Rumor: Trades/Proposals: This Offseason can we transition from the "Wasted Years" to living in the Golden Y

[Oilers in NS]

Anyone interested in Rakell? Plays both wings, 27. Could be a good top 6 winger

 

[Soundwave]

I'm not even looking at the playoffs. There's an 82 game season that needs to be played before you even get there each and every year. Size, grit and/or truculence is something that can be added at the trade deadline. I'm looking at players who bring the most to the table who are likely to bring the most value throughout the entire term of their deal.

If I'm looking at a player to play with Connor McDavid, I'm looking for a player who can handle a bigger workload. Out of the guys I mentioned, only Granlund was the one who did last season. The others saw the ice about as frequently as Jesse Puljujarvi who was significantly sheltered.

Danault, Hyman and Hall all fall into that description too, but their salary demands probably push them far higher than $5.25m.

If you just want to make the playoffs, there's no point in investing term on a player like Granlund.

The only thing McDavid and Draisaitl really need to make the playoffs is a good goalie. They dragged the half dead corpses of RNH, Yamamoto, Kassian, pathetic LD depth, etc. etc. to a 100+ point pace record this year because they had Mike Smith playing well in the regular season.

If you're signing all these guys like RNH, Granlund to contracts beyond 1-2 years, you're basically saying that is the core you think you can win playoff rounds with and it's no where near good enough, nor is it like "add a bigger forward at the deadline" type of fix.

 

[Soundwave]

Anyone interested in Rakell? Plays both wings, 27. Could be a good top 6 winger

Yes. My question is how do you convince Anaheim to give him up in division for less than a 1st.

 

[MessierII]

I'm not even looking at the playoffs. There's an 82 game season that needs to be played before you even get there each and every year. Size, grit and/or truculence is something that can be added at the trade deadline. I'm looking at players who bring the most to the table who are likely to bring the most value throughout the entire term of their deal.

If I'm looking at a player to play with Connor McDavid, I'm looking for a player who can handle a bigger workload. Out of the guys I mentioned, only Granlund was the one who did last season. The others saw the ice about as frequently as Jesse Puljujarvi who was significantly sheltered.

Danault, Hyman and Hall all fall into that description too, but their salary demands probably push them far higher than $5.25m.

What does Grandlund bring to our top 6 that others don’t already bring in spades?

He isn’t a high end goal scorer or bring any high end finish skills

He doesn’t add any top end speed

He isn’t a premier playmaker

He doesn’t bring any size

He doesn’t bring an elite defensive game

What does granlund bring that guys like Nugent-Hopkins don’t already bring in spades? Your not adding a new element. Your essentially paying the same money as Nuge for a lesser version of him.

 

[MessierII]

Anyone interested in Rakell? Plays both wings, 27. Could be a good top 6 winger

I would but the cost for us would be huge. Easier to use cap space and take advantage of a team like Tampa if we’re going the trade route.

 

[belair]

To the people wanting 'size and skill' in their top six day one of the regular season, who are you even targeting?

The options in free agency are highly limited as I just outlined. If the max you're willing to go is four years at $5.25m, those guys are probably in that ballpark. Guys like Hall and Hyman go much higher and longer with team control and far higher risk potential.

Priority one this season is solidifying the defense and improving the second pairing. Priority two is improving the bottom six depth, preferably signing a good third line center. Third is finding that McDavid compliment. And then they can figure out the goaltending.

Interested to hear the big, skilled options that won't limit the amount of salary we have to address the rest of the roster. Because a lot of the guys out there simply didn't play large roles on their teams. That should be concerning if you want them to be difference makers throughout the term of their contract.

 

[Soundwave]

To the people wanting 'size and skill' in their top six day one of the regular season, who are you even targeting?

The options in free agency are highly limited as I just outlined. If the max you're willing to go is four years at $5.25m, those guys are probably in that ballpark. Guys like Hall and Hyman go much higher and longer with team control and far higher risk potential.

Priority one this season is solidifying the defense and improving the second pairing. Priority two is improving the bottom six depth, preferably signing a good third line center. Third is finding that McDavid compliment. And then they can figure out the goaltending.

Interested to hear the big, skilled options that won't limit the amount of salary we have to address the rest of the roster. Because a lot of the guys out there simply didn't play large roles on their teams. That should be concerning if you want them to be difference makers throughout the term of their contract.

I think you have your priorities backwards.

This team will crater and fall apart like a cheap tent if they don't get good goaltending. We've seen it over and over again the last 5 years the only time they have any success is with .918-.920 range goaltending. Even McDavid/Draisaitl can't do anything in that case.

For forwards I think this team may well need to accept that 1st round picks need to be moved to build anything in any kind of reasonable time frame. You're not going to find the players that move the needle through UFA signings alone.

UFA signings are alright for stop gap bonus guys but in that case, I'd rather do Tatar x 1 year than Granlund x 3-5 years at north of $5 million and I don't even like Tatar.

This team needs to start winning trades if they want to do anything notable in any kind of reasonable time frame.

 

[TheNumber4]

I just dont think we can afford Hall. It would have to be like 5M a year to fit him in here and I doubt hes willing to do that.

It’ll depend where and how we spend. We have enough cap to make a market value offer to Hall. It’ll come down to if the Oilers would rather do that or spend more in other areas. Considering Halls talent, the ultra rare opportunity for top level free agent to consider Edmonton, I say we spend what’s needed to secure Hall then fill out the roster with what’s left. There’s going to be a lot of bargains near the end of free agency due to flat cap.

 

[belair]

What does Grandlund bring to our top 6 that others don’t already bring in spades?

He isn’t a high end goal scorer or bring any high end finish skills

He doesn’t add any top end speed

He isn’t a premier playmaker

He doesn’t bring any size

He doesn’t bring an elite defensive game

What does granlund bring that guys like Nugent-Hopkins don’t already bring in spades? Your not adding a new element. Your essentially paying the same money as Nuge for a lesser version of him.

Several of the things you've said that he isn't. He's a player who's willing to engage in net scrambles. He scores a lot of greasy goals. He has exceptional shot from in tight, so I'm not sure where your info about him being a poor finisher comes from. He's an excellent passer. And he's a good defensive forward. He plays net front on the powerplay, which is currently a vacant spot assuming Chiasson isn't re-signed. He's an option for the PK. He can play all three forward positions. And most importantly, he can eat minutes.

For the record RNH is an excellent top six forward. People seem to use him as a negative and I'll continue to think that's absolutely ridiculous. This board always overreacts to losses. When we were with Chiarelli, it was lack of skill and speed. Now it's lack of grit and size. The team just needs more than three or four good players that can be relied upon to play 15+ minutes a night.

Like I said, I'd take three RNHs if it was financially feasible. I don't believe Granlund is at the same level as him in terms of IQ, but I believe that he could compliment McDavid's game.

 

[belair]

I think you have your priorities backwards.

This team will crater and fall apart like a cheap tent if they don't get good goaltending. We've seen it over and over again the last 5 years the only time they have any success is with .918-.920 range goaltending. Even McDavid/Draisaitl can't do anything in that case.

For forwards I think this team may well need to accept that 1st round picks need to be moved to build anything in any kind of reasonable time frame. You're not going to find the players that move the needle through UFA signings alone.

UFA signings are alright for stop gap bonus guys but in that case, I'd rather do Tatar x 1 year than Granlund x 3-5 years at north of $5 million and I don't even like Tatar.

This team needs to start winning trades if they want to do anything notable in any kind of reasonable time frame.

0.915-0.920 goaltending happens behind good defense and a team that gives up far less than it does out. By having the goaltending that far back in my priorities doesn't mean I'm overlooking it, it means we're not spending a significant amount of finances or effort addressing it

Smith likely re-signs. Koskinen possibly gets moved and we probably touch base on a number of 50/50 starter options. We're not swinging for the fence there.

The defense currently has 2-3 vacancies in the top four. Klefbom probably isn't coming back. That priority is right where it needs to be.

You also don't 'start winning trades' by 'accepting that 1st round picks will have to be dealt'. Just some odd reasoning by you again around trades with no actual players being mentioned.

I didn't mention Tatar because he's another guy who fell out of his coach's favor and is likely waiting out the market.

 

[Soundwave]

0.915-0.920 goaltending happens behind good defense and a team that gives up far less than it does out. By having the goaltending that far back in my priorities doesn't mean I'm overlooking it, it means we're not spending a significant amount of finances or effort addressing it

Smith likely re-signs. Koskinen possibly gets moved and we probably touch base on a number of 50/50 starter options. We're not swinging for the fence there.

The defense currently has 2-3 vacancies in the top four. Klefbom probably isn't coming back. That priority is right where it needs to be.

The Oilers D wasn't that good last year, Nurse elevated his play yes, but no Klefbom left a gaping hole on the LD.

The Oilers still easily made the playoffs.

You need a goalie that can hold the team in games, this team cannot handle goaltending that is weak/soft, they mentally just crater if they don't feel like their goalie can bail them out and win a game on his own.

We've seen that over and over again. They're not mentally tough enough to deal with average-bad goals allowed.

Even in the freaking playoffs, you just knew when Smith allowed that so-so 2nd goal in game 1 ... they were done. Instead of saying "you know this guy has saved our ass all year long, lets go battle and get that goal back" you just knew they were going to fold and lose that game and sure enough that's what they did.

They have zero confidence to respond when a not so great goal is given up.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Several of the things you've said that he isn't. He's a player who's willing to engage in net scrambles. He scores a lot of greasy goals. He has exceptional shot for in tight, so I'm not sure where your info about him being a poor finisher comes from. And he's a good defensive forward. He plays net front on the powerplay, which is currently a vacant spot assuming Chiasson isn't re-signed. He's an option for the PK. He can play all three forward positions. And most importantly, he can eat minutes.

For the record RNH is an excellent top six forward. People seem to use him as a negative and I'll continue to think that's absolutely ridiculous. This board always overreacts to losses. When we were with Chiarelli, it was lack of skill and speed. Now it's lack of grit and size. The team just needs more than three or four good players that can be relied upon to play 15+ minutes a night.

Like I said, I'd take three RNHs if it was financially feasible. I don't believe Granlund is at the same level as him in terms of IQ, but I believe that he could compliment McDavid's game.

Agreed, the whole problem has always been we just lack enough good hockey players.

 

[Soundwave]

Agreed, the whole problem has always been we just lack enough good hockey players.

I think even if the Oilers improve the roster make up, the odds of winning a playoff round are very low if you don't have the better goalie in the series.

How often does the team with the better goalie lose a playoff series? Maybe like 10% of the time?

 

[belair]

I think even if the Oilers improve the roster make up, the odds of winning a playoff round are very low if you don't have the better goalie in the series.

How often does the team with the better goalie lose a playoff series? Maybe like 10% of the time?

I guess we'll always lose to Winnipeg, Calgary or Vancouver then until we go out and get a legitimate 60-game starting goalie.

Damn it. Can't even get it done with two franchise forwards.

 

[Oilception]

Anyone interested in Rakell? Plays both wings, 27. Could be a good top 6 winger

my dream off-season starts with a Rakell + Gibson to the Oilers trade

 

[Soundwave]

I guess we'll always lose to Winnipeg, Calgary or Vancouver then until we go out and get a legitimate 60-game starting goalie.

Damn it. Can't even get it done with two franchise forwards.

I mean the Oilers got "out-goalied" in the last two playoffs/playins and the results are what? Where they even close?

The last time they won a playoff round, Talbot clearly outplayed Martin Jones. That's not a coincidence.

 

[MessierII]

Goaltending to me is our #1 priority. That being said I don’t think it will be very expensive to addresss. I think we end up with one of mrazek or Dreidger and I don’t think either of those guys commands a huge deal. The bigger issue is getting rid of Koskinen. I think at 50% to Boston for whatever pick they can spare makes sense.

 

[TheNumber4]

If we can get a line driving winger, good enough to carry the offense on his own line, then the 3C hole we have is already potentially filled. We can run elite forward pairs and fill out from there. Something like this would give us a lot of offence and balance to this roster:

X-McD-Pulju
X-Drai-Yamo
Hall-RNH-X

That’s League leading strength down the middle. McD, Drai, and Hall all drive offense on their lines. Give them good line mates like Yamo, Pulju, and Nuge that are good bets to be better this year. Then fill the Xs with affordable bets. A shooter type forward for each line would be nice. Hall and Nuge together would destroy 3rd line competition league wide. McDrai gets more rest for when the games get more important. 3C hole, Top 6 LW hole, and secondary scoring need all addressed in one contract. Sign Hall.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

I wonder if there's a possibility for a 3 way trade with Columbus.

Chicago ends up with the Jones Brothers.

We get Keith, Strome and a Columbus Goalie.

Columbus takes on Koski and a solid package if futures from both teams. Maybe we pay the Jackets a bit extra to also retain a bit of Keith

 

[McDoused]

If we can get a line driving winger, good enough to carry the offense on his own line, then the 3C hole we have is already potentially filled. We can run elite forward pairs and fill out from there. Something like this would give us a lot of offence and balance to this roster:

X-McD-Pulju
X-Drai-Yamo
Hall-RNH-X

That’s League leading strength down the middle. McD, Drai, and Hall all drive offense on their lines. Give them good line mates like Yamo, Pulju, and Nuge that are good bets to be better this year. Then fill the Xs with affordable bets. A shooter type forward for each line would be nice. Hall and Nuge together would destroy 3rd line competition league wide. McDrai gets more rest for when the games get more important. 3C hole, Top 6 LW hole, and secondary scoring need all addressed in one contract. Sign Hall.

You want to spend 11M on 2/3 of our 3rd line? What? Their is a salary cap. We probably have closer to 4M for those 2 spots.

 

[McSuper]

I don't like making prediction but our D is going to be .

Nurse Barrie
Keith Larsson
Samorkov Bouchard
Russell
Altho I would like to add Ekholm and drop Keith and Samorukov down . We would have to punt Russell

Bear will be traded for a forward . Hall or Hyman will fill out our top line . Goodrow our 3rd C . Koskinen will go to Chicago with 50% retained + Jones and Chicago will buy him out . Keith will come at 35% retained .

Hyman/Hall McDavid Puljujarvi
Dry
XXX Goodrow Kassian
Benson McLeod Archibald
Shore Khaira

XXX=Bear trade
Neal Bought out or traded .

New goals
New goalie . I got a feeling after the year Smith had he is going to ask for too much money and want to be the number one guy . I hope I am wrong

 

[TheNumber4]

You want to spend 11M on 2/3 of our 3rd line? What? Their is a salary cap. We probably have closer to 4M for those 2 spots.

For the best 3rd line in the League and a constant bet to win the 3rd line matchup every single night? Yes. Besides it’s not as bad as you’ve presented it, money spent on that 3rd line would just mean less money spent in the top 6, which makes sense to do if we have the best centers in the League. If they really are the best, we should expect that we can save some money on their wings. Generational type players should make their line mates better than they are, if we don’t take advantage of that we aren’t managing this team smartly.

 

[Chayos]

It's probably more just that if they go 7-3-1 there aren't a lot of better options than Jones this year. Maybe they can take Skinner or a guy like Benson if left unprotected, but they're not going to even get a guaranteed NHL player from us in expansion.

I protect Skinner.

 

[Chayos]

Well it won't be for Jones then as he will be gone in the ED.

 

[GOilers88]

The Oilers D wasn't that good last year, Nurse elevated his play yes, but no Klefbom left a gaping hole on the LD.

The Oilers still easily made the playoffs.

You need a goalie that can hold the team in games, this team cannot handle goaltending that is weak/soft, they mentally just crater if they don't feel like their goalie can bail them out and win a game on his own.

We've seen that over and over again. They're not mentally tough enough to deal with average-bad goals allowed.

Even in the freaking playoffs, you just knew when Smith allowed that so-so 2nd goal in game 1 ... they were done. Instead of saying "you know this guy has saved our ass all year long, lets go battle and get that goal back" you just knew they were going to fold and lose that game and sure enough that's what they did.

They have zero confidence to respond when a not so great goal is given up.

If they couldn't respond for Smith who threw them on his back last season, who the f*** else are they going to respond for?

No teams in the NHL do well with bad goaltending. It's not something specific to Edmonton. I think most of their problems were because everytime the team gave up a goal it meant more work for McDrai to get it back, because there was nobody else you could look to. A new goalie doesn't change that.