Larsson for Eberle +2017 1st +Slepyshev
- Ihatebrianburke

That's a great return for Larsson. Doubt he goes anywhere though. If a Dman is moved its more likely to be Severson, who is no slouch either.

The ability alone to put guys where they should be makes this team better...imagine if we can have Nurse-Davidson as our 3rd pairing where they can play sheltered minutes while getting better? Or having Sekera on the 2nd pairing where he should be? Pouliot isnt a "sexy" player but you dont have to score 30 goals a year to be considered as a good forward...there are other factors in play as well as you pointed with PK minutes and stuff like that
- RatedR80

I can admit it also has to do abit with not being super high on vatanen....

But either way; "we've got maroon, let's deal pouliot."

And Inevitably an injury happens (in this instance potentially hall), and we've then got Hendricks or korpikoski On our top line..

I think Bozak is a poor mans Travis Zajac. I like RNHs offensive upside as well as his two way game. I don't think RNH has reached his ceiling yet and put in the right situation and barring any more freak injuries he could become an 80 point player that plays a complete game. I don't see that from Bozak.
- smellmyfinger

You have a higher ceiling for Nuge then I do I was thinking at best a 70 point a year player which in todays NHL is top 15-20 which is more then Bozak will ever accomplish...his two way game will only get better as he ages...this wont even be a convo after a few more years

I can admit it also has to do abit with not being super high on vatanen....

But either way; "we've got maroon, let's deal pouliot."

And Inevitably an injury happens (in this instance potentially hall), and we've then got Hendricks or korpikoski On our top line..
- HB77

Its why I want Laine if Ebs get dealt because who the hell do we have after that? Yak wants to be traded so that leaves us with nothing on the RW.....I like Kassian but he isnt a top 6 forward

You have a higher ceiling for Nuge then I do I was thinking at best a 70 point a year player which in todays NHL is top 15-20 which is more then Bozak will ever accomplish...his two way game will only get better as he ages...this wont even be a convo after a few more years
- RatedR80

And that's the point I was getting at. Comparing the two currently, I see it as a close call. Obviously I take Nuge for his future, but Bozak isn't the slouch many made him out to be for simply playing well with Kessel.

Its why I want Laine if Ebs get dealt because who the hell do we have after that? Yak wants to be traded so that leaves us with nothing on the RW.....I like Kassian but he isnt a top 6 forward
- RatedR80

I don't mind it too much. Certainly when we're ready to compete for the Cup we need to have some depth on that wing, but if "robbing Peter to pay Paul" means hurting our RW depth to fix the D I'll take that trade every day.

And that's the point I was getting at. Comparing the two currently, I see it as a close call. Obviously I take Nuge for his future, but Bozak isn't the slouch many made him out to be for simply playing well with Kessel.
- MaximumBone

I wouldnt ever say Bozak is terrible but I guess im not a fan of comparing a 23 year old Nuge with a 30 year old Bozak...was Bozak even in the NHL at 23?

And that's the point I was getting at. Comparing the two currently, I see it as a close call. Obviously I take Nuge for his future, but Bozak isn't the slouch many made him out to be for simply playing well with Kessel.
- MaximumBone

I'm not trying to call Bozak a slouch, I'm just saying a comparable for him is Zajac. RNH even if he is "only" a 70 point a year player is much more valuable than Bozak.

I don't mind it too much. Certainly when we're ready to compete for the Cup we need to have some depth on that wing, but if "robbing Peter to pay Paul" means hurting our RW depth to fix the D I'll take that trade every day.
- MaximumBone

Hey if trading Ebs say gets us Hamonic then pull the trigger because we really need to improve our D im just thinking if that happens then I wouldnt be surprised to see PC keep the pick and draft Laine or Puljujärvi

I don't mind it too much. Certainly when we're ready to compete for the Cup we need to have some depth on that wing, but if "robbing Peter to pay Paul" means hurting our RW depth to fix the D I'll take that trade every day.
- MaximumBone

Trading eberle and yakupov isn't "hurting" our right wing depth. It's flat out eviscerating it.


I think we've become so desperate to get better we'll do anything to marginally improve while tending to dismiss the big picture.
Kassian and pakarinen are our two best right wingers at that point.
We have assets to acquire these pieces without butchering depth elsewhere.

Get us out of the bottom 5!!? Great

But after a year or two of that, but now having other needs that we dealt away, I'm over it pretty quick

If this team doesn't become a perennial contender, it's all for naught

I'm not trying to call Bozak a slouch, I'm just saying a comparable for him is Zajac. RNH even if he is "only" a 70 point a year player is much more valuable than Bozak.
- smellmyfinger

Bozak turned out to be a decent player for an undrafted college player. But he's not even close to the player RNH is. Better on the draw but that's about it.

I'm not trying to call Bozak a slouch, I'm just saying a comparable for him is Zajac. RNH even if he is "only" a 70 point a year player is much more valuable than Bozak.
- smellmyfinger

That's an even IF. He's not there yet.

Trading eberle and yakupov isn't "hurting" our right wing depth. It's flat out eviscerating it.


I think we've become so desperate to get better we'll do anything to marginally improve while tending to dismiss the big picture.
Kassian and pakarinen are our two best right wingers at that point.
We have assets to acquire these pieces without butchering depth elsewhere.

Get us out of the bottom 5!!? Great

But after a year or two of that, but now having other needs that we dealt away, I'm over it pretty quick

If this team doesn't become a perennial contender, it's all for naught
- HB77

That's a bigger step than we've taken so far. RW depth is FAR easier to build up over time and especially when your depth at the other forward positions includes at least Hall, McDavid, Leon, Pouliot, Maroon, and one of the Nuge or the top pick. Wing depth is far easier to replace when you have three (or more) elite talents in your top-6. A lot of teams manage to be bubble teams with less offensive talent in them (NJ, Philly, Florida, NYI, etc).

I don't mind it too much. Certainly when we're ready to compete for the Cup we need to have some depth on that wing, but if "robbing Peter to pay Paul" means hurting our RW depth to fix the D I'll take that trade every day.
- MaximumBone

I'll take a good dman over a winger of similar caliber every single time too

Trading eberle and yakupov isn't "hurting" our right wing depth. It's flat out eviscerating it.


I think we've become so desperate to get better we'll do anything to marginally improve while tending to dismiss the big picture.
Kassian and pakarinen are our two best right wingers at that point.
We have assets to acquire these pieces without butchering depth elsewhere.

Get us out of the bottom 5!!? Great

But after a year or two of that, but now having other needs that we dealt away, I'm over it pretty quick

If this team doesn't become a perennial contender, it's all for naught
- HB77

Where is this depth you speak of? Because the way I see it, the Oilers are going to have to trade some forwards. It comes down to would you rather have wingers or centres? The C depth will be one of the deepest in the league, and the LW depth is possibly the best in the NHL. But no defensive depth at all, unless you consider a 5/6 logjam depth. Now ask yourself: Can the team afford to lose some winger depth to help the defense? I say yes, it can. For me, many of these holes that will be created through trade just need to be filled by players that can keep up with McDavid, Hall, Draisaitl etc. They don't need to be star wingers.

Good blog.

Th biggest mistakes: Reinhart, Marincin, and Schultz seem to have a lot of smoke being the old guards agenda. I hope that is the case and that Chiarelli realizes his mistake for giving those dolts even the smallest voices moving forward.

You did forget to mention Talbot. A solid trade by Chiarelli to say the least.

I don't mind it too much. Certainly when we're ready to compete for the Cup we need to have some depth on that wing, but if "robbing Peter to pay Paul" means hurting our RW depth to fix the D I'll take that trade every day.
- MaximumBone

Exactly. This team is a long ways from competing for the Cup, so why are people concerned about the winger depth? The core is not complete yet. When the team acquires defensemen, then you can start worrying about complementary pieces.

Exactly. This team is a long ways from competing for the Cup, so why are people concerned about the winger depth? The core is not complete yet. When the team acquires defensemen, then you can start worrying about complementary pieces.
- 6ringslowe

Obviously we arent getting something for nothing that would be nonsense to think that....so lets say Ebs gets traded in a package for Hamonic.....thats all good that helps with a more pressing need...so where do we go from there? Unless we get the #1 pick I dont know if anyone will be willing to deal a top 4 RD for a chance to draft a winger which is the only reason I suggested if we dont get the first I can see them taking a Laine or Puljujärvi but still doesnt get us our second RD so whats next? Yak alone wont get it done obviously and will probably end up being traded for another forward...there are so many different ways this whole thing can go....Nuge or Hall would be the obvious choices and if the right guy is there then for sure you make that deal

Exactly. This team is a long ways from competing for the Cup, so why are people concerned about the winger depth? The core is not complete yet. When the team acquires defensemen, then you can start worrying about complementary pieces.
- 6ringslowe

I think we could fill the holes on the wing through free agency sufficiently enough.

Obviously we arent getting something for nothing that would be nonsense to think that....so lets say Ebs gets traded in a package for Hamonic.....thats all good that helps with a more pressing need...so where do we go from there? Unless we get the #1 pick I dont know if anyone will be willing to deal a top 4 RD for a chance to draft a winger which is the only reason I suggested if we dont get the first I can see them taking a Laine or Puljujärvi but still doesnt get us our second RD so whats next? Yak alone wont get it done obviously and will probably end up being traded for another forward...there are so many different ways this whole thing can go....Nuge or Hall would be the obvious choices and if the right guy is there then for sure you make that deal
- RatedR80

I posted this a couple hours earlier so I'll just re-post it here.

Here's my plan:

Eberle, Yakupov and a 3rd for Hamonic, Bailey and a 5th

Gives the Oilers Hamonic, a stay at home top 4 d-man, and Bailey, a RW somewhat similar to Yakupov without the scrutiny, not to mention the Oilers shave 1.3 million off the cap. Meanwhile Yakupov gets a change of scenery and Hamonic comes back to Western Canada, plus the Islanders get a replacement for Okposo.

It's a start but the defense will still need one more top 4 so then I'd propose this:

Pouliot and a 3rd for Sami Vatanen

With this move the Oilers get a puck moving top 4 d-man who can work the powerplay without giving up their centre depth. Given the surplus of 3rd round picks they have right now, this move wouldn't sting much, if at all. Anaheim gets a player to slot into their top 6 who has a history of playing well with finesse players. This move helps solve their scoring issues.

With these 2 moves the D is vastly improved while giving up only 1 of the 6 million dollar men. That means they only have a couple of holes they could plug through UFA or even through their own system if they really had to since there would only be 3rd and 4th line spots left to fill.

I believe you're going to see Chiarelli's real worth this summer now that he's had time to evaluate the young core of the team.
- LeftCoaster

A lot like the new GM in Ottawa, Chiarelli has work to do before September and it will determined the direction of the team.

Thomas Chabot, Curtis Lazar, Mika Zibanejad, and Colin White would be on my list if I was speaking to the Sens with Ceci not being moved and others having issues.

Of course everyone knows a right shot D-man is what the Oilers need - and that's not Luke Schenn. But I'd say landing another Vet D-man free agency as well is the way to go

A lot like the new GM in Ottawa, Chiarelli has work to do before September and it will determined the direction of the team.

Thomas Chabot, Curtis Lazar, Mika Zibanejad, and Colin White would be on my list if I was speaking to the Sens with Ceci not being moved and others having issues.

Of course everyone knows a right shot D-man is what the Oilers need - and that's not Luke Schenn. But I'd say landing another Vet D-man free agency as well is the way to go
- AlfieisKing

I'd love to see Chiarelli find new supporting staff. I'm just so horrified that the Old Boys Club is still alive and well in the core and I want Chia to prove to the fans that it is in fact him calling the shots now

I posted this a couple hours earlier so I'll just re-post it here.

Here's my plan:

Eberle, Yakupov and a 3rd for Hamonic, Bailey and a 5th

Gives the Oilers Hamonic, a stay at home top 4 d-man, and Bailey, a RW somewhat similar to Yakupov without the scrutiny, not to mention the Oilers shave 1.3 million off the cap. Meanwhile Yakupov gets a change of scenery and Hamonic comes back to Western Canada, plus the Islanders get a replacement for Okposo.

It's a start but the defense will still need one more top 4 so then I'd propose this:

Pouliot and a 3rd for Sami Vatanen

With this move the Oilers get a puck moving top 4 d-man who can work the powerplay without giving up their centre depth. Given the surplus of 3rd round picks they have right now, this move wouldn't sting much, if at all. Anaheim gets a player to slot into their top 6 who has a history of playing well with finesse players. This move helps solve their scoring issues.

With these 2 moves the D is vastly improved while giving up only 1 of the 6 million dollar men. That means they only have a couple of holes they could plug through UFA or even through their own system if they really had to since there would only be 3rd and 4th line spots left to fill.
- 6ringslowe

Bailey seems to be as popular with the Isles fans as Yak is with the Oilers fans could be one of those change of scenery trades...we all know how well most Oilers plays for newer teams ....its a price I would pay for Hamonic though

I guess im not as sold as others are in Vatanen who is also a pendng RFA but that wouldnt be much of an issue at all so I guess its just how PC values him as far as that trade goes but yes we do need a puck mover thats for sure.....so with your deals we would look somewhat like this...

Maroon-McDavid-Laine/Puljujärvi (depending on draft spot I didnt see you trading our first)
Hall-Drai-?
?-Nuge-Bailey
Hendricks-Letestu-Kassian

Klef-Hamonic
Sekera-Vatanen
Nurse-Davidson

A lot like the new GM in Ottawa, Chiarelli has work to do before September and it will determined the direction of the team.

Thomas Chabot, Curtis Lazar, Mika Zibanejad, and Colin White would be on my list if I was speaking to the Sens with Ceci not being moved and others having issues.

Of course everyone knows a right shot D-man is what the Oilers need - and that's not Luke Schenn. But I'd say landing another Vet D-man free agency as well is the way to go
- AlfieisKing

delete your account

Bailey seems to be as popular with the Isles fans as Yak is with the Oilers fans could be one of those change of scenery trades...we all know how well most Oilers plays for newer teams ....its a price I would pay for Hamonic though

I guess im not as sold as others are in Vatanen who is also a pendng RFA but that wouldnt be much of an issue at all so I guess its just how PC values him as far as that trade goes but yes we do need a puck mover thats for sure.....so with your deals we would look somewhat like this...

Maroon-McDavid-Laine/Puljujärvi (depending on draft spot I didnt see you trading our first)
Hall-Drai-?
?-Nuge-Bailey
Hendricks-Letestu-Kassian

Klef-Hamonic
Sekera-Vatanen
Nurse-Davidson
- RatedR80

I was once like you and didn't believe in Vatanen, but I made an effort to watch him play this year and he just looks so solid with the puck. I'd say he's the real deal. In 71 games he got 9 goals and 38 points, which are respectable numbers for any young puck moving defenseman. My hope is that he is Chiarelli's main target for a puck mover.

And yes, I thought that it wouldn't make sense to trade the pick as the Oilers would be getting pennies on the dollar. Plus, I really like Laine. I haven't seen much of Puljujärvi though so maybe I should do that. Either way, if one of those Finns comes on the team then they would be coming into a great situation, playing with either Draisaitl and Hall or McDavid and Maroon.

Now there's an empty 2RW spot and a 3LW there. I'd feel much more comfortable heading into the offseason needing wingers rather than defensemen, because wingers are a dime a dozen on July 1. But honestly, I would trust Chiarelli to fill those winger spots