I can't see the Oilers dealing Sam Gagner, but Eklund has a rumor up about Washington being interested. Whenever Eklund posts an Oilers-specific rumor, I always offer my two bits as to the what's and the why's...so here's my thoughts on a possible Gagner to Washington deal.

The Oilers will likely head into the NHL Draft picking in the #2 or #3 position. The player who will go 1st overall is Nail Yakupov, who plays the right wing. If the Oilers pick 2nd or 3rd, they have guaranteed access to one of the top rated centers. Mihkal Grigorenko is rated by most currently as the 2nd best prospect behind Yakupov. Before he got injured at the start of the year, the prospect ranked 2nd was center Alex Galchenyuk. Grigorenko is the bigger body and he's been healthy all year, but Galchenyuk is North American born. You know how teams can act kinda weird when it comes to drafting Russian-born players.

If you saw the Oilers stink up the joint against the Phoenix Coyotes, you know one of the big issues on the team is that the forwards are too small, especially in the Top 6. Gagner, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Ales Hemsky don't shy away from physical contact, but they can't exactly hand out physical punishment. Taylor Hall might be the only forward in Edmonton's current Top 6 group that can deliver some fear in a physical sense.

Ideally, the Oilers would have some size. While Nuge is tall, he has a slight frame, so he'll never be a power forward. Eberle and Hemsky are what they are. The hope should be to have some beef with the other three players. Eventually, Magnus Paajarvi will be allowed to join the Oilers Top 6 group, and he's bigger than Hall. Paajarvi just needs to develop a physical element to his game, and he's showing signs already of doing that. The future Top 6 can include three smalls (Nuge, Eberle and Hemsky) and the bigs (Hall, Paajarvi...and a player to be named). This Top 6 framework makes it possible for Sam Gagner to be dealt, because he's a small, not a big. Got it?

Gagner will never be worth more on the market than he is right now. He's had a solid season offensively, he's a hardworking, dedicated player, and he's done a few things to catch the attention of teams around the league (fight, have 8pts in a game, etc). If Steve Tambellini is open to offers, many teams will call asking about acquiring Gagner.

Why else deal Gagner? Because doing so would bring the Oilers a Top 4 defenseman or a goaltender. Would the Caps be willing to move one of John Carlson or Karl Alzner? Alzner is the big shutdown guy the Oilers crave, but Carlson would be a sexy addition.

Or maybe the player on the move is Mike Green? Keep in mind the Caps are capped out, and both Green and Carlson are RFA's this summer. Green will be a $5mil per season (at least) signing...tough to swallow if you're up against the cap. Of course, Alex Semin won't be there next season, so the Caps have a spending room coming. Washington hasn't exactly been lighting up the league this season. If they were to move Semin and Green in separate deals at the deadline, they'd have $11mil+ of cap room next season. Enough to give Gagner the $4mil per he'll want, plus re-sign Carlson, plus have room to go UFA shopping.

Sam Gagner himself does not get you Mike Green. Just thought I'd point this out before someone else does.

Green is an elite offensive defenseman. Gagner is likely a career #2 center. To make Green happen, the Oil would need to bump up the deal in a serious way. We're talking offering up their 2013 1st round pick in addition, for starters. It could be Gagner, a 2nd player (maybe Ryan Jones), and the 2013 1st round pick. At least.

If Steve Tambellini wanted to do something bold and life-changing, a Green deal would do it. It would completely change the look of the Oilers next season. If Nuge is Gretz, Hall is Mess, Ebs is Kurri and Paajarvi is Anderson, Green is Paul Coffey.

All we need then is a Fuhr, and five new cups will fall out of the sky. I've seen this movie before. And I liked it.

Join the Discussion: » 266 Comments » Post New Comment

» Goodbye and Good Luck

» Ranking Top 5 Roster Groups - Blog #1

» Mods and Rockers

» The Reverse Psychology Blog

» The 10 Least Interesting Teams in the NHL