Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Trade Deadline Q & A

February 16, 2010, 5:35 PM ET [ Comments]
Richard Cloutier
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
So I was sitting there watching the Anaheim Ducks tear apart the Oilers on Sunday (thanks for the tix, nephews), and I was thinking to myself how good it will be someday when the Oilers acquire a player like Ryan Getzlaf. Getz was on the bubble for the Canadian Olympic Team: He had an injured ankle, and would likely be replaced on Team Canada by Jeff Carter if he could not demonstrate that he was fit to play. What does he do? Goes out, gets four points, and dominates the Oilers pillar to post. What impressed me so much about his performance was his motivation; he refused to play poorly. He refused to lose. Where, or where are players like that for the Oilers when you need them?

Currently, NHL team rosters are frozen due to the Olympics, but after the games are over, NHL teams will have a few days, until the afternoon of March 3rd, to make some deals. In respect to the Oilers, deals are going to occur, as they are clearly sellers. The question is, will anyone buy what the Oilers are selling? Here's a little Trade Deadline Q & A...

Q: Who is available from Edmonton?

A: An easier question to answer is who isn't. Ales Hemsky and Nikolai Khabibulin, who are injured, will not be dealt. Sam Gagner, the new face of the franchise, is safe from trades. You'd think Oilers prospects Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, would be protected as well. Other than that...

Q: Okay, different question...who do the Oilers want to move?

A: The first need for the Oiler franchise's rebuild is to address their problematic salary cap situation. There is talk of the Oilers looking at contract buyouts next season for certain players if they can't be dealt. That being said, they will look to unload as much salary as possible at the deadline.

The Oilers will certainly try to move Shawn Horcoff, Robert Nilsson, Steve Staios, Ethan Moreau, Fernando Pisani, and Mike Comrie. A number of Oilers defensemen might be on the block, depending on how much trade partner teams are willing to offer in return.

Q: What about Sheldon Souray?

A: Word is Souray's injury will require at least two weeks after the trade deadline to continue healing. His NMC runs out at the end of this season, and between that and his injury, it will be easier for the Oilers to deal him during the summer. You never know; some team might really want to add him for their playoff run. Don't bank on it though, as his list of approved teams all might not be interested. My money is on Souray still being an Oiler on March 4.

Q: If the Oilers move a defenseman and it isn't Souray, who goes?

A: It should be Denis Grebeshkov, who has had a miserable season. He's still young, but he's an RFA in the off-season, and he'll no doubt expect more than $3mil per season in his new contract. His appearance at the Olympics for Team Russia might help market him to the begillion scouts that will be at the games.

Lubomir Visnovsky has been the Oilers best defenseman. While his contract is big, the Oilers certainly recognize his value to the team, especially if Souray is dealt during the summer. Ladislav Smid his a moose on D and has a reasonable contract, so he's staying. Tom Gilbert has slowly been improving this season, and management knows he is much better than the season he's been having, so they may be patient with him.

Q: Any other players that may be dealt at the deadline?

A: There has been talk all season about the Oilers moving Andrew Cogliano. The Oilers, who have been nicknamed The Hobbits, have too many small forwards and Cogs may pull the short straw with Eberle, and perhaps Linus Omark, joining the team next season.

I wouldn't be surprised if Patrick O'Sullivan is moved. His numbers are below expectations on the team, and word is O'Sullivan is not thrilled to be in Edmonton. There are rumors that the Oilers are shopping Gilbert Brule, but these rumors seem foolish as the Oilers need more Brule's if anything. A surprise trade may include Omark, as the Oilers are deep with small offensive forwards, and his return in trade might be significant.

Would the Oilers consider dealing Dustin Penner? His market value will never be more than it is now, and even though he's been the team MVP this season, he still remains being a big player who's reluctant to play like a big player. Someone his size should be hitting everything that moves, which has never been Penner's game.

It is also possible one of Jeff DesLauriers or Devan Dubnyk will be dealt. Next season Khabibulin will be healthy, and the Oilers will need to place DesLauriers or Dubnyk on waivers; meaning, they could lose one for no return. Both are barely ready to be NHL back-ups, let alone starters, so fans shouldn't hold their breath for a big return via trade if one occurs.

Q: So what are the Oilers looking for in trades?

A: To a certain degree, it depends on if the Oilers are serious about pursuing UFA's like Patrick Marleau and Ilya Kovalchuk during the summer. The Oil would need to dump $10mil of cap space to make a serious run at either, which means they need trade returns like draft picks and prospects. Even if they aren't going after name brand UFA's, they might want to start making room for the future of the team, as high draft picks will be coming. Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin, if drafted by the Oilers, will require maximum initial contracts to sign.

It's not so much about the Oilers targeting specific players via trades: The Oilers need a center who can win face-offs; they need wingers with size who can hit and score; and they need a shut-down defensive pair. More than anything else, the Oilers want to move age for youth. Depending on where the Oilers draft in June, they could be adding at least five rookies to the team next season (Hall or Seguin, Eberle, Paajarvi, defenseman Jeff Petry and forward Anton Lander). There might be an opportunity for the Oilers to create a core of young players to carry this team forward for several years to come.

There has been lots of talk with the Oilers dealing with the Rangers to obtain Brandon Dubinsky and/or Marc Staal. I can only hope the Rangers are dumb enough to deal either of them to Edmonton. You'd think these would be the only untouchables on the New York roster, but Rangers GM Glen Sather seems to have lost his mind in recent seasons, so you never know.

Q: Prediction time: Who is gone by the end of March 3rd?

A: Only a few. Comrie will be dealt for something like a 3rd or 4th round pick. Pisani could be dealt for a 6th ot 7th rounder, based on his scoring success in the 2006 playoffs. Ethan Moreau will be dealt, as there will be a market for his leadership and toughness. Other than that, any deals made will be a surprise. The Oilers, who are setting up to draft their highest pick in franchise history, is in no rush to get better this season.

Q: And could there be a blockbuster?

A: Vincent Lecavalier maybe, for a boat load of players? Vinny wants out of Tampa Bay...maybe not enough to come to Edmonton...but nonetheless, Vincent might be the best player available via trade at the deadline. The Oilers would need to move salary to make this work, and Tampa would no doubt want several young star prospects. I wouldn't hold my breath for this one to occur, folks. The only thing that makes this rumor suggestion viable is that team owner Daryl Katz is willing to spend to improve the Oilers.
Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment
More from Richard Cloutier
» Goodbye and Good Luck
» Ranking Top 5 Roster Groups - Blog #1
» Mods and Rockers
» The Reverse Psychology Blog
» The 10 Least Interesting Teams in the NHL