Sean Maloughney: Predicting The Oilers Summer - Part 1 - Free Agency

I still say they dropped the ball not trading the 8 pick. Get McDavid and Leon some help!

I have major apprehensions about Connolly as you've noted in the blog. While he certainly produces well at a per-60 rate, he plays heavily sheltered minutes (mid-20s in % against Elites: http://www.puckiq.com/players/8475792) and he's not a volume shooter, either. Donskoi has already made a habit of playing the complimentary role on a top-6 line and has shown to excel in such a position. Given the estimates circulating around both, I'd easily take Donskoi @ ~3mil over Connolly @ ~4mil.

As for the remainder, I'd give Filppula a shot but only under the condition that Tippett is prepared to shelter him a tad, as well. He's a quality, veteran 3C and would be an upgrade on who we have now but he's not some high-end shutdown C. If the plan is to sign Connolly, adding Filppula and Pirri to create a soft-minute scoring 3rd line would be the best way to maximize all of them (Pirri played VERY sheltered minutes). One could comfortably bank on solid production out of such an arrangement.

Ideally, an offseason that brings in Donskoi, Filppula and (while less likely after the Miller trade) Eriksson for Lucic, I think the forward corps would be in a position to hold up.

Draisaitl- McDavid- Kassian
Eriksson- RNH- Donskoi
Pirri- Filppula- Gagner
Gambo- Khaira- Currie
Nygard, Cave

That 2nd line would likely have an easy time cracking ~30 EV points each (likely closer to 40 for Nuge) and that's a fair expectation for a mid-range 2nd line. If the 3rd line can make up for some of the offensive shortcomings (2nd PP unit) and the 4th line can do us the favour of not getting caved, then we could be doing okay.

Do you think Bouchard makes the jump this year?

He didn't look too out of place at the beginning of last year when he was with the oil

Do you think Bouchard makes the jump this year?

He didn't look too out of place at the beginning of last year when he was with the oil
- lonnyBohonos

No. He was extremely sheltered last year and would likely see the most improvement through playing a season or two in Bakersfield before stepping in.

If you are going to waive a magic wand to eliminate the Russell contract from the books, why not do the same with Lucic?

If you are going to waive a magic wand to eliminate the Russell contract from the books, why not do the same with Lucic?
- Antilles

Unlike Lucic, there have been a number of teams that have expressed interest in Russell and he doesn't have a NMC making him actually tradeable.

Unlike Lucic, there have been a number of teams that have expressed interest in Russell and he doesn't have a NMC making him actually tradeable.
- freelancer

I have major apprehensions about Connolly as you've noted in the blog. While he certainly produces well at a per-60 rate, he plays heavily sheltered minutes (mid-20s in % against Elites: http://www.puckiq.com/players/8475792) and he's not a volume shooter, either. Donskoi has already made a habit of playing the complimentary role on a top-6 line and has shown to excel in such a position. Given the estimates circulating around both, I'd easily take Donskoi @ ~3mil over Connolly @ ~4mil.

As for the remainder, I'd give Filppula a shot but only under the condition that Tippett is prepared to shelter him a tad, as well. He's a quality, veteran 3C and would be an upgrade on who we have now but he's not some high-end shutdown C. If the plan is to sign Connolly, adding Filppula and Pirri to create a soft-minute scoring 3rd line would be the best way to maximize all of them (Pirri played VERY sheltered minutes). One could comfortably bank on solid production out of such an arrangement.

Ideally, an offseason that brings in Donskoi, Filppula and (while less likely after the Miller trade) Eriksson for Lucic, I think the forward corps would be in a position to hold up.

Draisaitl- McDavid- Kassian
Eriksson- RNH- Donskoi
Pirri- Filppula- Gagner
Gambo- Khaira- Currie
Nygard, Cave

That 2nd line would likely have an easy time cracking ~30 EV points each (likely closer to 40 for Nuge) and that's a fair expectation for a mid-range 2nd line. If the 3rd line can make up for some of the offensive shortcomings (2nd PP unit) and the 4th line can do us the favour of not getting caved, then we could be doing okay.
- MaximumBone

Kassian still on the first line?

Kassian still on the first line?

- geta02it

Not many options and, while I don't think he'll keep it up for a full year, he did produce at near-1st line rates (1.96 pts/60) when playing with McDavid and well above (2.56 pts/60) when playing with both McDavid and Draisaitl.

Thinking someone gives Donskoi 4 ish.

I still say they dropped the ball not trading the 8 pick. Get McDavid and Leon some help!
- Slimtj100

We don't have the cap to bring in any top end talent unless we shed a bad contract or two.

Thinking someone gives Donskoi 4 ish.
- ChrisMS

at this rate you arent wrong... Myers is rumored to get 7 million plus

at this rate you arent wrong... Myers is rumored to get 7 million plus
- Reveen.

We don't have the cap to bring in any top end talent unless we shed a bad contract or two.
- Reveen.

We kind of lucked out that Pulju didn't light it up because we wouldn't of been able to pay him...

We kind of lucked out that Pulju didn't light it up because we wouldn't of been able to pay him...
- Lemmewinks

Well that’s certainly one way to look at it.

at this rate you arent wrong... Myers is rumored to get 7 million plus
- Reveen.

Benning tho

What happen to lucic?

Do you think Bouchard makes the jump this year?

He didn't look too out of place at the beginning of last year when he was with the oil
- lonnyBohonos

Not likely with Holland at the helm . He would have to blow the doors off . No one is more patient with prospects then him

Not many options and, while I don't think he'll keep it up for a full year, he did produce at near-1st line rates (1.96 pts/60) when playing with McDavid and well above (2.56 pts/60) when playing with both McDavid and Draisaitl.
- MaximumBone

Panarin! Sign him for 6 x 1.5 and enjoy!

"Tkachuk talks likely to handcuff Flames through free agency period"

These are the headlines I like to see. According to the report he is asking anywhere from 7 to 10 M dependent on the term. Yikes!

Sean Maloughney: Predicting The Oilers Summer - Part 1 - Free Agency
- freelancer

More color coded pie charts and bar graphs to depict player stats in future blogs please. The ones you used are boring.

I have major apprehensions about Connolly as you've noted in the blog. While he certainly produces well at a per-60 rate, he plays heavily sheltered minutes (mid-20s in % against Elites: http://www.puckiq.com/players/8475792) and he's not a volume shooter, either. Donskoi has already made a habit of playing the complimentary role on a top-6 line and has shown to excel in such a position. Given the estimates circulating around both, I'd easily take Donskoi @ ~3mil over Connolly @ ~4mil.

As for the remainder, I'd give Filppula a shot but only under the condition that Tippett is prepared to shelter him a tad, as well. He's a quality, veteran 3C and would be an upgrade on who we have now but he's not some high-end shutdown C. If the plan is to sign Connolly, adding Filppula and Pirri to create a soft-minute scoring 3rd line would be the best way to maximize all of them (Pirri played VERY sheltered minutes). One could comfortably bank on solid production out of such an arrangement.

Ideally, an offseason that brings in Donskoi, Filppula and (while less likely after the Miller trade) Eriksson for Lucic, I think the forward corps would be in a position to hold up.

Draisaitl- McDavid- Kassian
Eriksson- RNH- Donskoi
Pirri- Filppula- Gagner
Gambo- Khaira- Currie
Nygard, Cave

That 2nd line would likely have an easy time cracking ~30 EV points each (likely closer to 40 for Nuge) and that's a fair expectation for a mid-range 2nd line. If the 3rd line can make up for some of the offensive shortcomings (2nd PP unit) and the 4th line can do us the favour of not getting caved, then we could be doing okay.
- MaximumBone

Maybe leave the blogging to Sean. After all he did beat you for the job.

We don't have the cap to bring in any top end talent unless we shed a bad contract or two.
- Reveen.

This website was able to shed Iggy and Jero so anything is possible.

What happen to lucic?
- SRam19