Speculation: The All Encompassing Edmonton Oilers Thread

[Heldig]

McDavid and Leon for Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes and Nemec

Devils say no thanks.

 

[wintersej]

This narrative that the Oilers are actually pretty solid defensively by looking at HDSC, does not match the eye test and quite frankly highlights the limitations and subjectivity about what constitutes a "HDSC" vs what is "an impossible save to make". Not all HDSC are equal.

The Oilers have been *almost perfect with limiting HDSC, until they literally blow a tire and hang their goalies out to dry. It really is unfair that Campbell and Skinner are taking all the blame here when we know it is a team issue. I'm not saying they are good goalies... I'm saying until the Oilers can remove the catastrophic errors, no goalie is going to save them.

I agree but wanted to point out that the Bruins in 2023/24 are not limiting chances nearly as well as last year, and even last year saw a lot more odd man rushes than under Julien/Cassidy.

It's just super duper clear to anyone that watches the Bruins that the goalies are not mere products of the system, and that wasn't an argument I was willing to make about Rask, for instance.

 

[Nico Hischier]

McDavid and Leon for Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes and Nemec

No

If Leon was available, players like nemec, mercer and holtz would be available but neither Hughes

 

[belair]

Arizona has two goalies that are equally capable. So much so that they’re alternating games. Truly taking turns. All season. No riding the hot hand. Not evaluating perform against certain teams. Just 50/50.

That’s a luxury and a nice one. But it’s not sustainable beyond a season or two. They’ll need contracts and clarity before too long. So I do wonder how Arizona plans to eventually resolve this.

Meantime, Arizona has shown a willingness, even a zeal, for taking on bad contracts for assets. My thought was this could be an opportunity for Edmonton to kill two birds with one stone, without having dead cap from a buyout.

My thought was something like a future 1st (2026) for Vejmelka and a 3rd (maybe Edmonton’s own from the Kassian dump). And then also a 1st (maybe 2024) for Campbell. Edmonton simultaneously fixes their goaltending issue, gets out of the Campbell contract, and frees up cap space all in one transaction.

Those are assets that don't need to be spent at the position.

What's also unsustainable is the sub-0.900 goaltending from both Edmonton starters. The fact that both are struggling, giving up an uncharacteristic amount from the high danger areas shows that this is a shorter-term issue that is primarily systemic. These were both goaltenders with a very good track record moving into this season.

The Oilers need a short term patch job at goalie. Someone that can hold the fort with Skinner until Campbell works out his issues in Bakersfield or until they finish the year and the Oilers buy out Campbell.

We're a dozen games into the regular season. The defense is still the Oilers' main priority to improve. If any valuable futures get moved, it'll be to address that organizational need for the longer term.

 

[rt]

Those are assets that don't need to be spent at the position.

What's also unsustainable is the sub-0.900 goaltending from both Edmonton starters. The fact that both are struggling, giving up an uncharacteristic amount from the high danger areas shows that this is a shorter-term issue that is primarily systemic. These were both goaltenders with a very good track record moving into this season.

The Oilers need a short term patch job at goalie. Someone that can hold the fort with Skinner until Campbell works out his issues in Bakersfield or until they finish the year and the Oilers buy out Campbell.

We're a dozen games into the regular season. The defense is still the Oilers' main priority to improve. If any valuable futures get moved, it'll be to address that organizational need for the longer term.

It’s 12 games into the season and yet another head coach has been fired and Jack Campbell is struggling in the AHL. The McDrai window isn’t infinite. Patience would not be my strategy. But im not Ken Holland.

 

[ElPrimeTime]

Arizona has two goalies that are equally capable. So much so that they’re alternating games. Truly taking turns. All season. No riding the hot hand. Not evaluating perform against certain teams. Just 50/50.

That’s a luxury and a nice one. But it’s not sustainable beyond a season or two. They’ll need contracts and clarity before too long. So I do wonder how Arizona plans to eventually resolve this.

Meantime, Arizona has shown a willingness, even a zeal, for taking on bad contracts for assets. My thought was this could be an opportunity for Edmonton to kill two birds with one stone, without having dead cap from a buyout.

My thought was something like a future 1st (2026) for Vejmelka and a 3rd (maybe Edmonton’s own from the Kassian dump). And then also a 1st (maybe 2024) for Campbell. Edmonton simultaneously fixes their goaltending issue, gets out of the Campbell contract, and frees up cap space all in one transaction.

I will agree with the 1st and probably a bit more for Campbell to a team that can try to use this year and can eat the buyout after the season. I'm still finding it difficult to trade a 1st for an unproven goalie. I'm open to sending a 1st for goalies like Saros, but historically, goalies just don't have that kind of value. We had a convo in another thread where we think Andersen to the Leafs was the last goalie traded for a 1st round pick. Andersen was coming off of three straight seasons with an SV% higher than .914 and a playoff run with a .947.

 

[GOilers88]

Arizona has two goalies that are equally capable. So much so that they’re alternating games. Truly taking turns. All season. No riding the hot hand. Not evaluating perform against certain teams. Just 50/50.

That’s a luxury and a nice one. But it’s not sustainable beyond a season or two. They’ll need contracts and clarity before too long. So I do wonder how Arizona plans to eventually resolve this.

Meantime, Arizona has shown a willingness, even a zeal, for taking on bad contracts for assets. My thought was this could be an opportunity for Edmonton to kill two birds with one stone, without having dead cap from a buyout.

My thought was something like a future 1st (2026) for Vejmelka and a 3rd (maybe Edmonton’s own from the Kassian dump). And then also a 1st (maybe 2024) for Campbell. Edmonton simultaneously fixes their goaltending issue, gets out of the Campbell contract, and frees up cap space all in one transaction.

Been a fan of Vejmelka for a couple of seasons now, and wanted the Oilers to go after him when he first broke out in AZ.

I'd make this deal. Vej is signed for a couple more seasons, is a good goalie, and has been a good goalie on a relatively bad team for a couple years now. Team still has next years first and other picks/prospects to use as trade capital, and they get a bit of cap relief in the short term to unload 4 years of Campbell.

I like it.

 

[bucks_oil]

I agree but wanted to point out that the Bruins in 2023/24 are not limiting chances nearly as well as last year, and even last year saw a lot more odd man rushes than under Julien/Cassidy.

It's just super duper clear to anyone that watches the Bruins that the goalies are not mere products of the system, and that wasn't an argument I was willing to make about Rask, for instance.

I think both Ullmark and Swayman are excellent goalies,... but both can be true: they are excellent goalies and the Bruins structure helps them look good.... or more to the point, nobody is going to come into Edmonton and batt 0.930+

PS: A buddy gave me some Loge tickets to the B's game last Thursday... seemed pretty tight defensively to me.

 

[rt]

Been a fan of Vejmelka for a couple of seasons now, and wanted the Oilers to go after him when he first broke out in AZ.

I'd make this deal. Vej is signed for a couple more seasons, is a good goalie, and has been a good goalie on a relatively bad team for a couple years now. Team still has next years first and other picks/prospects to use as trade capital, and they get a bit of cap relief in the short term to unload 4 years of Campbell.

I like it.

That’s along the lines of my thinking.

I figure AZ will need to sell the deal to their core, a bit. They may get the wrong idea that AZ is tanking again. I figure with two more 1sts in the cupboard they can deal a 2nd rounder or two for a roster blueliner they need. From a struggling team needing picks. Someone like Ferraro or Zadorov or Lauzon or something. Someone to help the PK.

Then the roster players like Keller, Schmaltz, Crouse etc see that the team has kept Ingram bit replaced Vejmelka with Campbell as a back up and solidified the blueline as a result. Feels less like a tank move and more of an asset reallocation.

 

[TageGod]

For giggles I will throw in a trade for McDavid:

Power
Mitts
Benson
1st


Blue chip D great C great futures. Mitts re-signs there.

 

[wintersej]

I think both Ullmark and Swayman are excellent goalies,... but both can be true: they are excellent goalies and the Bruins structure helps them look good.... or more to the point, nobody is going to come into Edmonton and batt 0.930+

PS: A buddy gave me some Loge tickets to the B's game last Thursday... seemed pretty tight defensively to me.

I don’t think we are really disagreeing, but thanks for making what I was trying to get across more clear!

 

[belair]

It’s 12 games into the season and yet another head coach has been fired and Jack Campbell is struggling in the AHL. The McDrai window isn’t infinite. Patience would not be my strategy. But im not Ken Holland.

It's not about patience, it's about identifying and addressing the root cause. Not overcorrecting a symptom. There are always teams willing to 'help' out a team in a skid.

 

[Satan]

Edmonton trades:

• Connor McDavid

Dallas trades:

• Roope Hintz (ppg 1st line C signed for another 7 years at a sweetheart of a deal, won't completely replace McDavid's offensive production but his defensive game is solid and he can skate like the wind and dresses very nicely)
• Mavrik Bourque (NHL ready prospect, former 1st rounder, can be reunited with Xavier Bourgault in future)
• Lian Bichsel (Soon to be NHL ready, recent 1st rounder,, a type of D man that Oilers org is missing)
• 2024 1st Round Pick (why not eh)

Stars would have to make more room to take on McDavid's contract this year but Ken Holland keeps his hockey circles tight and makes a trade with his old pal Jim Nill.

 

[Frank Drebin]

a bit underwhelming. One very good NHLer and some unproven prospects

 

[Thucydides]

Johnston would need to be included, plus a couple of 1sts, a top prospect, and Hintz.

It ain’t happening .

 

[Deplorable Lenny]

add 4-5 first round draft picks and a few top prospects and take Campbells contract and maybe the Oilers think about it.

 

[I am Bettman]

Add Stankoven or Johnston.

 

[BB88]

No Gm can be the Gm who trades McDavid, that’s the biggest problem.

 

[Mr Kot]

Don't make good partners. Need a good 1d/1c along with some solid young pieces. I don't think Dallas is the correct partner.

 

[dortt]

for the Sabres to trade for McDavid (not going to happen, I know), it would have to be something like below

Thompson
Savoie
Krebs
Ryan Johnson
2 first round picks

 

[Jacob]

to PIT: McDavid (50% retained)

to EDM: Rakell, Yager, Pickering, $30 million (under the table)

 

[Rich Nixon]

As @Frank Drebin mentioned... Nurse is a solid value at $6M... heck I'd argue he's still fairly paid up to $7M. The guy has great underlying numbers and a few tragic flaws. Those tragic flaws can be masked if you gave him a $3-4M stay-at-home partner, which the Oilers don't have.

Trading Nurse with $3M retained, just to replace him with a $6M guy... you'd end up worse off. Where are you going to get a $6M guy who is better than Nurse? Not as a UFA, that's for sure. That means trade... so in your scenario, we trade off Nurse with a 1st for ... nothing? Retain $3M and then go out and spend assets on a replacement?

This makes zero sense.

Nowhere did I say they go out and spend another $6m on that right away. My thinking is they already have a $6m 2nd pairing LD, so they don't really need a $9m one—and I was mostly questioning if Nurse would be palatable to another team at that price, so hell, if there's no sweetener needed then it may be worth moving one of those two to get the breathing room for much larger deals:

I think the Oilers need a major, major roster makeover if they want to get anything out of the 3 seasons left on McDavid's contract. They're just chock full of uncreative one-dimensional doofuses who need their hands held to produce. Even Hyman and Kane, who have done well there, are basically only as good as the C you put them next to.

In my head it's just trying to rerun Carter/Richards trades of 12 years ago, but seeing if you can do that with one Draisatl instead. The Flyers at that point identified that Giroux would be the centerpiece and that it was about building depth and cap flexibility, so they turned 2 All-Stars into 4 future ones (Schenn, Simmonds, Voracek, the pick that became Couturier) and had a really great season, though that trajectory was derailed by Pronger's career ending injury and a series of other bad moves that handcuffed them (Bryz over Bob, AMac and a dozen other crappy defensemen...).

To me, the Oilers should be trying to turn Draisatl into a huge package of young NHL-ready contributors at controlled prices—at least 2 Fs and 1 D. They have the best centerpiece player in the world in the form of McDavid, and RNH can be a great bang-for-the-buck 2C behind him. But they need more speed and skill and creativity throughout the lineup, guys who are effective, cheap for now, and still have future upside to grow into.

Where do you go looking for that? Who knows—I wonder who is on Leon's 10-team list and if anyone can cook a package that fits the bill. Might be a 3+ team operation. Ideally you're looking for an impatient rebuilder. But I feel like the Oilers need to operate with Paul Homgren-sized balls and abandon in the short term, because otherwise...what is there to do? Holland sucks.

 

[McFlash97]

Campbell, Nurse and Kane are who I'd look at moving.

Kane has an attractive skill set, but I remember hearing he wasn't happy with how he was being used. I could be wrong, but he's the lowest ranking top player, so he can still get a good return, either to correct the roster or to kick start a rebuild.

Campbell is obviously a "must move" but really...I can't imagine that a team would take him on without a huge sweetener.

Nurse is just too expensive for what he does. Like with Campbell, he probably isn't going to garner a lot of interest, but having 7 years remaining while making more than Draisaitl each year is truly baffling.

RHN or Hyman are doing well, but could return a good deal of assets from other teams. Ekholm could probably get something from a team light on LHD. Most of the other players are pretty mid. Not bad, not great, probably earning the right cap hit, but just not someone I could see a team targeting specifically.

I guess the question is keep as much of the core as you can, or do a complete tear down? McDrai is a crazy pair and should be rebuilt around (with a new manager of course) but if another burn down is the way fans want to go, they'd receive a blank cheque from a team or two.

Lol yah , let's move our only power forward, who happens to also be our best player during this run, and has developed positive relationships with Oiler fans.

Trading Kane is about the dumbest thing this team could do right now.

 

[Rich Nixon]

Lol yah , let's move our only power forward, who happens to also be our best player during this run, and has developed positive relationships with Oiler fans.

Trading Kane is about the dumbest thing this team could do right now.

that's great and all. who was the best POWER FORWARD on Tampa's recent cup teams?

 

[McFlash97]

that's great and all. who was the best POWER FORWARD on Tampa's recent cup teams?

Again. As I said Trading Kane is a real dumb move. Do you watch the Oilers nightly bro ?