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10 Players the Oilers Should Attempt to Deal For |
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I'll skip starting with a long commentary about how the Oilers roster isn't there yet. If you read my blogs, you know my thoughts on the current roster...focus on the long-term is needed, some of the Core 12 players are there, and others aren't, fans need to be patient because the Oilers are following a plan...yadda yadda yadda...
If I'm the GM, here's what I ensure stays at the Trade Deadline. The focus needs to be on 2013/2014 and beyond:
Forwards(8): Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, Magnus Paajarvi, Teemu Hartikainen, Anton Lander, Lennart Petrell
Defense(4): Justin Schultz, Jeff Petry, Oscar Klefbom, Mark Fistric
Goaltender(1): Devan Dubnyk
Players/Prospects I would be okay with moving, for the right return: Ales Hemsky, Sam Gagner, Shawn Horcoff, Eric Belanger, Ben Eager, Ryan Jones, Linus Omark, Ladislav Smid, Nick Schultz, Ryan Whitney, Corey Potter, Theo Peckham, Nikolai Khabibulin, all other Oilers prospects not mentioned.
NOTE! NOTE! NOTE!
In saying I'm okay with a player being moved, I'm not trying to say a player is bad. Ales Hemsky, for example, is really good. But Nail Yakupov and Jordan Eberle, because of their ages and the fact that they are more "pure" goal scorers than Hemsky, makes me believe eventually Hemsky will need to be moved. I saw the game yesterday, and Yakupov does not belong on a checking line. Neither does Eberle or Hemsky. The Oilers have three Top 6 RW's, only two roster spots. Someone needs to be traded. All three are good enough to deal for a player that could fix an Oilers roster hole.
On D, the Oilers need to acquire a left-side, top pairing guy. It's becoming obvious that Ladislav Smid and Nick Schultz are perhaps 3/4/5 guys, not 1/2 guys, and a move to find the right person will eventually be required. Sacrificing a few good players in a package might be required to bring in a better player.
Moving on, I believe the Oilers MUST keep their 1st round and 2nd round picks this June. Why? There's too many good centers in the 1st round to choose from, and the Oilers need to find a top goaltending prospect, which is a decent use of the 2nd round pick. The Oilers have 2 - second rounders (thanks Anaheim), so perhaps one, but not both, could be moved.
If I'm the GM, I'm giving no thought to making the playoffs in 2012/2013. It's not that I don't care; it's just I don't think the Oilers have the horses yet. Nuge is obviously playing hurt, as is Justin Schultz. The Oilers core is very young and waiting another year before big pressure to succeed isn't a bad idea. And besides, if the Oilers acquire, oh let's say, Aleksander Barkov at the draft...well, he'd be a long-term solution to a problem (need for a physically bigger #2 center), which is perhaps, is more in the Oilers best interests at this point.
Here's 10 guys I think the Oilers should be calling to ask about, keeping in mind the focus is not on this season, but on next and beyond:
1. Jay Bouwmeester, D, Calgary - The Flames will trigger a full rebuild at some point this season, and Bouwmeester will be one of the first players teams will call about, trying to acquire. He came in the league very overrated, and the hate has become so out of hand, he's now completely underrated. A solid puck-moving defenseman with size that can play 23+min per game in all situations.
2. Ryan O'Reilly, C, Colorado - From what I hear, the Colorado phone hasn't been loaded up with calls for O'Reilly yet. Maybe they're asking too much, or maybe Colorado is okay with letting O'Reilly sit for a while. Whatever. O'Reilly would be a better two-way 2nd line center for the Oilers. Obviously if O'Reilly or any other Top 6 center is brought in, Gagner needs to be moved. People say "play him on the wing." It's been tried. He stunk. I like Gagner, but the Top 6 is too small and too easy to play against. Gagner might have better numbers this season, but there's no way I'm dealing Nuge.
3. Jeff Schultz, D, Washington - No, I'm not trying to be funny here. Three Oilers defensemen named Schultz would cause pure chaos for broadcasters. The Oilers rink announcer was called Justin Schultz "Jeff" yesterday as it is. Anyway, Jeff is 6' 6", 230lbs and was +50 a few seasons ago. Washington is terrible, and they might be wanting to make changes. Schultz would be a decent depth defenseman for the Oilers. He could be on the 5/6 pairing with Fistric and I'd be good with that.
4. Marcel Goc, C, Florida - The Panthers are another team that stinks, and Goc's numbers this season are terrible. Last season, they were the opposite of terrible. Some think Goc is everything a 3rd line center should be. He's young enough that he could be the 3rd line center in Edmonton for the next 3-5 seasons. He's got enough size that he's hard to push around out there.
5. Jack Johnson, D, Columbus - Here's another very-Bouwmeester type option. The one thing the Jackets do have is defensemen...Ales Hemsky would bring immediately improvement to an offensive group that slacks a slick winger. Johnson receives way too much criticism for what he brings, and he'd be an upgrade over any current Oilers defensemen not named Justin Schultz (and maybe Jeff Petry). Hemsky and a 2nd should be enough to make a deal like this happen.
6. Mark McNeill, C, Chicago - The Hawks are a cup contender this season, and like many cup contenders, they might be interested in acquiring a quality player at the deadline to assist with their run. Here's another team that could be all over Hemsky, especially if Marian Hossa's string of head injuries continue to keep him out of the line-up. If you want a big future 3rd line center, McNeill is the man you're looking for. He turns 20 on Friday, and he's already 211lbs.
7. Nino Niederreitter, F, New York Islanders - A big winger with two-way talent. He wants a deal because the Islanders are keeping him in the minors. He might be the perfect type of player to put on a line with Nail Yakupov and Sam Gagner. The Islanders might move Nino for an immediate defenseman, and we're not talking Ryan Whitney, Corey Potter or Theo Peckham. Dig deep here, friends...It would need to be Ladislav Smid or Nick Schultz. Big risk, but a big potential reward.
8. Zemgus Girgensons, C, Buffalo - I have a very hard time seeing why the Sabres would want to deal a prospect of this quality, but I'll list him anyway. Mikhail Grigorenko and Cody Hodgson give the Sabres a solid 1-2 future punch at center. Girengsons would more likely be prepared for a 3rd line role, which might be a waste of talent. He's got enough offense to play as a #2 center, and he'd bring the size the Oilers would love to add. I take it by today's firing of Lindy Ruff that Sabres ownership is going to insist this team improve immediately. On paper, I'm not sure what Oilers players you could offer up that would make the Sabres better now...But I'm still calling anyway to see if they'd be interested in a current roster player for Girgensons.
9. Chris Kreider, LW, New York - I know this one sounds impossible, but follow along please: The Rangers have an odd situation on their hands cap-wise. They currently have room under the cap...a few million. They can add salary for a playoff run. But next season, almost everyone's deals are still in play, and the Rangers will need to re-sign Kreider and Ryan McDonagh to big raises. With the cap dropping $6mil instead of increasing, the Rangers will need to move a player or two to make cap. Kreider is a young, big winger with hands. The Oilers could send back someone like a Hemsky for the immediate cup run. Hey, it's at least worth picking up the phone to find out.
10. Chris Stewart, F, St. Louis - The Blues are so close to dominating, and Stewart is a great player. However, one thing the Blues have is size. They perhaps could sacrifice one big forward to bring in another immediate defenseman of quality or a flashy winger. I'm guessing D would be of more interest, either Smid or Nick Schultz. Only way this one happens is if Smid is signed to an extension at the time of the deal. Oh, and the Oilers would need to throw in a second asset (2nd round pick or something).
You will notice something about everyone I've mentioned and recommended: These are either better quality current players or higher-end prospects. Why have I focused on players that, more than likely, are out of grasp with what we'd be offering back? Because there's no point making deals that don't fit into the long-term picture. We don't need more bad players...we have enough.
If you ask me, the Oilers need to take the guys like Whitney, Peckham, Belanger, Jones, etc and turn them into the best draft picks possible. They, those picks can be used to sweeten deals moving more significant players (like Hemsky or Smid). Of course this would deplete the Oilers current roster numbers-wise, but keep in mind another 1st round pick is coming, plus Klefbom, plus any UFA's the Oilers sign this summer.
One final personal note: My father had surgery to fix two of three blockages in his heart, and he's doing fairly well. I greatly appreciate all the kindness and support shown to me and my family over the last 36 hours. Thank you so much.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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