Follow @SMaloughney Even though yesterday was a quiet deadline for the Oilers there is plenty to talk about in this weeks rendition of In No Particular Order
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LUCIC FOR WENNBERG? If/when a trade involving Milan Lucic happens, fans are likely not going to be over the moon with the results. With four years left on his deal at 6 million a year, teams are not going to be clamoring to sign him. The Oilers are either going to have to overpay to get an average player in return or take on another team's bad contract.
Today I'm going to propose a middle ground that could be a gamble but could also result in the Oilers having another skilled top 6 option.
Alex Wennberg looked like he was ready to join the ranks of a top line talent when he first entered the league. After putting up 20 points in 68 games as a rookie, he then doubled that in his sophomore year and followed that up with a 59 point season.
It was after that season that he signed a 6 year contract worth 4.9 million a year. Since then he has unfortunately not lived up to his end of the deal. Last season he posted 35 points, having dealt with back issues that kept him out of games. This year he has been mostly injury free but has been healthy scratched, including his last three games.
The Blue Jackets will certainly have an active off-season, with Panarin and Bobrovsky almost guaranteed to be gone, and then trying to sign newly acquired players like Duchene and Dzingel. Wennberg no longer appears to be part of the core.
Wennberg, who scouting has described as a playmaker and not a natural goal scorer is only 24. He is a pass first player; even in his career best season of 59 points he had only 13 goals. Another reason for his hot streak that season is a result of the phenomenal powerplay that the Blue Jackets had (recently signed Sam Gagner was also a part of that). During that season 23 of his 59 points came from the powerplay.
Having watched some game highlights involving Wennberg, to me the solution seems obvious. He is a strong playmaker, but is not cut out for being an impactful top 6 centre. However similar to players like Terevainen, Domi, and Cogliano, if he were to be played on the wing he would be more impactful.
As far as a trade goes, both Lucic and Wennberg are signed until the end of the 2022-2023 season with Lucic costing an additional 1.1 million dollars in cap space. Lucic is currently 30 while Wennberg is only 24. Wennberg has more potential scoring talent, but over the past few seasons Lucic has been the better producer at 5 on 5. Nonetheless the Oilers are going to have to give up more for the Blue Jackets to consider a deal like this.
Would Jarmo Kekà¤là¤inen, who originally passed on the young winger have any interest in Jesse Puljujarvi? Would Puljujarvi, Lucic, plus a mid round pick be enough from the Oilers side to make a deal work? How would fans feel about taking on a player like Wennberg?
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CONNOR BROWN TO EDMONTON? While the Oilers were quiet yesterday, one story of interest did come out; that the Oilers had discussed a deal with Toronto to land Connor Brown. Brown and McDavid were teammates in Eerie during a season where Brown scored 45 goals. McDavid would have familiarity with the player and the organization clearly hopes the two could produce together in the NHL.
Brown’s offense has steadily declined over the past few seasons as has his overall shots. This season the young winger has only 5 goals and has a mere 69 shots through 62 games. Currently he is on a line with the offensively starved William Nylander as well and both have struggled to produce.
The Leafs have a dominant top 6 making it difficult for a player like Brown to break in and with Marner and Matthews big contracts coming up next season and Brown making 2.1 million, the Leafs are going to need to cut costs somewhere.
As the rumour mill goes, apparently Matt Benning was the player in question the Leafs were inquiring about, or at least who the Oilers were offering. Nothing ended up happening at the deadline but I could certainly see talks pick up again in the off-season.
If Connor Brown is not acquired by Edmonton, we will still see this organization go after a similar player; a young winger who is stuck behind better talent who could produce in a change of environment.
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Should both of these deals come to pass, and Edmonton were able to move out Benning, Lucic, Puljujarvi, and mid round picks in exchange for Wennberg and Brown, the Oilers top 6 could look like this next season:
Draisaitl-McDavid-Brown Wennberg-RNH-Gagner
Ideally I would want a different name than Gagner in the second line RW spot, however this is a more skilled lineup than the Oilers currently are icing and includes more proven NHL talent.
What say you fans? Would Wennberg and Brown be realistic additions to this roster?