Rumor: Rumors & Proposals Thread | Where's The Beef?

[McAsuno]

I see what you’re saying- but who cares at this point in time. All chips in. I’ll worry about our cupboards in 4-5 years when those prospects would have been ready to play…if they make it. Draft picks are overrated outside the first round.


Love it!

I'm in favor of going all in for a player like EK65, brother.
I just don't see him as a realistic target or would the Oilers give up the cupboards to that extent for him either. I already feel like with the extra money the Oilers have after putting Kane on the shelf to recover, they'll use it to fill the holes in the lineup starting with Top 4 D.

 

[Jarvi]

I'm in favor of going all in for a player like EK65, brother.
I just don't see him as a realistic target or would the Oilers give up the cupboards to that extent for him either. I already feel like with the extra money the Oilers have after putting Kane on the shelf to recover, they'll use it to fill the holes in the lineup starting with Top 4 D.

In regards to whether the team is willing to give up a ton for 1 guy; I would hope they would at least consider it depending on how a few of our guys are looking come deadline. If there was a player to swing for, it would be either Rasmus Andersson or a retained heavily EK65.

Like if Philp looks great as 4c, that's one need checked off. There is also rumblings of Savoie getting a look, say he shows he can score and play responsibly in the top 9, well that adds to our wing depth. I think both guys are very close if not at that level. Stauff was raving about Savoie's defensive game, and he is 2nd in pts on the Condors.

If you bring in a guy who can be a top 4 D for a couple seasons, where are we weak?

Nuge-McD-Hyman
Podz-Drai-Arvy
Skinner-Henrique-Savoie
Janmark-Philp-Brown
Perry-Ryan-Kapanen
Kane

Ek-Bouch
Nurse-EK65
Kulak-Emberson
Stecher-Brown



Who goes out if you bring someone in? I'm assuming most would say Skinner, but that may be difficult and I would like to see him given another honest look in the top 6 before we create a mess for ourselves to clean up.

I'd say if we can get Skinner looking reasonable, and Philp shows well, we can swing for the fences on D. Our two needs after that would be a #8 LH Dman and imo, a backup G. Fairly low risk if we can't fill those holes for cheap. And for next year, as long as we can resign Bouch we should be fine.

This is the year for the team to go all in, imo.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Unless you're also sending Bouch out the door, I don't see how Karlsson fits.

It's well proven he doesn't perform anywhere near his best when he's forced to share the offensive spotlight.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

If you're wanting a secondary option for offence from the blueline behind Bouchard, then Klingberg on the cheap makes far more sense than EK65. (even if he isn't my favourite target)

Ekholm-Bouch
Nurse-Emberson/Kulak(same setup as what we see now with Stecher)
Kulak-Klingberg

One big plus to Klingberg is this is a role Minny brought him in for back in 22/23, and he looked good in it.

Also if Naturalstattrick is to be believed, he actually spent most of those playoffs on his offside with a rookie Faber. So if you want to ride with Nurse-Kulak, Klingberg-Emberson is possible. (Similar to the Stecher-Emberson paring we see currently)

 

[McFlyingV]

Klingberg at league min makes a lot of sense. Provides depth and you have 1-2 months to try him out and see if he can be a #4 option with Nurse. If not you have another depth piece on the blue line if you need it.

 

[stewy04]

Ahem... while were on the subject of poor defensive analytics defenceman. Can I just say that two Pens fans have accepted my offer for EK65 @ 50% ($5M). And have even said that my offer (doable with our assets) was TOO much to offer for Karlsson and Dubas would probably take less. I often over-offer on the mains just to see where a fanbase sits on a player instead of trying to fleece them and get instant nos. I think there's a path to EK65 if the Oilers decide to explore it. By the time we add EK65 we wont even NEED to defend

View attachment 961335

What was your offer?

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Good. The cost will be MUCH less then. Even better for us. And I think we can get Ek65 for less than my offer. A 1st for sure needs to go and a prospect in Akey. Maybe take out a 2nd and a 3rd then.

My offer retains Savoie and Sam O Reilly who I will NOT part with. I think that's decent for our cupboards moving forward.

Keep in mind we are getting EK65 for 2 1/2 Years. And are asking Pitts to eat $5M for 2 years. That's a pretty sizeable retention too. And it's a premium position RHD that we haven't filled for a decade for a premium player with Norris's under his belt. Gotta pay to get.

I would definitely either remove a 2nd/3rd or akey.

But keeping Savoie is huge

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Get Pettersson and O'Connor

 

[foshizzle]

I'm in favor of going all in for a player like EK65, brother.
I just don't see him as a realistic target or would the Oilers give up the cupboards to that extent for him either. I already feel like with the extra money the Oilers have after putting Kane on the shelf to recover, they'll use it to fill the holes in the lineup starting with Top 4 D.

Totally get what you’re saying and in the past I have felt the same, ironically, when the Oilers signed Kane- but EK65 is just too perfect of a fit. Plus they still have their salary accrual, and, if they can dump J Skinner- they can round out the roster using the freed up cap. This year won’t be a problem- but in the offseason they will need to make some moves to accommodate EK’s salary

 

[McDoused]

Because they take up roster spots? You want to lose Stecher to waivers for the chance that Klingberg can tread water? Klingberg couldn't defend before he was injured.



I didn't make any personal attacks on anyone and don't appreciate that narrative. I'm allowed to voice my opinion here.

Care to name some examples of mid players missing entire years and making immediate impacts?

It's not like he was run through the boards and that caused him to have hip issues. This is likely something that was bothering him and lead to some of poor play. The truth is, we don't know how much it impacted him and the only way to find out is by going down that road and trying.

That's fair. I apologize for suggesting that you do. Maybe you don't complain about how stupid our management is for not doing x, y, z but there are a lot of posters here who do. Management is constantly getting criticized and fake GM's think they can do better without actually offering any alternatives.

Evander Kane worked out pretty well, didn't he?

We wouldn't lose Stetcher out the gate, he would be our 7th defenceman (where he would be properly slotted). I have no issue with losing Derek Ryan and Josh Brown. Might as well test drive Klingberg for free. If he works out great, you've upgraded. If not, you waive/bury him and bring in someone better like you were planning to do anyways. If he works out and you still want to add a dmen, then you've upgraded on stetcher and would then waive him to add in another legit top 4 dman. Having said that, this is is bound to happen regardless of who you bring in.

 

[McDoused]

You didn’t say anything about offer sheets. What I was saying is the thought that somehow Bouchard not scoring at last years pace will somehow reduce his negotiating power. It won’t. He’s an RFA and if Oilers lowball like they did Broberg/Holloway, there will be team waiting to throw an offer sheet at him.


Dude, I want EK65 so bad. He is the perfect fit.

Bouchard putting up less points and playing worse than last year should absolutely bring down his ask. I've taken classes on negotiations in business, and we will have to disagree about this one.

The Oilers aren't trying to lowball Bouchard. They are likely trying to get Bouchard to sign a maximum term contract. I wouldn't compare his situation to that of Broberg or Holloway. Both of those players were squeezed (which is what most GM's do to their RFA's) as offer sheets in the past have been rare. Going forward, the price of RFA's might tend to go up now and drive up their leverage in negotiations. For Bouchard you are looking at production and comparable on what it would cost to extend him on a long-term deal.

 

[barry halls]

I'd rather they sign Klingberg at league min to replace Josh Brown than trade a 1st rounder for Ristolainen, that would be a brutal trade. If they're trading the 2026 pick they need to get someone like Ratmus for it.

 

[CupofOil]

Everyone come boo Greg Wyshynski. He's stirring shit up by questioning if McDavid will sign here. "When Draisaitl signed we all thought McDavid would and I don't believe that to be the case."

Well, here's the thing.... Wyshynski is an idiot.

 

[oilers4life5]

Why is J brown still up with the team eating cap space?

 

[alphahelix]

Bouchard putting up less points and playing worse than last year should absolutely bring down his ask. I've taken classes on negotiations in business, and we will have to disagree about this one.

The Oilers aren't trying to lowball Bouchard. They are likely trying to get Bouchard to sign a maximum term contract. I wouldn't compare his situation to that of Broberg or Holloway. Both of those players were squeezed (which is what most GM's do to their RFA's) as offer sheets in the past have been rare. Going forward, the price of RFA's might tend to go up now and drive up their leverage in negotiations. For Bouchard you are looking at production and comparable on what it would cost to extend him on a long-term deal.

RFA contracts exploded in cost and term YEARS before this situation occurred. The only players that sign their qualifying offers anymore are guys who havent proven anything yet and probably arent elite players. Plus there have been plenty of offer sheets over the years, just not for bums on qualifying offers or for players who everyone knows the team is willing to sign a blank cheque to retain.

The guys that get offer sheeted are the ones who are high draft picks with recent runs of success that the team isnt yet willing to commit to completely due to small track record. Yknow, players like Holloway and Broberg, quite predictably.

 

[North]

Well, here's the thing.... Wyshynski is an idiot.

He’s a Mickey Mouse sportswriter.

 

[Louis Cypher]

My wish list is:
1. Veteran Goalie for insurance
2. Right shot D with size and some puck moving ability.
3. Right shot Center with some size.
4. Some size, speed and grit for the bottom 6.
5. 1 extra Dman for the playoffs.

 

[K1984]

I feel like the Kraken would be a good place to one stop shop.

If we got Oleksiak + Gourde in a deal this team would shoot to the moon. That package would cost a lot, but we would be as loaded up with depth in all skater positions as any team I can remember. Gourde and Kane on the same line would be awesome. I think we could use a "distraction" line and they would definitely be it.

 

[soothsayer]

I'd rather they sign Klingberg at league min to replace Josh Brown than trade a 1st rounder for Ristolainen, that would be a brutal trade. If they're trading the 2026 pick they need to get someone like Ratmus for it.

If they were to bring in Klingberg, I don't think it's Brown he'd be replacing. It would be Stetcher.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I feel like the Kraken would be a good place to one stop shop.

If we got Oleksiak + Gourde in a deal this team would shoot to the moon. That package would cost a lot, but we would be as loaded up with depth in all skater positions as any team I can remember. Gourde and Kane on the same line would be awesome. I think we could use a "distraction" line and they would definitely be it.

Does Oleksiak ever play RD? We'd definitely be a lot harder to play against with those 2.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

If they were to bring in Klingberg, I don't think it's Brown he'd be replacing. It would be Stetcher.

I really like Stetcher as our #7 but it definitely seems like he is the odd man out. I'm not even sure why Brown is here unless it's to try and showcase him for a trade or to see if he's serviceable as our #7.

 

[NeverForget06]

I cannot be convinced that Klingberg is better for this team than Troy Stetcher, sorry

If he is our solution to the second pair we are boned lol

 

[K1984]

Does Oleksiak ever play RD? We'd definitely be a lot harder to play against with those 2.

I think he does and can play RD, but not 100% sure how often or how well.

A pair with him and Nurse would just be a bitch to play against. Two massive players that can skate.

 

[soothsayer]

I feel like the Kraken would be a good place to one stop shop.

If we got Oleksiak + Gourde in a deal this team would shoot to the moon. That package would cost a lot, but we would be as loaded up with depth in all skater positions as any team I can remember. Gourde and Kane on the same line would be awesome. I think we could use a "distraction" line and they would definitely be it.

Gourde's game has really declined lately, so I would be hesitant on him. Oleksiak might be a sleeper target for Edmonton, but that would mean Kulak would be slotted on the right side going forward, which might be okay. It sounds like the Oilers are looking at another puck mover, in which case they might look to add another D in addition to Oleksiak. Maybe that could be Klingberg.

Anyways, I am a big fan of Oleksiak and would be interested to see how bringing him in would work.

 

[oXo Cube]

Mentioned this yesterday, but given the amount of reported interest I think we would have to assume Klingberg would get claimed off waivers.

So we can't sign him as a #8 and we can't play him as a #4 if we're serious about contending. So you either play him as the #6 which means Emberson is the #4(bad idea) or you waive Stetcher and use him as the #7.

I don't like that last idea either but you could probably make an argument he's at least potentially a better player than Stetcher, and that Troy has a non-zero shot at making it through waivers.