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Operation Dubey Shield: P1 |
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If you haven't added me on Twitter yet, do so: @rdcloutier
In Edmonton, the defense doesn't rest. Actually, it sucks. This is not to say things can't be fixed for the 2012/2013 season. Over the next two or three weeks, Oilers GM Steve Tambellini has some work to do.
Question: The Defense...how bad is it? When we speak about "fixing the D" what are we actually saying?
Answer: Ladislav Smid, Jeff Petry and Nick Schultz are all good enough to be here. Add Ryan Whitney to this list if he is healthy. "Fixing the D" is, at the very least, acquiring two legitimate players. Keep in mind both Whitney and Smid have one year left on their contracts, and can walk away from the team as UFA's next season. Also consider Whitney's health issue "Fixing the D" actually could mean the Oilers need to acquire up to four NHL-ready, NHL-level defensemen. Yikes.
There are two ways the Oilers can acquire defensemen: Through trade or through free agency. This blog will look at what the Oilers can do via trades. The next blog will look more at potentially helping the defensive situation by signing free agents.
Potential Trades
The first thing Oilers management needs to get into their heads is that you need to give up something to get something. The Oilers could easily acquire screw-ups and players with bad contracts while giving very little up. But it seems to me the Oilers tried screw-ups and bad contracts last season, and it didn't work out too well.
Here's some realistic potential options that may be available to the Oilers via trade.
Cody Franson, Toronto: Thing with this is, Franson might only be available if the Leafs sign UFA Justin Schultz. Asking price? A 2nd round pick in 2013 and a reasonable prospect. The Leafs need more toughness of D, so possibly one of Colten Teubert, Alex Plante or Theo Peckham with a 2nd round pick can get this done. I'm not convinced the Leafs will move Franson if Schultz doesn't sign with them.
Marc Methot, Columbus: Methot is a 5/6 pairing shutdown guy with $3mil per season for the next three years. Expensive. Still, the Oilers lack toughness and Methot would bring it. This could easily be Methot for Peckham, as I'm certain Columbus just wants to dump the contract.
Andrej Sekera, Buffalo: Sekera can play 3/4 minutes and the Sabres have so many great defensemen. The rub in making a deal here is what they'd want in return. Buffalo has a playoff-ready team that underachieved last season. They'd want an immediate player. The Oilers wouldn't deal Sam Gagner for Sekera, and Ales Hemsky might be an overpayment...or interestingly enough, an underpayment. All depends on Hemsky's health. Maybe a grit player like Ryan Jones and a prospect or draft pick could get this done?
Jordan Leopold, Buffalo: Maybe if Sekera isn't possible, the Sabres would be more open to dealing Leopold, who's in the last season of his contract. Hard to gauge what the Sabres would want for him, considering last season he was third on the team for ice time, and he put up decent numbers. The ask for Sekera might be the same as for Leopold, even though Leopold is older and in the last year of his deal.
Jay Bouwmeester, Calgary: Obviously the Flames want to pull a salary dump here, but JayBo would step into the Oilers roster instantly becoming the #1 defenseman. The ask from Edmonton, regardless what Bouwmeester's contract looks like, would be significant. The good news is, the Flames want two quality prospects, and prospects is something the Oilers have. You could be looking at David Musil and Tyler Pitlick for JayBo, which is a deal the could absolutely haunt the Oilers five years down the road.
Niklas Hjalmarsson, Chicago: This is the sort of deal that will make Oilers fans mad if it happens. I've heard it suggested the Hawks are looking to dump Hjalmarsson's contract so they can take a run at Ryan Suter. I'm not sure if that's the case. I could see Chicago offering Hjalmarsson for someone like Ladislav Smid, which is not a good deal for Edmonton. On a blueline that lacks toughness, Smid is the guy who brings it night after night. From the look of the stats, Hjalmarsson threw a hit once and didn't like it. I'm only touching this deal if the Hawks want draft picks or prospects, not Smid.
Andrej Meszaros, Philadelphia: The Flyers are another team in the Suter hunt, but to make it work, the team will need to dump a big salary. If healthy, Meszaros would tremendously improve the Oilers blueline. He hits, he can move the puck...all around quality defenseman. If this is a salary dump move, the Flyers would want picks and prospects in return.
Rostislav Klesla, Phoenix: A veteran that has yet to live up to the hype when he was drafted. Now aged 30, Klesla is considered a decent...not great, but decent...3/4 pairing defenseman. He has two years left on this contract, and the just-under $3mil per season amount is okay enough to live with. The Coyotes have all sorts of quality D, both current players and future prospects, so Klesla won't be missed. Considering Ray Whitney and Shane Doan are nearing the end of their careers, you'd think the 'Yotes would want a winger in a deal. Would Hemsky for Klesla be an overpayment if you're Edmonton?
Keith Ballard, Vancouver: Here's the type of option the Oilers are left with if management is not willing to give up anything of quality to make a deal. The Canucks would love to dump Ballard's contract, which still has three years to go on it at $4.2mil per season. The 'Nucks also need a third line center. Hmmm...Eric Belanger for Ballard? As much as I think Belanger stinks, Ballard's contract might be an uglier if he can't rediscover the level of play that earned him that contract in the first place.
Tobias Enstrom, Winnipeg: This is exactly the type of player the Oilers should be trying to deal for, but there are two catches. The first is, he's going to become a UFA in a season if we can't find a way to extend him. Secondly, the Jets know Enstrom is tremendous, and they'll make any team who deals for him pay significantly. What does that mean if you're Edmonton? Maybe Sam Gagner + a conditional 1st round pick in 2013 if Enstrom re-signs in Edmonton. Swallow hard, hope Enstrom signs, and hope the Oilers don't finish in the Bottom 5 again.
Final Thoughts
Obviously, the Oilers aren't going to do anything major or creative on the trade front, because that's not how things work in Edmonton. What you likely will see is the Oilers look to free agency for one defenseman, and will deal for one...but it will be more of a Klesla or Methot than an Enstrom coming our way.
In blog #2 of this discussion tomorrow, I will look at a number of UFA's the Oilers could target to improve the D. The good news is, the Oilers have all the cap room in the world, so going the UFA route just might work.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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