Rumor: Rumors & Proposals Thread | Y'all Got Any Good Goalies?

[Dirk Dangler]

I think everyone's expecting Philp to be that Ryan upgrade.

I'm interested to see how the defense shapes out when we get to the deadline. We're 10th in the NHL in expected goals against with Ekholm-Bouchard as the 22nd worst pairing for expected goals against per 60. Nurse-Kulak have been killing it, and Emberson has been getting better each game.
I'm not sure how much better we can make it.

Philp should not be the plan. We don’t need a raw rookie with 20-30 NHL games under his belt going into the playoffs. The smart play here is trading for McCarron. Really finishes off this forward group nicely.

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

Never disagreed with that. But the results show that McLeod put up significantly better defensive numbers with the 2023-24 Oilers than Henrique did on the 2024-25 Oilers despite this current team actually having better defensive structure and support, and the eye test would suggest this too with how often McLeod was the guy carrying the puck out for us. It's possible that Henrique plays better as the year progresses, but until he does we've gotten ourselves a downgrade at 3C.

I was the biggest McLeod supporter on the board, but he isn't better than Henrique defensively, the fundamentals of Henrique's defensive game and defensive awareness is markedly better, what McLeod did better was drive possession (mainly through leveraging his skating advantage offensively and defensively) which is what is actually being shown in his analytics.

What I have been arguing for this year is we need to target an upgrade to pair with Henrique who helps him with zone entries and helps stimulate offense and zone possession for his line. Henrique still has offensive chops, but he needs a straw that stirs the drink.

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

McLeod was miles better on Draisaitl's wing than he was as a center.

It was mutually beneficial McLeod and Drai's best GF% was with each other, as Podz has shown Drai benefits from having someone who can help drive puck possession and stimulate turnovers. Podz is winning puck battles through strength & effort and McLeod was winning puck battles through being first to pucks or just not losing the puck in the first place through clean zone entries.

McLeod was a quality center what his line struggled with was always translating big puck possession advantages into quality offense and Drai has zero problem drastically improving the quality of offense on any line he is on.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

I’m sorry, but what? You have Mcdavid, Drai, RNH, Henrique, not including Ryan. It’s nice to have depth, but why in the world would you use another 1st and 2nd to upgrade centre?

Defence, specifically RHD should be the top priority. Shut down RHD being more would be preferred. We do not need another “top 6 centre” unless we come across longterm injuries. It’d a waste of draft capital and a waste of cap space. Neither of which we can afford to lose.

Trade for a RHD with cap friendly term. Or an upgrade in goal, if the right deal comes along. Bad take.

So funny enough the Oilers will probably trade for a LHD. (maybe RHD)
And they will trade for a 4c and upgrade Ryan. Honestly it wasn't that bad of a take.

 

[Scrapin Ice]

I was the biggest McLeod supporter on the board, but he isn't better than Henrique defensively, the fundamentals of Henrique's defensive game and defensive awareness is markedly better, what McLeod did better was drive possession (mainly through leveraging his skating advantage offensively and defensively) which is what is actually being shown in his analytics.

What I have been arguing for this year is we need to target an upgrade to pair with Henrique who helps him with zone entries and helps stimulate offense and zone possession for his line. Henrique still has offensive chops, but he needs a straw that stirs the drink.

Burnt what a NICE THING to say. LOL.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

He is saying we have a bunch of passengers while McDrai win us games.

Sure, but it's both not true and it's not like they were playing the the Oilers. The Oilers are rent free in Vancouver, it's great.

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

There will be no 4C trade this year, the upgrade is Philp. They are giving Ryan a chance to continue his career, while the younger Philp gets his game up to speed in the AHL.

Assets and cap is better off sorting out the D and goalies. Something like a 4/5D and a 1B.

Don't agree at all. Just because he's a shiny new toy doesn't mean he is the answer.

 

[JarvisFunk]

I don't think we can or should bank on that, because one injury would mean dressing Brown full-time with no proven NHL depth beyond that now that Dermott has been claimed.

Ideally we enter the playoffs with this sort of formation:

Ek-Bouchard
Nurse-?
Kulak-Stecher
Emberson

I don't think Emberson could complain too much about being a black ace given he's never played an NHL playoff game in his life and is the clear #6 right now. Provorov, Pettersson, Andersson, Matheson, Carlo, Borgen, Murphy, Jensen, Ferraro, Carrier and Liljegren are all players I would kick tires on for different reasons. Even if none of them turn into an Ekholm-level player (and that's a big ask obivously) they all represent something different we could use for a Cup push.

Emberson>>Stetcher

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Emberson>>Stetcher

He's taller, but this hasn't been my experience. Once they get a guy to play above both, they'll likely rotate.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

I took this to mean, "my team is shitty garbage compared to the Oilers."

More like Quinn Hughes isn't close to having the impact on a game either of mcdavid draisailt have.

 

[Scrapin Ice]

He's taller, but this hasn't been my experience. Once they get a guy to play above both, they'll likely rotate.

This likely true Jimmy. However we might send one of the two back in the trade (if its a trade). Do you have a preference for the upgrade (I take it that its the third pair) -- RD or LD? Do you have an opinion on Ragu? Would he be any kind of improvement on either longer term or is he just a piece of muck we will throw and see if it sticks?

 

[Burnt Biscuits]

Philp should not be the plan. We don’t need a raw rookie with 20-30 NHL games under his belt going into the playoffs. The smart play here is trading for McCarron. Really finishes off this forward group nicely.

IMO McCarron is more of a RW than he is a center, so I don't think he should really be seen as a D. Ryan replacement.

I want to see Philp actually get a string of games before deciding, but Philp does have a style of game that I wouldn't be surprised if he was very steady and stable even as a rookie.

Also Philp is an old rookie at 26 and McCarron while being a known name for a long time at 29 yrs old, he's only been an effective hockey player for roughly 2 seasons worth of games and last season was his first playoff appearance and was a cumulative -7 with 0 points in 9 GP.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

This likely true Jimmy. However we might send one of the two back in the trade (if its a trade). Do you have a preference for the upgrade (I take it that its the third pair) -- RD or LD? Do you have an opinion on Ragu? Would he be any kind of improvement on either longer term or is he just a piece of muck we will throw and see if it sticks?

Yeah I think they'll get a guy who can both play with Nurse and play in 3LD, and from reading Bruce Curlock, the Oilers might be hoping to sneak Regula down to the Bako, because he probably isn't NHL ready right now and needs to work on some stuff. He's close those I guess.

 

[Scrapin Ice]

Yeah I think they'll get a guy who can both play with Nurse and play in 3LD, and from reading Bruce Curlock, the Oilers might be hoping to sneak Regula down to the Bako, because he probably isn't NHL ready right now and needs to work on some stuff. He's close those I guess.

No need to sneak. Just register a realistic conditioning stint with the league offices. I've watched some tape (what i could find on Ragu)--and already seems to be reasonable defensively and has some transition. Enjoyed the Butler fight in junior. He didn't win but didn't exactly lose but obviously willing against a guy trying to make it as a grit hard to play against guy.

 

[McTonyBrar]

Because even Skinner's biggest backers will admit he is up and down and needs a better 1A/B to push him.

You worry about a D injury, what would happen if Skinner gets hurt?

The Oilers would be left with Pickard having to basically play all the rest of the games and Rodrigue not only has 0 NHL playoff experience, he has 0 NHL experience period. Kid hasn't played even a single period in the NHL. That would be a disaster.

I think Pickard is fine to take over a few games. But, I do think you're right. I think Talbot is not worth trading for again

As it stands now. Mcleod would be providing better value than Henrique at 3M.

That can change if Henriques season starts trending up. And that can change when it matters most in the playoffs.

But Mcleod is getting his points on the second line. Henrique is doing this on the third line

 

[CupofOil]

I’m well aware how old they are. Despite his flaws, Risto has played at a much higher level than Kulak.

When did this happen? Maybe a decade ago.

It makes no sense to give assets and use the cap space on a guy who isn't an upgrade on Kulak. Plus, Risto's style of game would be a horrible fit for Nurse. Just stay away from this guy.

 

[CupofOil]

Definitely get McCarron….what a contrast to Ryan and Henrique. Would really boost the Center depth and give his wingers more space.
I have doubts that Henrique can flip a switch for the playoffs and regain last years’s form. Couple that with Ryan being a non-presence on the ice, it leaves the Center role really wanting.

I don't understand where some of you get this from but it's mind boggling, it's as if you're just looking at a box score and making a judgment on him. Henrique has been very good after a slow start to the season.

Sorry to be a bit harsh but it grinds my gears a bit when people say that Henrique hasn't been good.
He's not scoring goals but he's been arguably the best Oilers defensive forward and is a key part of the PK, his line gives up virtually nothing defensively at even strength. Just because he isn't popping in goals and crunching guys along the boards, that doesn't mean he hasn't been an effective player in his role.