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The Edmonton Oilers desperately need to upgrade their defense and newly appointed GM Peter Chiarelli hasn't ruled out using an offer sheet to try and do so.
There have been rumblings that the Oilers could look to sign Dougie Hamilton to an offer sheet. In this edition of the hotstove we discuss whether or not that's a good idea.
Todd Cordell
If Dougie Hamilton is willing to put pen to paper on an offer sheet I'd hand him a blank cheque in order to get a deal done.
The Oilers can offer Hamilton $7.3 million per season on a long-term deal and they'd only have to give up a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick. Picks are nice, obviously, but it's about as likely that the 2nd and 3rd amount to nothing as it is that they amount to an above average player.
With so much young talent and two 1st round picks this year the Oilers could afford to part with a No. 1 down the road, especially because they're a team on the rise and would be even more so with a stud like Hamilton on their blue line.
He's exceptional in possession, he's big, he's strong, he can skate and he can put up points. Even if Boston matches, which is probably likely, the Oilers have nothing to lose by taking a chance.
Matt Henderson
There is absolutely no question about this. The Oilers have everything to gain and nothing to lose by offer sheeting Hamilton. The Bruins are in a serious Cap crunch and will be sent directly to Cap Hell if they match whatever offer the Oilers make.
And Edmonton doesn't have to cross the four 1sts threshold or even come all that close to it. The club is front loaded with high end forwards but they don't have the Defense to match it and Hamilton would instantly become their best defender by a country mile. They can have this player for the duration of the prime of his career for Draft picks that in all honesty probably won't be as good as Hamilton.
Not only would Offer Sheeting Hamilton be great for the Oilers franchise and make sense for their roster needs, but Chiarelli can twist the knife into the Bruins with this one. The team dumped him after a single season out of the Playoffs and he can exact some revenge.
The Oilers have the Cap space, the assets to do it and to survive without the picks they would give up, and the need on their roster for a great 22 year old right shot Defenseman. If this doesn't happen I will be at least a little disappointed.
James Tanner
Absolutely.
Hamilton is one of the best young D in the game and the Bruins would be hard pressed to match an offer. They'd probably still match it, but you'd be at least screwing up the strategy of a rival team.
There's also no real downside because the Oilers should be all about the present starting Friday. Any future first round picks for the next little while can be used as currency to get players who can help them win now while many of their young players are still cheap.
Assuming the Oilers are a Playoff team for the next several years - and I feel that's a pretty safe bet - Hamilton would probably be a worthwhile target - and then suddenly their D, with Nurse, Hamilton, Klefbom and Schultz would actually look pretty sweet.
Tim Chiasson
Absolutely yes.
The Oilers need to get better on the blueline and Dougie Hamilton would definitely do the trick.
I can't think of any good reasons for the Oilers not to offer sheet him. It's solves a glaring deficiency within the organization and it would have a sky high entertainment value.
Teams have to quit being so afraid to offer sheet players and start being aggressive. If there's a chance you can get a player like Dougie Hamilton then you go out and do it - especially if you are hurting on defense - regardless of what people think of the method.
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