leeroggy
Registered User
- Jan 3, 2010
- 9,416
- 5,711
Now that we are all post-TDL disappointment and pre-JT Jeer Night thought it would be fun to speculate what standing pat might mean in the strategic sense:
My thoughts
Have to think the team is happy with the goaltending and much of the defense, if you add in what we have in the system
Also have to think the 4th line is good for now and that the 3rd line could use a little change
But I also think the Top 6 needs a major overhaul and that was the big lesson of the TDL activity and that not doing anything was purposeful if a ridiculous piece did not fall into their laps cheaply. In my opinion the only piece that was worthy of a big offer was Duchene since it would have solved the 1C/2C issue, IF HE EXTENDED. Not sure if Ottawa allowed LL to discuss that with his agent or not, but none of the others, with the exception of Stone, would have moved the needle and would we have met the price Las Vegas paid?
I honestly think it is possible that the only two Top 6 players who are CERTAINLY on LL's want list are Barzal and Lee. All the others are fine players but with the exception of Beau it's fair to say we've seen their best at the NHL level and the next step is to find that elite player to drive another line. Then we have to be patient as the missing pieces are brought in.
That's pretty much what LL and BT have been saying when they mention 1-2 years away and we might as well take their word for it.
If Duchene gets to FA I have to believe that is still their #1 target. Given where we are likely drafting we could probably throw out the feelings we all had preseason about a high draft pick solving our 2C hole.
A foundation of Barzal and Duchene with Lee is a good start and Wahlstrom might well be ready in 2020-21. Bellows looks like a third liner to me and it's possible our future 3rd line might well be Koivula centering Bellows and Beau. Filppula for one year only I can see for the transition.
I still think our best trade pieces in the offseason will be Leddy and Bailey and that's where we look to trade. I don't see Eberle coming back at all. One thing about this season is that he showed he does not have an optimal fit in this system. Nelson is the big question mark and it's possible he is signed but as a wing with Duchene, not a center. I also see Ho-Sang dealt too, just don't see him fitting in here. If the Oilers want to do Pul for him run to the podium.
Drafting low will likely mean BPA this year and hopefully a sniper type but I also think that pick is likely to be dealt at the Draft. Florida seems like a good partner. They really need a LD 1st/2nd pair like Leddy and they have scoring wingers. And if they sign Panarin/Bob they are going to have to move one of them. Huberdeau is too much to hope for at his bargain salary but Davydov or Hoffman would be fine additions to us.
No reason to not think Leddy and our 1st for Hoffman and Pysyk for example would not be a good fit for both teams.
Bailey is the type of player a team that tries to make a run this year and falls short could be very valuable to. Let's say Winnipeg falls early. Would they try to shake things up a little and offer a young scoring piece for him? Or maybe Boston goes out early and is willing to swap DeBrusk for him? Those types of hockey trades where a two-way player is swapped for more of a goal scorer.
It's more reshaping the Top 6 to fit the need to be faithful to the BT system while also balancing out the team better.
Hoffman - Barzal - DeBrusk
Lee - Duchene - Beau/Nelson for now (Wahlstrom down the line)
Komarov - Filp - Ladd for now (Bellows and Koivula in 2020-21)
As is on the 4th for now.
Toews-Pulock (I think this is the goal for next year even if Leddy is still here)
Aho-Boychuck
Pelech-Mayfield
Dobson in 2020-21 with Mayfield/Boychuck rotating. Wilde either as a big trade piece or 2021-2022. It would be a good idea to see if he could play LD in Bridgeport, that would be optimal for us.
Lehner re-signs for 3 years
Greiss
Sorokin in 2020-21
My two cents for now.
My thoughts
Have to think the team is happy with the goaltending and much of the defense, if you add in what we have in the system
Also have to think the 4th line is good for now and that the 3rd line could use a little change
But I also think the Top 6 needs a major overhaul and that was the big lesson of the TDL activity and that not doing anything was purposeful if a ridiculous piece did not fall into their laps cheaply. In my opinion the only piece that was worthy of a big offer was Duchene since it would have solved the 1C/2C issue, IF HE EXTENDED. Not sure if Ottawa allowed LL to discuss that with his agent or not, but none of the others, with the exception of Stone, would have moved the needle and would we have met the price Las Vegas paid?
I honestly think it is possible that the only two Top 6 players who are CERTAINLY on LL's want list are Barzal and Lee. All the others are fine players but with the exception of Beau it's fair to say we've seen their best at the NHL level and the next step is to find that elite player to drive another line. Then we have to be patient as the missing pieces are brought in.
That's pretty much what LL and BT have been saying when they mention 1-2 years away and we might as well take their word for it.
If Duchene gets to FA I have to believe that is still their #1 target. Given where we are likely drafting we could probably throw out the feelings we all had preseason about a high draft pick solving our 2C hole.
A foundation of Barzal and Duchene with Lee is a good start and Wahlstrom might well be ready in 2020-21. Bellows looks like a third liner to me and it's possible our future 3rd line might well be Koivula centering Bellows and Beau. Filppula for one year only I can see for the transition.
I still think our best trade pieces in the offseason will be Leddy and Bailey and that's where we look to trade. I don't see Eberle coming back at all. One thing about this season is that he showed he does not have an optimal fit in this system. Nelson is the big question mark and it's possible he is signed but as a wing with Duchene, not a center. I also see Ho-Sang dealt too, just don't see him fitting in here. If the Oilers want to do Pul for him run to the podium.
Drafting low will likely mean BPA this year and hopefully a sniper type but I also think that pick is likely to be dealt at the Draft. Florida seems like a good partner. They really need a LD 1st/2nd pair like Leddy and they have scoring wingers. And if they sign Panarin/Bob they are going to have to move one of them. Huberdeau is too much to hope for at his bargain salary but Davydov or Hoffman would be fine additions to us.
No reason to not think Leddy and our 1st for Hoffman and Pysyk for example would not be a good fit for both teams.
Bailey is the type of player a team that tries to make a run this year and falls short could be very valuable to. Let's say Winnipeg falls early. Would they try to shake things up a little and offer a young scoring piece for him? Or maybe Boston goes out early and is willing to swap DeBrusk for him? Those types of hockey trades where a two-way player is swapped for more of a goal scorer.
It's more reshaping the Top 6 to fit the need to be faithful to the BT system while also balancing out the team better.
Hoffman - Barzal - DeBrusk
Lee - Duchene - Beau/Nelson for now (Wahlstrom down the line)
Komarov - Filp - Ladd for now (Bellows and Koivula in 2020-21)
As is on the 4th for now.
Toews-Pulock (I think this is the goal for next year even if Leddy is still here)
Aho-Boychuck
Pelech-Mayfield
Dobson in 2020-21 with Mayfield/Boychuck rotating. Wilde either as a big trade piece or 2021-2022. It would be a good idea to see if he could play LD in Bridgeport, that would be optimal for us.
Lehner re-signs for 3 years
Greiss
Sorokin in 2020-21
My two cents for now.
