Speculation: The Offseason: II (All Offseason Wishlist/Strategy Talk)

[Sidney the Kidney]

I don't see how Eberle is a huge upgrade? I think Garth should be trying for a #2 center(Duchene) and then worrying about the wing.

I don't know if he's available for trade or if they would within the division it is much rather Skinner than Eberle. Even though he's a LW Skinner is a legit sniper. Has had some injury concerns but he's a much better scorer than Eberle.

The price to acquire Skinner is likely a lot higher than acquiring Eberle, though. So it makes a bit more sense to acquire a "lesser" sniper for a bargain price than empty your prospects cupboard to acquire a better one, especially if Duchene is already going to do some damage to your organizational depth.

 

[danteipp]

We're also counting on losing Kulemin to give Tavares a raise.... so trading him now to fit another player signed long term only temporarily fixes a problem.

The Isles have $37.3 million in projected cap space in 2018-19. Even if you give $9 million per to Tavares for his extension and $12 million to both Duchene and Eberle, that is still about $16 million to fill out the roster and sign any RFAs like Nelson, Strome, etc. depending on who isn't traded of course.

It will also mean the prospects and young players (from whoever isn't traded among Barzal, Beauvillier, JHS, MDC, Bellows, etc.) are a year further along in their development along with signed roster players like JT, Duchene, Eberle, Lee, Cizikas, Clutter, Quine, Prince, etc.

You then decide if you want to sign the RFAs or trade them for cheaper assets. This really isn't an untenable situation. One thing Snow has done right is stagger the contracts so there is flexibility upcoming.

 

[periferal]

We're also counting on losing Kulemin to give Tavares a raise.... so trading him now to fit another player signed long term only temporarily fixes a problem.

Literally over 30 million is coming off the books next summer. No problem giving JT an extension and adding some real talent. We just need to survive this upcoming season.

 

[doublechili]

The price to acquire Skinner is likely a lot higher than acquiring Eberle, though. So it makes a bit more sense to acquire a "lesser" sniper for a bargain price than empty your prospects cupboard to acquire a better one, especially if Duchene is already going to do some damage to your organizational depth.

For that reason, and because Snow is being moved to action by needing to please JT, I would not be surprised to see a deal for Duchene and then something like signing JT's friend Sam Gagner instead of trading assets for Eberle.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

For that reason, and because Snow is being moved to action by needing to please JT, I would not be surprised to see a deal for Duchene and then something like signing JT's friend Sam Gagner instead of trading assets for Eberle.

Is Gagner really an upgrade over anything the Isles currently have, though? He's essentially a poor man's Eberle. I'm not sure he'd provide any more than the current whipping boys like Strome or Nelson provide.

 

[doublechili]

Is Gagner really an upgrade over anything the Isles currently have, though? He's essentially a poor man's Eberle. I'm not sure he'd provide any more than the current whipping boys like Strome or Nelson provide.

I could see that if Snow did more than we expect and Strome and Nelson are both gone and he needs a bit of forward depth. I'm just basing this on Snow's typical bargain bin M.O. and can't comment on Gagner's play (haven't really seen him in a long time). But if Eberle costs something significant and Gagner is "free"....

 

[boredmale]

Is Gagner really an upgrade over anything the Isles currently have, though? He's essentially a poor man's Eberle. I'm not sure he'd provide any more than the current whipping boys like Strome or Nelson provide.

Gagner is a RW so yes he would be an addition over our current crop of righters which basically includes Clutterbuck and Ho Sang and whichever LW or Center we decide to play on the right side. If he was a C/LW I would have absolutely no use for him

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I could see that if Snow did more than we expect and Strome and Nelson are both gone and he needs a bit of forward depth. I'm just basing this on Snow's typical bargain bin M.O. and can't comment on Gagner's play (haven't really seen him in a long time). But if Eberle costs something significant and Gagner is "free"....

I didn't see him much in the regular season, but in the playoffs Gagner was a non-factor against the Pens. Played on the 4th line and was essentially used as a PP specialist who saw very few ES shifts.

I guess I just don't see the appeal of a guy like Gagner for a team with playoff/Cup aspirations, particularly because of how irrelevant he becomes once the playoffs start and PP opportunities dry up.

Gagner is a RW so yes he would be an addition over our current crop of righters which basically includes Clutterbuck and Ho Sang and whichever LW or Center we decide to play on the right side. If he was a C/LW I would have absolutely no use for him

But I was talking about as an addition instead of Eberle. Eberle would be brought in to upgrade that RW as well.

 

[SI90]

The price to acquire Skinner is likely a lot higher than acquiring Eberle, though. So it makes a bit more sense to acquire a "lesser" sniper for a bargain price than empty your prospects cupboard to acquire a better one, especially if Duchene is already going to do some damage to your organizational depth.

I'd rather pay more for a guy with a better track record. Eberle, I have no idea what we're getting. He might score 15 goals or 30 goals and he's been called out for not giving effort at times. Oilers fans are eager to trade him. That should tell you all you need to know. At least COL fans aren't in a hurry to give up Duchene.

 

[boredmale]

But I was talking about as an addition instead of Eberle. Eberle would be brought in to upgrade that RW as well.

Fair enough I was thinking of Gagner more as a addition if we get somebody else as well and need a cheaper option on RW, but getting Eberle and gagner would be pointless.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

Andy Graziano spoke on the Islanders trade options on Sports Talk 1240. Even mentions that Snow is looking at getting both Duchene and Eberle at the same time.

http://sportstalk1240.com/2017/06/12/podcast/isles-free-agent-targets/

At around 33:40

Is this like when your wing man chats up the ugly chick so you can make time with her hot gf?

But seriously, that's 12 million combined salary we don't have. THANK GOODNESS!!!1!

 

[A Pointed Stick]

I don't see how Eberle is a huge upgrade? I think Garth should be trying for a #2 center(Duchene) and then worrying about the wing.

I don't know if he's available for trade or if they would within the division it is much rather Skinner than Eberle. Even though he's a LW Skinner is a legit sniper. Has had some injury concerns but he's a much better scorer than Eberle.

The concussion was a worry but has he had one since? 2013?

 

[NYI365]

 

[boredmale]

Sort of damned if you do, damned if you don't. Personally I don't see either waiving it so it's sort of pointless to ask and it can create a sense of bad feelings if you do.

 

[scott99]

I guess Pulock will be taken by LV if we protect Boychuck, Leddy, Hamonic ?

 

[YearlyLottery]

I guess Pulock will be taken by LV if we protect Boychuck, Leddy, Hamonic ?

I know I am wrong an awful lot but I feel like we are trading Hammer for Duchene in the coming days. I don't think we will be protecting him. This team will protect Pulock, no way they don't.

 

[boredmale]

But seriously, that's 12 million combined salary we don't have. THANK GOODNESS!!!1!

We dump Kulemin's contract in a deal, put Grabovski on LTIR, trade Hamonic, that is like 13M right there

 

[Jester9881]

I get the feeling that if a defenseman is moved it will likely be CDH. One reason, he is still unsigned and it would be easier to replace a LHD from within than it would a RHD.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

We dump Kulemin's contract in a deal, put Grabovski on LTIR, trade Hamonic, that is like 13M right there

You are a troublemaker. I bet you sit outside Smoking-stoppers with cartons of free cigs.

But seriously, if they can easily do that I will eat my shoes with French's mustard and I hate mustard.

And oh lordy*, why would we ever get rid of Hamonic's contract? That is the friendliest cap hit you will find this side of Mars.

* Hat tip Jimmy Jam Comey

 

[Skip To My Lou]

Not even mad by it. Boychuk picked his game back up, and Ladd got better as the season progressed. Both will be better for us next year.

 

[periferal]

I'd rather pay more for a guy with a better track record.

I could not agree with this more. If you half-a$$ something you're going to get half-a$$ results. Do it right the first time.

I'd rather pay more for a guy with a better track record. Eberle, I have no idea what we're getting. He might score 15 goals or 30 goals and he's been called out for not giving effort at times. Oilers fans are eager to trade him. That should tell you all you need to know. At least COL fans aren't in a hurry to give up Duchene.

I'd love to take a poll now to see who wants to deal anything for Eberle and then see how many of those people have buyer's remorse a year from now. Eberle not only doesn't play defense, he's a libility at it.

And I'm sure you're thinking, "Well who cares - We need him to play offense." Well of course. There are players who are so good at offense that offsets any deficiencies in their game.

However Eberle is not one of those players.

For all his "offense" he has a grand total of TWO assists in 13 playoff games. That's only more more assist than Griffin "literally no offense" Reinhart had in ONE game. You find out what kind of a player you have in the playoffs and Eberle is a weak one.

You want to take on a 6 million dollar player for only two years it should be a hell of a lot better than Jordan Eberle (you know...like Matt Duchene). There's a reason why Oiler fans are willing to ship him out the door first of all players on their team.

Let's not be so desperate to make change that we make the wrong change.

 

[YearlyLottery]

You are a troublemaker. I bet you sit outside Smoking-stoppers with cartons of free cigs.

But seriously, if they can easily do that I will eat my shoes with French's mustard and I hate mustard.

Is it really that hard though? Edmonton needs to take salary back in the Eberle deal (Kulemin), Hamonic dealt for Duchene, and then we put Grabovski on LTIR closer to the season.

It is not that much of a reach, it is not a reach at all IMO.

 

[YearlyLottery]

I could not agree with this more. If you half-a$$ something you're going to get half-a$$ results. Do it right the first time.




I'd love to take a poll now to see who wants to deal anything for Eberle and then see how many of those people have buyer's remorse a year from now. Eberle not only doesn't play defense, he's a libility at it.

And I'm sure you're thinking, "Well who cares - We need him to play offense." Well of course. There are players who are so good at offense that offsets any deficiencies in their game.

However Eberle is not one of those players.

For all his "offense" he has a grand total of TWO assists in 13 playoff games. That's only more more assist than Griffin "literally no offense" Reinhart had in ONE game. You find out what kind of a player you have in the playoffs and Eberle is a weak one.

You want to take on a 6 million dollar player for only two years it should be a hell of a lot better than Jordan Eberle (you know...like Matt Duchene). There's a reason why Oiler fans are willing to ship him out the door first of all players on their team.

Let's not be so desperate to make change that we make the wrong change.

Such a small amount of games though. For comparison Lee has 1 assist in 5 playoff games, but we don't want to ship him off because he is not a proven playoff performer.

If Snow grabs Eberle by giving up a bad contract (Kulemin/Grabo) and maybe a small addition then I am all for adding Eberle as we get a better player to add into the lineup.

Ederle should NOT be the main piece added but Graziano does point out Snow is trying to bring BOTH players in here.

 

[Islesfan22]

I guess Pulock will be taken by LV if we protect Boychuck, Leddy, Hamonic ?

They can still protect Pulock but I have a feeling he will be traded before the expansion draft.

 

[Islesfan22]

I would trade Dal Colle for Eberlee. Seems like the oilers want to dump his salary. Might have to include grabovski or Kulemin for salary cap reasons.