Hi friends. Sorry to be so invisible over the last couple of days. I have a flu...or cold...how can you tell which from which? I feel terrible. I apologize if this blog is worse than usual, but my brain is all clogged up with gunk.
Is Ottawa's Season Over?
Erik Karlsson is the best defenseman in the NHL, and perhaps is the best hockey player in the world right now. So I, like everyone else, was horrified to see him get hurt against the Pittsburgh Penguins yesterday. A severed tendon could cost someone more than just a season...Could be a career ender. What an absolutely sad moment of the NHL.
Matt Cooke is an idiot but he obviously wasn't trying to hurt Karlsson on the play. He was going into the boards and his foot got up a little high. There was no kicking motion or anything. If you look at it at full speed you can see it was just a hockey play. An accident. I know saying this won't make anyone feel better.
What do you do if you're Bryan Murray, GM of the Senators? You're already down Jason Spezza, and Jared Cowen has been out all season too. Karlsson is done for the year, and Milan Michalek is injured. Craig Anderson has been winning games single-highhandedly, but sooner or later he's going to crack. Do you intentionally allow your season to tank, or do you acquire rentals and hope for the best?
You know my answer would be to let the team tank. This is a very young club with some great young assets in their system. Now would be the time to move a few pieces to acquire more quality youngsters. For example, the Sens have Robin Lehner and Ben Bishop. How much would Anderson be worth on the trade market? Proven starter and one of the best in the game. He could get you a 1st round pick and a quality prospect. Or maybe, he gets you Ryan O'Reilly. Think about the long-term picture here, friends. Lehner is a golden prospect.
Whitney Trade Watch On
The Oilers are shopping Ryan Whitney. So what's he worth? This is one of those deals that might get better over time as more players continue to get hurt around the league. Whitney is worth a 3rd round pick right now...not exactly something to make the crowd go wild. Could Whitney be worth a 2nd as a rental by April 3? Actually yes...yes he could. All you need to do is find a team on the playoff bubble who is short a defenseman. I still don't mind the idea of Whitney for Dustin Penner, but I'm not sure Dean Lombardi and Steve Tambellini are on speaking terms again yet.
Gagner for O'Reilly?
I'm not sure if this deal would/could happen or not, but it makes sense in a few different ways. O'Reilly is a better two-way center, while Gagner perhaps has more offensive potential. The Avalanche are going to have a tough time acquiring what they want for O'Reilly (a current roster player + a top prospect), so Gagner is a pretty good "close enough". I'm thinking the Oilers would need to kick in a 2nd asset, but we're talking a draft pick or Ryan Whitney at this point. Gagner is pretty much the only way to make this deal work, because the Oilers only top prospect who isn't playing and staying is Oscar Klefbom, and I wouldn't do Klefbom for O'Reilly straight up. Klefbom is a special player.
Jones Not Keeping Up
Ryan Jones will continue to be out for several more weeks. Not sure what the issue is, but he's nowhere near returning to play. I can't help but wonder if he's another player who could be dealt as a rental near the deadline...There would be high demand for him, and the Oilers have found pretty decent 3rd line wingers in Magnus Paajarvi and Teemu Hartikainen. I like Lennart Petrell and Ben Eager as my 4th line wingers...So all things considered, Jones could be moved and could bring a pretty decent pick or prospect back in return.
Players of Interest?
I can't believe Oilers management are 100% satisfied with what they are seeing right now. They could improve their team immediately...Bring in a center or a left-pairing defenseman. But for an acquisition to be any good, the Oilers would need to, at least, cough up their 1st round pick in 2013. Tough thing to do when there's a high chance it would be a lottery pick.
Here's a few names I've heard thrown around:
- Stephen Weiss, Florida: Weiss has been rumored to the Oilers 100 times now. He's a UFA this summer, so dealing for him is almost pointless unless you can extend him. Would certainly upgrade the Oilers at center.
- Josh Bailey, Islanders: I invented this rumor and I'm sticking to it. The Islanders have a roster full of quality young centers...I wouldn't deal John Tavares, Brock Nelson or Ryan Strome for anything...So that makes Bailey a player you can move for a defenseman, a right winger, or a draft pick.
- Brian Boyle, Rangers: The NHL's version of Andre the Giant is having a rough season in NYC. He was acquired by the Rangers for a 3rd round pick; maybe they can deal him to the Oilers for a 2nd?
- Brandon Dubinsky, Jackets: Here's another name I'm sticking with. I'm sticking with my suggestion for a player in return, too: Ales Hemsky. Dubinsky would be the amazing 3rd line center they need for the future, and Hemsky would give the Jackets something they need: An offensive weapon.
Jarret Stoll, Kings: Was one of my favorite players at one point. The Kings stink. The reasons? They need D more than anything else. Would Stoll for Whitney work? Not likely enough from the Oilers end. Throw in a 4th round pick and we have a deal.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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