But Jones versus a "healthy" Klefbom just isn't close. To each their own and if you see Jones developing as a Klefbom level top 3 defender that's great.

Or maybe Benson if both him and Kassian have big years.
- Aerchon

Problem is Klefbom never seems to be fully healthy. His poor results at 5-on-5 have been consistent enough to warrant suspicion from me that he isn't already swinging downward.

However, you aren't addressing the core of my point. As Jones is younger and cheaper, that's what makes him more valuable to this team.

I don't see a likely situation where Klefbom gets extended here unless he makes a full recovery and barely misses any time over the final 2 years. Meanwhile, Jones is a safe bet to be resigned at age 24 or 25 for whatever cap hit his level of play warrants. So it becomes 2 more years of Klefbom Vs upwards of 8 more years of Jones.

As for the last statement: if Benson has a strong year, why in god's name would you expose him? The name of the game is to keep the younger and cheaper players wherever possible- hence my position on Jones over Klefbom.

You have spoken truth.
- Wildschwein

I tend to do that

I think if Jones and Klefbom both play well and are healthy they protect Klefbom. If Jones gets picked they have Klefbom until Samourukov and/or Broberg can step in. This is more what I think Oilers management will do rather than what I want. I wouldn't be surprised to see Nurse, Klefbom, and Russell our top 3 for the rest of Klefbom's contract. And Klefbom is currently the better defenseman and on a team friendly contract.

I think if Benson, Kassian, and Turris all play well but within expectations Benson also would be left unprotected. For the same reasons.

Development is never linear but you have to project a player and both Jones and Benson are good prospects just entering the league but neither has the pedigree to gamble that they will likely be better than established veteran nhl players.

I don't really see a situation where the Oilers don't lose a good player. But whether it's Jones, Benson, Kassian, or Turris it's not the end of the world. As mentioned if it's Jones we lose from a position we have great depth.

But to come full circle I highly doubt Klefbom gets selected. He's either gimped and unwanted or legit on the mend and protected.

I think if Jones and Klefbom both play well and are healthy they protect Klefbom. If Jones gets picked they have Klefbom until Samourukov and/or Broberg can step in. This is more what I think Oilers management will do rather than what I want. I wouldn't be surprised to see Nurse, Klefbom, and Russell our top 3 for the rest of Klefbom's contract. And Klefbom is currently the better defenseman and on a team friendly contract.

I think if Benson, Kassian, and Turris all play well but within expectations Benson also would be left unprotected. For the same reasons.

Development is never linear but you have to project a player and both Jones and Benson are good prospects just entering the league but neither has the pedigree to gamble that they will likely be better than established veteran nhl players.

I don't really see a situation where the Oilers don't lose a good player. But whether it's Jones, Benson, Kassian, or Turris it's not the end of the world. As mentioned if it's Jones we lose from a position we have great depth.

But to come full circle I highly doubt Klefbom gets selected. He's either gimped and unwanted or legit on the mend and protected.
- Aerchon

You would protect Kassian or Turris ahead of Benson if they all had good years?! We're operating on too different a wavelength.

Pedigree means nothing to me. If I'm choosing between protecting a 23 year old LW or a 30 year old Kassian, I retain the youth every damn time- especially if they had similar offensive production (as is the case in this thought experiment). Turris is pretty darn replaceable, too, but at least his contract isn't burdensome.

I think we have some fundamental disagreements on how we value youth.

One final point because you've said it a couple times: development can absolutely be linear. It often isn't, particularly over the full course of someone's career, but that doesn't mean it never is.

I really want to stress that my fundamental thoughts are in alignment with yours. Youth over experience to build a successful team.

I've followed both Jones and Benson and I think it's very optimistic to project them to be as good or better than Klefbom and Turris/Benson.

The gap is real and rather large between. But both absolutely "could" be as good or better.

It comes down to a bird in the hand versus two in the bush. While cheaper and with potential why keep them over established nhlers. It's hard to imagine Benson ever being able to impact a game like Kassian can on occasion. Ditto Jones to Klefbom.

It is what it is. I'm hoping we can keep Benson and Jones. If both show much more development over the year than they have to date and Klefbom is still a bandaid or Kassian struggles you obviously expose the latter two and just hope the team can be better for it asap.

I will also add to your case that with the exception of Fluery, Vegas looked god awful before their season started as well.
- RedC21

Fleury*

It comes down to a bird in the hand versus two in the bush. While cheaper and with potential why keep them over established nhlers. It's hard to imagine Benson ever being able to impact a game like Kassian can on occasion. Ditto Jones to Klefbom.
- Aerchon

I think our opinions on Kassian differ too much to get anywhere on that. In essence, I don't think either Klefbom or Kassian impact the game in a manner that's difficult to replicate- whether for prospects or replacements found in UFA or trade.

Klefbom is a 2nd pairing Dman that's been tasked with more than he's capable of for far too long. A consistent drain on goal share relative to the rest of his team despite not playing especially difficult minutes. I think you can replace what he does at 5-on-5 without much difficulty and his PP job is already changing hands. That leaves his PK work and, while solid, that's hardly something that's irreplaceable.

Meanwhile, Kassian has a somewhat unique skillset but is otherwise a mercurial 3rd or 4th liner with zero defensive ability and the right mix of offensive abilities to do some damage alongside McDavid.

I was not a fan of Klefbom for a long time and while I agree he is being used higher than he should be my eye test and the teams success say he is significantly more important than you are suggesting.

Bear made jumping into the top 4 of an nhl club look easy but I think of it as almost graduating to a more difficult league entirely. Many/most of the most promising defenders get crushed or struggle when put into that role. Benning for example has spent years being a damn near perfect bottom pairing defender but repeatedly proved himself unable to bridge the gap to become a top3/4 defenseman.

Jones made great strides this year but imo is not even where Benning was and we just let him walk away from the organization for nothing.

I think many are expecting Jones to be able to do what Bear did no problem. I'm one of those that always though Bear was noticeably better than Jones. What Bear did was predicated by Bear being better to begin with and having more room to develop. Jones imo was never as good as Bear and has a much lower ceiling. The only asset Jones had over Bear was skating and while obviously important it's just as obvious that there is much more to being an elite nhl defender than skating. Otherwise Nurse would already be a #1.

Kassian imo is a very good 3rd liner with a unique and useful skillset. I think he can be used in the top 6 but that isn't where he should regularly be used.

Benson hasn't even proved himself a capable 4th liner yet and as a forward is entering his prime. Both are on the old side to be thinking they have true top 3 or top 6 potential.

If Klefbom doesn’t play this season he doesn’t have to be exposed.

If Klefbom doesn’t play this season he doesn’t have to be exposed.
- Vanillaface

If you're referring to the 70/40 minimum threshold, that doesn't mean Klefbom wouldn't still be exposed. It just means that he wouldn't count towards the team's required exposure of (iirc) at least one Dman who meets those criteria. As with players like Benson or Lagesson, he'd still be eligible to be taken even if he doesn't meet that requirement.

If you're referring to something else that I'm unaware of, please elaborate.

I am sure the Kraken will be making plenty more trades. My guess is they take more cap dumps with 1st round selections, then they do best available players. Tons of good UFA's in the offseason, and most teams are crippled by the flat cap. They could easily look at my Devs and say, were signing Palms/Gusev/Ryan Murray, and with those current pick projections, they would easily hold top minutes with this team.

I know its all hypothetical and so much can change, but I see this team stockpiling picks more then looking to be instant contenders like Vegas.