experience may be a mild deterrent to veterans signing here.

Deterring Jeff Skinners and Victor Arvidssons is not a bad thing. You don't want these types of middle pay, low impact passengers. You want guys with a chip on their shoulder, playing their asses off trying to prove something/get recognition/stay in the league. And the Podkolzin/Kapanen/Corey Perry experience will hopefully be a magnet for those kinds of players.

 

[Shizuka]

Ultimately I think it's the predicted moves that will free up the cap space Stauffer was alluding to. Arvidsson and Kane, possibly Henrique as well. Certainly another beyond those two, in order to obtain the aforementioned cap space for Bouchard +. I think all Stauffer might have been referring to was the speed of a Kane deal in particular, something that happens quickly enough that they have the room around July 1st for whomever they are looking at in FA.

 

[FlameChampion]

Yeah, just trying to provide some perspective because we tend to run away with the speculation in the off season here. It's very doubtful he moves, for all the reasons you cited. There is a small chance I guess, but I really doubt things shift on the back end that much. If anything, it might be Ekholm (but again I doubt it).

As thoroughly disappointed as we are with the result yet again this season, they did reach the finals once more. I'm not sure where else Nurse will get that chance, and he is playing with his friends here. Further to that he has a young family now, not sure if he'd really want to uproot them all and move somewhere else though I suppose it's easier when they are really young like that, and not in school yet? I just do not see it happening.

Theres also a chance that Bouchard making $10m forces their hand with Nurse. Because its not really sustainable to create a balanced roster with them making $20m and then McDrai making $30m. Doubtful but we can hope.

 

[foshizzle]

How is trading Arvidsson a different approach?

Reversing decisions from last year and admitting mistakes

 

[Soli]

Not sure if true or not. Non on X/twitter so someone else will need to confirm.

 

[foshizzle]

Ultimately I think it's the predicted moves that will free up the cap space Stauffer was alluding to. Arvidsson and Kane, possibly Henrique as well. Certainly another beyond those two, in order to obtain the aforementioned cap space for Bouchard +. I think all Stauffer might have been referring to was the speed of a Kane deal in particular, something that happens quickly enough that they have the room around July 1st for whomever they are looking at in FA.

Not moving Henrique is inexcusable imho. He has trade value and he has a cheap buy out

 

[Shizuka]

Theres also a chance that Bouchard making $10m forces their hand with Nurse. Because its not really sustainable to create a balanced roster with them making $20m and then McDrai making $30m. Doubtful but we can hope.

That Nurse contract is a boat anchor, and was incredibly stupid (thanks Holland...). But unless some crazy offer comes in for him, and make no mistake it would have to be from the outside as opposed to forces within the organization wanting to move on from him, I personally can't see it happening. They will be tied up to 4 guys taking a huge slice of the salary pie.

 

[Shizuka]

Not moving Henrique is inexcusable imho. He has trade value and he has a cheap buy out

Yeah I'm not a fan of Henrique either honestly but until they nail down their targeted Cs for the bottom 6, I don't know if he moves. They were getting caved in FOs and he was basically the only one holding his head above water. He also PKs, and we know the PK was completely underwater for this entire season and post-season run. The PK really needs help.

 

[oobga]

Seeing people talking about Nurse NMC waive to Toronto here…

 

[Trafalgar Sadge Law]

The thing with both those guys is they are really 3rd liners. Donato has never sniffed those numbers before but because Chicago is so awful he managed to play on the top line with Bédard and get PP time. On any other team he’s getting 30 points on the 3rd line. With duchene he’s so god awful in the playoffs he reverts to a 3rd liner and he’s 35 and signed until he’s 39.

With Matt Duchene in particular. Oilers fans are mad about Frederic's performance in playoffs and rightfully so, but he was still a + player who won his minutes, produced 4 even strength points with a pretty serious injury, plays physical/goes to the dirty areas in front of the net/along the boards, and put up some good defensive numbers in Boston that hopefully weren't due to Boston's system. Matt Duchene had zero, ZERO even strength points in 18 games and set the NHL record for worst +/- in a single playoffs. And it's not just a single season sample size with Duchene either. He has an absolutely laughable 16 even strength points and -17 in 69 career playoff games. All while offering zero physicality, zero grit, zero defensive ability, and zero utility besides faceoffs. To call him a third liner in playoffs is actually overrating him lol. I'm not happy with the Trent Frederic contract but give me Frederic over Duchene all day every day.

 

[McDrai]

Hmmm I’m king of getting a bit nervous re McDavid signing here again. It seems as if he has reservations about signing here due to our team not really being built for long term sustainable success. I can’t blame him as our current window to win it all is fading fast. Time will tell though.

 

[aggressive forecheck]

Not moving Henrique is inexcusable imho. He has trade value and he has a cheap buy out

You can never have too many centers, I'd keep Henrique.