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Oilers Trade Ryan Strome for Ryan Spooner + Oil Drops

November 16, 2018, 1:19 PM ET [72 Comments]
Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT





The Oilers have just announced they have traded Ryan Strome for Ryan Spooner from the New York Rangers. Strome and Spooner both have a goal and an assist this season. Spooner is 26 vs Strome who is 25.




So the Oilers are moving out a right handed centre with two years left at 3.1 million who would be a RFA after that deal for another left handed centre with two years left on his deal who will be a UFA.

First glance I do not like this deal. Will have more for you guys later.

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Original blog from before the trade.

After failing to provide enough offense over the course of five games McLellan went back to his tried and proven pair of McDavid and Draisaitl. The results were instantaneous as those two combined for 6 points on the night.

Fans have been quick to point out the teams like Colorado and Boston have been able to stack all their top players on one line and win games. With players like McDavid and Draisaitl it is easy for fans to think the Oilers can replicate this success.

OILERS

Ryan Nugent Hopkins: 4-14-18
Tobias Rieder: 0-7-7
Alex Chiasson: 6-1-7
Total: 10-22-32

BRUINS

Daniel Krejci: 2-14-16
Joakim Nordstrom: 3-1-4
Jake DeBrusk: 7-2-9
Total: 12-17-29

AVALANCHE

Tyson Jost: 3-1-4
Alexander Kerfoot: 4-10-14
Colin Wilson: 4-3-7
Total: 11-14-25

At first glance this looks pretty solid. Edmonton has scored less goals from their second line but have overall produced more points. Howver this includes Ryan Nugent Hopkins who has scored essentially all his points this season playing on a line with McDavid. It is unlikely he will produce at the same rate with these linemates.

Secondly we need to examine how successful these teams are with this strategy. The Bruins exploded for offense to start the season but now find themselves in the middle of the pack in the Atlantic Division. Meanwhile the Avalanche were on a 5 game losing streak (that was snapped thanks to Edmonton) and are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.

There is no question that McDavid and Draisaitl will produce if they continue playing together. I remain a staunch supporter in the belief that if this team wants to truly be competitive they need to have the ability to separate these two players.

RIEDER OUT A MONTH

Todd McLellan announced that Tobias Rieder will be out for at least a month with an upper body injury. There was no specifics as to the injury but looking back on the game it appears as though it was a shoulder on shoulder collision which sent Rieder to the dressing room.

While Rieder has yet to score a goal he has come as advertised, providing an element of speed and skill which has fit in well in the Oilers top 6. Edmonton is already struggling to find players to play with consistency in the top 6.

Patrick Russell (11GP 4-5-9) and Cooper Marody (7GP 3-7-10) have both had successful seasons thus far with the Condors and have been called up to the big club.

The most likely option right now appears to be putting Lucic back into the top 6 and have one of Marody or Russell take the left wing spot on the third line while the other is the 13th forward.

I applaud the Oilers for not calling up one of the more prolific younger players like Benson or Hebig or simply bouncing Yamamoto or Puljujarvi back. Hebig has been a pleasant surprise producing in his first pro hockey season as is Benson who is producing now that he is finally healthy.

Benson, Hebig, Yamamoto, and Puljujarvi could all be future players in the Oilers top 6. The best thing for all of these young men is to play as much as possible this year in the AHL and not bounce between leagues.

OILERS 4 ARE #1

Every season TSN releases how they rank each team's four best players under the age of 24. This year the Oilers find themselves in first, ahead of the Maple Leafs with McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and Nurse leading the charge.

Personally I put little stock into these lists but they do help serve as a nice reminder at how young the Oilers core is and that we have yet to see players like Draisaitl or McDavid enter their prime.

Seeing the likes of Toronto (Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Kapanen), Vancouver (Petterson, Boeser, Horvat, Hughes), and Winnipeg (Laine, Connor, Morrissey, Ehlers) shows that Canadian teams should be a force for many years to come.

Thanks for reading.
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