The search is underway for the Oilers' Centerman who can insulate Leon Draisaitl or Mark Arcobello from having to play over their heads this upcoming season. It might be the case that no matter who they find it wouldn't prevent Draisaitl from making the team but the pressure to perform wouldn't be overwhelming.
What we've seen is that the team has no interest in getting "Young" players right now. The players they are adding have all fit into that "late 20's" category of NHL player. These are men in their prime and perhaps peak seasons. The massive age gap between the core and the veterans of the team has been adjusted and balanced.
Something we have also seen is that the Oilers are getting bigger. Purcell, Fayne, Nikitin, and Pouliot all bring size to the table with them. They don't all use it in a punishing way, but it's there and it is changing the way the Oilers look. Where as at one time you could say every Oiler player looked the same as the other (small, skilled) now that's drastically changing. Even newcomer Draisaitl will have a hand in changing that perception. However, it stands to reason that if they could the Oil would continue this trend.
This brings me finally to the question of who the Oilers should target via trade to occupy that 2C spot. The prevailing rumours involve moving Jeff Petry in a trade scenario to a team like St Louis in exchange for Berglund. Personally, I'm not a fan of Berglund. I think his offence has been moving in the wrong direction and he is more than a bit overrated. That said he has the right size (6'3" 217lbs) and age (26) to be a target for the Oil. One problem with that scenario though is that the Blues don't really need Jeff Petry. They need scoring up front, not dependable Defensemen who can play against top opposition. They already have that.
For me I keep coming back to Cap strapped teams who might need to shed a useful player to meet salary needs, and I'm focusing on the Boston Bruins. The natural fit for the Oil from the B's is Defender and Edmontonian Johnny Boychuk, but the Oilers need a C today not a D.
What might it cost to take Bruins Centerman Carl Soderberg?
Soderberg is a 6'3" 216lb 28 year old Center with just 1 full NHL treason under his belt and he becomes a UFA after this coming season. He makes a hair over 1 Million this coming season and that qualifies him as "Dirt Cheap". That's going to make him more useful to the Bruins, who are Cap restricted right now and probably more hopeful someone will take Chris Kelly off their hands, but Boston has to make tough decisions right now and parting with Soderberg might be one of them.
Soderberg went 73GP, 16-32-48 last season and was considered one of the team's most improved players. He amassed those points playing only 14:15 per game on the 3rd line. He was middle of the road in terms of possession with the Bruins (which is still comparatively really good) finishing with a negative but not too bad -1.3% CorsiRel on a 52.6% CorsiFor. He wasn't driving the possession forward, but he wasn't exactly dragging it down either.
What Soderberg might possess is an underrated vision of the ice. Keeping in mind he played a shade over 14 minutes a game, he was 2nd on the Bruins in primary assists with 23, only behind David Krejci by 1. And while his shooting percentage is relatively high (12.4%) and may come down, he's a decent volume shooter (129) and given a larger role that total should climb. The problem is that on the Bruins he is unlikely to get a larger role trapped behind Bergeron and Krejci on the depth chart.
I like Soderberg and the fit he could have with the Oilers, the problem as I mentioned above is that he is a good and cheap player. That's something the Bruins really need right now. Unlike a Chris Kelly who could probably be had for pennies on the dollar, it will very likely take something more to get Soderberg.
The Bruins can't take dollars back but Soderberg is still at the end of the day a long term rental as UFA status waits for him next year. Pick two of Pitlick, Khaira, Musil, Gernat, and a 2nd Round pick. Would that be enough to pry Soderberg away? I don't know, but I hope so.
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