Some sort of rumor was making the rounds this morning about Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner being dealt to the New York Rangers for a stack of inferior players. Geez. How many times do we need to go through this?

People Who Won't Get Dealt - 10
LW - Taylor Hall, Ryan Smyth (because they'll let him retire an Oiler)
RW - Jordan Eberle, Nail Yakupov
C - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Boyd Gordon
D - Justin Schultz, Darnell Nurse, Oscar Klefbom, Andrew Ference (thanks to NMC)

People Who More-than-Likely Won't Get Dealt - 5
C - Sam Gagner
RW - Ryan Jones
D - Jeff Petry, Anton Belov
G - Devan Dubnyk

Of course, Gagner is possible if the Oilers can't sign him to a new deal that makes sense, and Dubnyk could get dealt if the Oilers do something crazy like take on Luongo or Miller...but everything I've heard suggests these five are going nowhere. Keep in mind the Oilers didn't bring in guys like Belov, Gordon and Ference just so they could deal them.

People Who Could Get Dealt

1. Magnus Paajarvi, F - I've heard MacT is not crazy about him. Why? Because he's a big winger who doesn't drive the net and appears to be too nice. Not enough anger in this kid. The Oilers were way too easy to play against last season...that's why they're bringing in guys like Gordon and Ference. "Too Nice" is a problem.

2. Ales Hemsky, RW - Hemsky wants a fresh start and so do the Oilers.

3. Nick Schultz, D - This is math. $3.5mil per season is too much to pay someone to be a third-pairing defenseman.

4. Ladislav Smid, D - I can't see the Oilers moving both NSchultz and Smid, but one will go. Smid is worth more on the open market, and he's got a four-year deal, so he's locked in. Dealing him could be the easiest way to acquire a legit Top 4 D (as part of a package) or a 2nd line LW.

5. Anton Lander, C - With Nuge/Gags/Gordon, the Oilers are set at center for the next three years, at least. Lander is not really the ideal 4th line center. I mean, maybe he goes into the role this season and does great. Seems like a waste of talent to me. The Oilers might be better off having a brawler like Konopka as 4th line C, and Lander has a trade value.


Of course, the issue with dealing and five of the players I've listed is that Oilers management needs to bring back in a deal or free agency (what is left of it, anyway) a replacement. The Oilers roster is shaping, and there's starting to be clarity as to what things will look like on opening night.

L1: Hall - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle
L2: ? - Gagner - Yakupov
L3: Paajarvi - Gordon - ?
L4: Smyth - Lander - Jones

D1: Smid/Petry
D2: Ference/Belov
D3: NSchultz/JSchultz

G1: Dubnyk
G2: Labarbera


Let's talk about those two roster question marks. Can the Oilers fill them in the week ahead?

- One potential deal is there with the St. Louis Blues. They have around $9mil in cap room to sign Alex Pietrangelo and Chris Stewart. In other words, it isn't going to happen. They need to move of significant contract without taking much back. For the Oilers to grab one of Stewart, Perron or Oshie, they'd need to, at the very least, give up their 1st round pick next summer. Most likely, it would be the 1st + a second asset...a prospect of quality, especially if Stewart is involved. Keep in mind half the league is going to try and beat the Oilers in a deal.

- Thomas Vanek is a player who could be dealt. Once again, the asking price would suck. The guy has had two - 30 goal seasons and two - 40 goal seasons. Painful, painful price tag attached if you deal for him. Plus, he's not really what the Oilers need on the 2nd line. They need a big, aggressive brute.

- Let's talk about teams that need to move salary. Would the Flyers part with Jakub Voracek or Wayne Simmonds? Would the Sharks deal Brent Burns?

- And then there are other teams/players to consider - Nick Foligno stuggled last season in Columbus. Is he possible? I could put a big list here of various random guys like him.

- UFA-wise, Jaromir Jagr for a 2nd line LW might be plausible. Peter Mueller for a 3rd line RW might be possible. But is either guy really much of a long-term solution? Probably not.

- I get at least one message every day suggesting the Oilers bring back Dustin Penner. I don't hate the idea...completely...but I'm certain MacTavish does. Can you imagine Penner and Eakins having a fitness talk? I can. Daily.

- I wish I could find a potential solution from the Penguins, as they need to dump cap, but all they're trying to move are defensemen. As we've seen at playoff time over the last couple of years defense isn't something the Penguins are any good at, so dealing for their D isn't a great idea.

What someone needs to create is a website where all teams list the players they are willing to move. From that, I could provide better advice as to whom the Oilers could target.

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