Step number 1 is someone talking to McDavid about being a leader. He handed the Jets the series clincher but wants no part of owning it.

Crosby, Ovie, Bergeron would have been crushed and owned the loss on themselves... McDavid shrugs and says "yeah, WE'RE disappointed, WE made too many mistakes..."

How about I made a stupid lazy play that lost the game? Try WE when it's going well and I when you screw up.

What I would do:

FORWARDS

Jaden Schwartz, if he makes it to ufa he would be my main priority in the top six with the amount of cap space the oilers have. Saskatchewan kid may have interest playing close to home, with two of the best players in the league and may come at a discount considering he’s coming off a down year

Mike Hoffman, offer him the Barrie contract to try and up his value. Shouldn’t be much more than the one year deal he signed with STL.

Blake Coleman, ideal middle six winger coming off a cup win last year

RNH, I bring him back but he has to come at a discount of no more than 5m aav. Not many good C options on the UFA market so if edm can get those first two wingers you can have him play 3C and if not edm will still need a player to play in their top six.

Expansion, pay seattle to take James Neal. Oilers don’t need the cap space but it’s a perk in addition to making sure the oilers lose nothing of value like Caleb Jones.

Buyout/bury Kyle turris

DEFENCE-

What the oilers do on the back end will highly depend wether they make the aforementioned Neal deal and on wether klefbom can return.

If klefbom is back I keep larsson if not I would consider making a move for Dumba who Minnesota will likely lose to seattle unless they make a deal with the kraken.

GOALIE-

I don’t believe grubauer or mrazek will make it to UFA and there aren’t many trade options worth making a move for IMO.

Bernier may resign with detroit but if not him or Dreidger are my targets. Dreidger’s sample size is small and he hasn’t faired well against Tampa in the playoffs but with not many great options available it seems like the gamble you have to make.

Also going on the assumption that if they still have their 1st the oilers take Sebastian cossa, it may just be because he’s a local boy but Bob stauffer has brought his name up enough times for me to believe he’s their target

So all in all my armchair gm lineup would be:

F
Hoffman-Mcdavid-JP
Schwartz-Drai-Yam
Coleman-RNH-archibald
Benson-McLeod-kassian

Marody
Kahun-at the right price
Holloway

D
Nurse-Bear
Jones/klefbom-Dumba/Larsson
Russell/Jones-Bouchard

Russell
Lagesson
Broberg
Koekoek-at the right price

G
Dreidger
Koskinnen

Other potential targets: Domi, Merzlikens/korpisalo, Tatar, Saad, Janmark, tierney

This is legitimately the stupidest thing I've ever read on this site. Kassian is not a top six winger, he is barely an NHL forward. Stastny is 35 and over the hill and you want to give him 2 years. Hard no on DeAngelo. There is just too much stupid here to continue even addressing.
- Smurffin

Really? I’d have thought you’d read the articles outlining the Oilers hiring Chiarelli. And the ones highlighting the Ken Holland hire. You must not read much.

What this article fails to realize is that Toffoli, Donskoi, C. Smith, etc. these guys aren’t signing in EDM at the same price. EDM will have to pay a premium and then they become tomorrow’s bad deals. And while McD should be a draw, and he is, he does have some legit body language and temperament things on the bench and with the press (specifically when team mates have stepped up when he’s been nailed then he throws his own guys under the bus saying “he thought it was clean,” etc etc. sorta ignoring the fact that if Kassian or someone else stands by and lets him get nailed THEY’RE gonna be riding pine for it. It’s a subtle dig between the ears too that almost places McD and his opponents on a more even class or skill plane than he and his team mates. Couple that with him almost making a guy like Pulj appear to want to cry after, admittedly, sure, a gaffe, but that’s a dude whose been giving 110% the whole way. I’d say there is still room for growth in McJesus. Which is kind of a duh statement. Look at how high the mountain usually is. Ask Sakic, Yzerman, or a warrior like Brind’Ampur. They’re all around and would take his call.
That said, fixes:

Trade RNH’s Rights+Kosk+D C. Jones+2021 1st to CBJ for G Elvis Merzlikins+RW Cam Atkinson+Conditional 2022 7th (per RNH signing)
Sign C Paul Stastny 2yrs/5.0aav/$10M
Sign LW Nick Foligno 2yrs/4.5aav/$9M
Sign G Raanta 2yrs/3.95aav/$7.9M

Trade D Russell+RW Archibald+C D. Shore to NYR for D Tony DeAngelo+C Colin Blackwell

C Turris+2021 6th/PIT to WSH for D Lucas Johansen

Trade F James Neal+RW Yamamoto+2022 2nd+7th to SEA for Neal Draft Guarantee+2021 5th

Trade D Ethan Bear to NJD for 2021 3rd+2022 4th/EDM

Sign C Brad Richardson to Minor League Deal paying $400k in AHL or $800k if recalled


2021-3rd/NJD+4th+5th/SEA+6th+7th
2022-1st+3rd+4th+5th+6th+7th/CBJ*


Draisitl-McD-Kassian {8.5-12.5-3.2}
Holloway- Stastny-Puljujarvi {0.9-5.0-1.2}
N. Foligno-R. McLeod-Atkinson {4.5-0.9-5.9)
Khaira-Blackwell-Kahun {1.5-0.8-1.3}
x T. Benson x Marody { 0.9 - 0.9} <$48M>

Nurse-DeAngelo {5.6-4.8}
Klefbom-Larsson {4.2-4.8}
Broberg-Bouchard {0.9 - 0.9}
x Lagesson {0.8} <$23.0>

Merzlikins {4.0}
Raanta {3.95} <$7.95>
Salary: $79.25 = $2.25M cap room to add at TDL/Callups/Bonus Cushions, Etc.

Minor League Non Cap Accrual Until Recalled
(B. Richardson-O. Safin-R. Lavoie
(Lennstrom/Johansen)
(Stalock)

Sets up your next two drafts to have picks in rounds 3-7and with the 2022 1st likely to find it’s way into play at the 2022 TDL, but if not, it’ll be there.

The Rangers get their Jack Johnson Replacement in Russell +freedom from the TDA saga and EDM for the drama adds Blackwell to a “new feel“ bottom 6.

Stastny is always worth every penny. He loves young big wingers and has always made them value added assets: (David Jones, Chris Stewart, even Andrew Brunette!).

Foligno can play up or down of Holloway, either adding net front to the Stazz line or Defensive Acuity to the McLeod unit.

Atkinson Can Play Anywhere lines 1-3 and will be a plus on the PP while adding speed to any line.

TDA is this years Barrie perhaps with greater upside considering his RFA status st the end of the year paving the way for Bouchard to take over for him at the RD1 Slot and then TDA being flipped for picks or young assets a year from now.

Thoughts?
- 13of39

Thoughts are you have a lot of time on your hands....

What this article fails to realize is that Toffoli, Donskoi, C. Smith, etc. these guys aren’t signing in EDM at the same price. EDM will have to pay a premium and then they become tomorrow’s bad deals. And while McD should be a draw, and he is, he does have some legit body language and temperament things on the bench and with the press (specifically when team mates have stepped up when he’s been nailed then he throws his own guys under the bus saying “he thought it was clean,” etc etc. sorta ignoring the fact that if Kassian or someone else stands by and lets him get nailed THEY’RE gonna be riding pine for it. It’s a subtle dig between the ears too that almost places McD and his opponents on a more even class or skill plane than he and his team mates. Couple that with him almost making a guy like Pulj appear to want to cry after, admittedly, sure, a gaffe, but that’s a dude whose been giving 110% the whole way. I’d say there is still room for growth in McJesus. Which is kind of a duh statement. Look at how high the mountain usually is. Ask Sakic, Yzerman, or a warrior like Brind’Ampur. They’re all around and would take his call.
That said, fixes:

Trade RNH’s Rights+Kosk+D C. Jones+2021 1st to CBJ for G Elvis Merzlikins+RW Cam Atkinson+Conditional 2022 7th (per RNH signing)
Sign C Paul Stastny 2yrs/5.0aav/$10M
Sign LW Nick Foligno 2yrs/4.5aav/$9M
Sign G Raanta 2yrs/3.95aav/$7.9M

Trade D Russell+RW Archibald+C D. Shore to NYR for D Tony DeAngelo+C Colin Blackwell

C Turris+2021 6th/PIT to WSH for D Lucas Johansen

Trade F James Neal+RW Yamamoto+2022 2nd+7th to SEA for Neal Draft Guarantee+2021 5th

Trade D Ethan Bear to NJD for 2021 3rd+2022 4th/EDM

Sign C Brad Richardson to Minor League Deal paying $400k in AHL or $800k if recalled


2021-3rd/NJD+4th+5th/SEA+6th+7th
2022-1st+3rd+4th+5th+6th+7th/CBJ*


Draisitl-McD-Kassian {8.5-12.5-3.2}
Holloway- Stastny-Puljujarvi {0.9-5.0-1.2}
N. Foligno-R. McLeod-Atkinson {4.5-0.9-5.9)
Khaira-Blackwell-Kahun {1.5-0.8-1.3}
x T. Benson x Marody { 0.9 - 0.9} <$48M>

Nurse-DeAngelo {5.6-4.8}
Klefbom-Larsson {4.2-4.8}
Broberg-Bouchard {0.9 - 0.9}
x Lagesson {0.8} <$23.0>

Merzlikins {4.0}
Raanta {3.95} <$7.95>
Salary: $79.25 = $2.25M cap room to add at TDL/Callups/Bonus Cushions, Etc.

Minor League Non Cap Accrual Until Recalled
(B. Richardson-O. Safin-R. Lavoie
(Lennstrom/Johansen)
(Stalock)

Sets up your next two drafts to have picks in rounds 3-7and with the 2022 1st likely to find it’s way into play at the 2022 TDL, but if not, it’ll be there.

The Rangers get their Jack Johnson Replacement in Russell +freedom from the TDA saga and EDM for the drama adds Blackwell to a “new feel“ bottom 6.

Stastny is always worth every penny. He loves young big wingers and has always made them value added assets: (David Jones, Chris Stewart, even Andrew Brunette!).

Foligno can play up or down of Holloway, either adding net front to the Stazz line or Defensive Acuity to the McLeod unit.

Atkinson Can Play Anywhere lines 1-3 and will be a plus on the PP while adding speed to any line.

TDA is this years Barrie perhaps with greater upside considering his RFA status st the end of the year paving the way for Bouchard to take over for him at the RD1 Slot and then TDA being flipped for picks or young assets a year from now.

Thoughts?
- 13of39

Stopped at the Rags proposal. DeAngelo has negative value and is going to be bought out. Absolutely no one is giving up anything for his cancerous attitude.

Home
- Nucker101

Letting RNH go and replacing him with a FA center or on thru trade would be in order.
Who to target? Reinhart, Getzlaf, Krejci, Danualt, Eichel is too costly, WHO ELSE?
- HenryHockey

Nuge is good. It's the bottom 6 again that were disappointments. To free up cap space, Neal needs to go the very popular LTIR retirement trend. Bear and Klefbolm may be a guys that needs to be looked at as a potential trade assets. Barrie, Larsson, Bouchard all capable of holding down the RD positions. While Nurse, Broberg, Russel, can hold down the LD. This team has a plethora of D, and needs some of that $ up front.

No clue what the solution is on the Tendy's. Kosk wasn't good enough, and Smith was great but will be 40 next season! Lots of UFA tendies but it sounds like Smith will be coming back, so no change in net?

Stopped at the Rags proposal. DeAngelo has negative value and is going to be bought out. Absolutely no one is giving up anything for his cancerous attitude.
- wreckage

Most likely that will be the case. However, I feel if DeAngelo gets a shot at redemption, it will be via a Canadian team. The bulk of his distractions seemed to be surrounding US politics, so that wont be as detrimental up in the North. Then..... there are many unsubstantiated issues of bullying and racism. Again unsubstantiated, but when it seems to be re-occurring, there is likely some traction there. If he wasn't so talented, he would never wear skates again, but you have to think someone will take a chance on the kid. He was 4th among D scoring last year and entering his prime years.

Most likely that will be the case. However, I feel if DeAngelo gets a shot at redemption, it will be via a Canadian team. The bulk of his distractions seemed to be surrounding US politics, so that wont be as detrimental up in the North. Then..... there are many unsubstantiated issues of bullying and racism. Again unsubstantiated, but when it seems to be re-occurring, there is likely some traction there. If he wasn't so talented, he would never wear skates again, but you have to think someone will take a chance on the kid. He was 4th among D scoring last year and entering his prime years.
- bikeguy99

there are also several substantiated issues.

Most likely that will be the case. However, I feel if DeAngelo gets a shot at redemption, it will be via a Canadian team. The bulk of his distractions seemed to be surrounding US politics, so that wont be as detrimental up in the North. Then..... there are many unsubstantiated issues of bullying and racism. Again unsubstantiated, but when it seems to be re-occurring, there is likely some traction there. If he wasn't so talented, he would never wear skates again, but you have to think someone will take a chance on the kid. He was 4th among D scoring last year and entering his prime years.
- bikeguy99

A) so you are saying no one should be giving up any assets for him. Which is exactly my point.

B) with his patriotic stance, he may just say no to any Canadian team thinking an American team will come calling. When that doesn't pan out he could wind up having to spend the next 3 years in Russia if he wants to continue his career.

Most likely that will be the case. However, I feel if DeAngelo gets a shot at redemption, it will be via a Canadian team. The bulk of his distractions seemed to be surrounding US politics, so that wont be as detrimental up in the North. Then..... there are many unsubstantiated issues of bullying and racism. Again unsubstantiated, but when it seems to be re-occurring, there is likely some traction there. If he wasn't so talented, he would never wear skates again, but you have to think someone will take a chance on the kid. He was 4th among D scoring last year and entering his prime years.
- bikeguy99

DeAngelo would have the same issues in Canada. He is done in the nhl I think.

Letting RNH go and replacing him with a FA center or on thru trade would be in order.
Who to target? Reinhart, Getzlaf, Krejci, Danualt, Eichel is too costly, WHO ELSE?
- HenryHockey

Top free agents don't sign in Edmonton. Barrie was our best free agent in 15 years.

Nothing a number one draft pick (always a forward) couldn't solve.


- ThatDarnCat

The top dmen drafted in those 4 years were Gudbranson, Larsson, Murray and Hanifin. If there was an Ekblad or Jones at the top of the drafts then it would've been considered.