I asked a question today on Twitter and received a hilarious response.
Wait, I'll back up...
The Philadelphia Flyers gave the New York Islanders a 4th round pick and some random prospect for the rights to defenseman Mark Streit. Streit, who is set to become a free agent in a little less than a month, will likely sign with Philly. Players always do.
The comedy in all of this is, the Flyers had a cap issue to cope with before they acquired Streit. The player wants around $5mil per season; meaning, the Flyers cap problem is about to go from bad to worse. If you ask me, and I'm just a peasant I realize, the Flyers should be more concerned about adding young pieces to take over when the vets move on. The current average age of the D on the team is 71.
Back to the only team that matters to me, the Edmonton Oilers.
Oilers fans on Twitter have been losing their minds for weeks stating the team should be trying to acquire a top four defenseman of significance. A great idea...in theory. The reality is, every team in the league seems to be in the market trying to add "that guy", and when that happens the market gets inflated. Overpaying for an asset, regardless when it occurs, is not in the Oilers long-term best interests.
Besides, it's not as if the Oilers haven't done anything this off-season. Anton Belov was considered by many to be the best defenseman in the KHL last season. He has size and skates like the wind. And then there is Oscar Klefbom, who, depending what you believe, might be the best currently-drafted defensive prospect outside of the NHL. The Oilers D might still stink in 2013/2014, but I think the group of Smid, Petry, Justin and Nick Schultz, Klefbom and Belov might surprise some people. They certainly will be mobile.
I mentioned on Twitter today that perhaps it's in the team's best interests to let these six be the defense for half a season before attempting changes. Oilers fans...of course...were not impressed.
I hate to break it to you folks, but Streit was perhaps the best chance the Oilers had at adding a top pairing guy without giving up a kidney to make a trade happen. And even if the Oilers decide to do something crazy like move their 1st round pick this season, chances are, it will be to acquire a forward or two, and not a defenseman.
The people suggesting the Oilers NEED to add a d-man are the usual suspects: Media-types east of Winnipeg who watch approximately half of an Oilers game each season. People who live in denial of how good Klefbom will be and what Belov will bring.
And then there's that whole Dallas Eakins factor. If you believe the hype you'll think the man could take 210lbs of soggy modelling clay and turn it into Drew Doughty. Does it matter who Eakins has to coach? Of course not. So why bother ourselves with making a deal when it isn't necessary.
Oilers fans also are living in denial about what the upcoming season is going to look like. I don't blame them, as I'm sick of watching bad hockey too. But here's the reality: The organization could have up to 20 different players signed to contracts in 2013/2014. To think this team is going to be a playoff threat immediately after that amount of change is pure foolishness. Eakins and the Oilers players will be given one more year of suckability, because 2013/2014 is finally the year all the old, crusty players and bad prospects will be jettisoned from the franchise. As usual, Oilers fans are going to need to be patient.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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