Rumor: Rumors and Proposals Thread: Moar NCAA FA's?

[belair]

So with another RHC faceoff specialist (let's use your example - Beagle), then our lineup is something like:

Maroon - McDavid - Draisaitl
Lucic - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle
Caggiula - Letestu - Kassian
Pouliot - Beagle - Slepyshev


So when there's a big draw that requires a RHS to take the faceoff, you've got your choice of Letestu and Beagle. But if that faceoff requires a LHS, it's still McDavid or Nuge, our 2 worst FO men.

I'm not against adding another RH FO man for the bottom 6, especially if he can play wing (then you have 2 on the ice at once). But what I'm saying is, in a perfect world, if you're adding a player who can win draws, it would be better if he was a LHS.

Letestu is not a good even strength player. For an 82 game season that third line would struggle mightily. Guys like Beagle, Boyle, Vermette, etc, etc should be targeted at the trade deadline when the games start to get tighter.

That third line is most likely going to be facing third line competition for the majority of the regular season. So adding a guy who can provide a boost of offense without getting caved in defensively should probably be sufficient.

That third line this season was centered by Drake Caggiula and he had a laundry list of linemates. That shouldn't be too difficult to improve for the short term.

My vote goes to Ryan Strome. He gives a bonus of being a second one-time option on the PP and is likely very attainable.

 

[Weitz]

Duchene would be great. I wonder if RNH would get it done.

That kid has wheels.

Not a chance. That would be a terrible trade for COL.

They are looking for young D, or maybe a young forward.

 

[Jet Walters]

Letestu is not a good even strength player. For an 82 game season that third line would struggle mightily. Guys like Beagle, Boyle, Vermette, etc, etc should be targeted at the trade deadline when the games start to get tighter.

That third line is most likely going to be facing third line competition for the majority of the regular season. So adding a guy who can provide a boost of offense without getting caved in defensively should probably be sufficient.

That third line this season was centered by Drake Caggiula and he had a laundry list of linemates. That shouldn't be too difficult to improve for the short term.

My vote goes to Ryan Strome. He gives a bonus of being a second one-time option on the PP and is likely very attainable.

If we can agree that Jordan Eberle is a bad fit for this Oilers team, then why the hell would we replace him with Jordan Eberle lite? Chia will not be looking to bring in a player with a similar skill set if he deals Eberle. I'm not talking about a big power forward either. Size is not really a factor here anymore, but the Eb's replacement will almost certainly be a competitive SOB who plays with fire and gumption. Ryan Strome would be one of the last players Chia would target.

 

[joestevens29]

So with another RHC faceoff specialist (let's use your example - Beagle), then our lineup is something like:

Maroon - McDavid - Draisaitl
Lucic - Nugent-Hopkins - Eberle
Caggiula - Letestu - Kassian
Pouliot - Beagle - Slepyshev


So when there's a big draw that requires a RHS to take the faceoff, you've got your choice of Letestu and Beagle. But if that faceoff requires a LHS, it's still McDavid or Nuge, our 2 worst FO men.

I'm not against adding another RH FO man for the bottom 6, especially if he can play wing (then you have 2 on the ice at once). But what I'm saying is, in a perfect world, if you're adding a player who can win draws, it would be better if he was a LHS.

Does McDavid have to take draws?

 

[joestevens29]

Not a chance. That would be a terrible trade for COL.

They are looking for young D, or maybe a young forward.

The thing with Duchene is he wasn't exactly playing too **** hot himself. He had 5 points after Feb 19th or something.

Maybe the fit isn't there with Edmonton, but I don't know that they are going to get a huge return for him.

 

[Draiskull]

pass on the puck hog.

we need to look at cheaper options.

 

[MoneyGuy]

Any news on Foo?

 

[Jet Walters]

The thing with Duchene is he wasn't exactly playing too **** hot himself. He had 5 points after Feb 19th or something.

Maybe the fit isn't there with Edmonton, but I don't know that they are going to get a huge return for him.

We have our high end skill to build around. Trade for Duchene and he most likely ends up on the 2nd PP unit and we basically have another RNH situation of a player not being used in his optimum role.

The Oilers need another top 4 RHD, a RH center that can slot in the middle 6, and a two way RH winger far more than they need a small LH skilled C.

 

[Draiskull]

We have our high end skill to build around. Trade for Duchene and he most likely ends up on the 2nd PP unit and we basically have another RNH situation of a player not being used in his optimum role.

The Oilers need another top 4 RHD, a RH center that can slot in the middle 6, and a two way RH winger far more than they need a small LH skilled C.

why does it have to be a RHD? why not just a RD?
I am thinking Brodin or even Russell.

Draisaitl can be that big C who can slot in the middle 6 with RNH.

Pitlick can be the RH winger short term, someone like Iginla as insurance and Puljujarvi long term.

Lucic-Draisaitl-Puljujarvi would be a fine 3rd line

 

[CupofOil]

We have our high end skill to build around. Trade for Duchene and he most likely ends up on the 2nd PP unit and we basically have another RNH situation of a player not being used in his optimum role.

The Oilers need another top 4 RHD, a RH center that can slot in the middle 6, and a two way RH winger far more than they need a small LH skilled C.

Duchene makes no sense for the Oilers. Couturier, J. Staal, Bonino. Those are the type of #3C's going forward, not a highly skilled offense first center. They need a shutdown center who can chip in some offense, they have RNH currently miscast in that role as would Duchene be.

Carolina, Montreal, Minnesota. Those are the best fits for him.

 

[Jet Walters]

why does it have to be a RHD? why not just a RD?
I am thinking Brodin or even Russell.

Draisaitl can be that big C who can slot in the middle 6 with RNH.

Pitlick can be the RH winger short term, someone like Iginla as insurance and Puljujarvi long term.

Lucic-Draisaitl-Puljujarvi would be a fine 3rd line

I really feel the PP needs that RH shot back there on both units, given our other personnel already here. Just look at how smoothly things looked with the RH Benning on unit #1 last night. It does make a huge difference in our ability to move the puck.

Drai could be our shutdown C going forward, sure. We can't have players with 6+ million cap hits on our 3rd line going forward though. Pitlick is a UFA and slotting him above the 3rd or 4th line would be a mistake. I think his injury history is a big red flag and would only bring him back if he's cheap.

Lots of options for Chia this summer and the expansion draft makes for some interesting quirks too. Should be fun, but let's win another round or two before worrying about those matters.

 

[Gone]

Any news on Foo?

None, but one has to think he is watching the Oilers realizing Eb's spot on the right wing is up for grabs.

 

[misfit]

Does McDavid have to take draws?

Not when he has Draisaitl on his wing, but like I said, it depends on what we do with Leon.

But overall, I don't think we need to go overboard trying to get ourselves some faceoff guys. Yes, we were last in the league, but we still had guys who could win draws. Letestu and Lander were our only Cs (3, but DD was a rental) over 50%, and one of them is gone next year, but Draisaitl has improved year over year and was a good FO man in junior too. One would have to think he'll be fine going forward (Getzlaf was a terrible FO man early in his career).

The main reason we looked so bad in the playoffs is because Anaheim is a dominant faceoff team. Every one of the Cs was over 50% in the regular season including one at over 60% and another not far from it.

Even San Jose is good on the draws. Their overall team performance was middling in the regular season, but that has a lot to do with Couture rocking an abysmal 39% while taking over 750 of SJ's faceoffs this year. Their other 3 main Cs were all over 50%.

 

[Jet Walters]

Duchene makes no sense for the Oilers. Couturier, J. Staal, Bonino. Those are the type of #3C's going forward, not a highly skilled offense first center. They need a shutdown center who can chip in some offense, they have RNH currently miscast in that role as would Duchene be.

Carolina, Montreal, Minnesota. Those are the best fits for him.

Totally agree with that synopsis, but I'd take Minny off the list. They have a bunch of RFA's who will take all their cap space away. I'd add Vegas to the list of potential suitors and maybe Ottawa as a darkhorse. They need a LH distributor on that team. Anyone interested in a RNH for Brassard deal? Their cap hits are similar but the real dollars might not make sense for a budget team like the Sens though.

Edit: Arizona could be a potential landing spot for RNH or Eberle too. They have some interesting players who might fit our team like Rieder, Duclair, Crouse, and DeAngelo. Also their pick at 7 overall might be tempting to Chia if a player he really likes is there.

 

[Asiaoil]

I also think a dominant 3C like Staal or Couts is the most important piece. RNH would be expensive but OK with big wingers. I don't mind Letestu as 4C because he's on a value contract but he's not getting the PP minutes next year and is small and pretty mediocre at both defense and offense at ES. Cags is his replacement after next year but maybe grab Dowd if possible.

We have lots of cheap effective RW options in house in JP, Slepy, Pitlick, Kass and even Drai when we need a goal and have to load up. The only winger we pay dollars to is Looch because he's the top 6 nuclear deterrent that has physically kept us in this series.

I say the center is more important because I really think we have our 2LD and 2RD training on the 3rd pair (Nurse and Benning) but they need another year, two max. I extend them both on 2 year bridge deals this summer. An expensive guy like Green (or similar) in McDavid's last ELC year might be the way to go to improve the 2nd pair and give the kids one more year of full shelter on the 3rd pair. As long as the guy's contract disappears next summer.

 

[Canovin]

Imagine the Oilers sign Eric Staal last year instead of holding onto RNH and Ebs for dear life

 

[Asiaoil]

I really feel the PP needs that RH shot back there on both units, given our other personnel already here. Just look at how smoothly things looked with the RH Benning on unit #1 last night. It does make a huge difference in our ability to move the puck.

Agree on PP2 and Benning is the answer so nothing needs to be done but play him. We didn't do that for contract reasons - but extend him this summer - and then give him the keys on PP2. As for PP1 - McDavid is just fine on the RH point with Drai at the left halfboards, Looch net front, Klef at LD and one of our RH shots (Slepy, JP) where Letestu is. All the PP answers are in house and no need to spend serious coin there.

 

[Jet Walters]

Imagine the Oilers sign Eric Staal last year instead of holding onto RNH and Ebs for dear life

I've thought about this scenario: RNH was rumored for Dumba at the draft. That would mean Minny would have no cap space for Staal and the Oilers having more space. It could have worked out essentially as RNH for Dumba and Staal if things went down that way. But then we probably would not have Russell. Interesting nonetheless.

 

[Canovin]

I've thought about this scenario: RNH was rumored for Dumba at the draft. That would mean Minny would have no cap space for Staal and the Oilers having more space. It could have worked out essentially as RNH for Dumba and Staal if things went down that way. But then we probably would not have Russell. Interesting nonetheless.

Just realized RNH makes as much as Dumba+Staal. We'd definitely have the cap space for Russell. I think it just means that we wouldn't re-sign Gryba

 

[Weitz]

I'm surprised of all the talk of trades and FA signings and what not, and not really any talk of how the cap situation is going to work after Draisaitl and McDavid are signed.

 

[Jet Walters]

I'm surprised of all the talk of trades and FA signings and what not, and not really any talk of how the cap situation is going to work after Draisaitl and McDavid are signed.

On the contrary, most of the trade talk is geared to the realization of Draisaitl and McDavid's impending contract status and the fact we need to save some cash by dealing secondary players like RNH and Eberle. I do think the UFA talk about players like Hanzal and Oshie is not very realistic though.

 

[Mcnotloilersfan]

I'm surprised of all the talk of trades and FA signings and what not, and not really any talk of how the cap situation is going to work after Draisaitl and McDavid are signed.

Seriously? Dig a bit deeper. Their deals are at the core of everything that we are discussing.

 

[McFlyingV]

I'm surprised of all the talk of trades and FA signings and what not, and not really any talk of how the cap situation is going to work after Draisaitl and McDavid are signed.

There's not much to talk about in that regard which is why there's probably not a lot of talk. Also until we know what their numbers actually look like it really is hard to discuss. For example, if we say McDavid and Drai combine for 18M, then that is a 10.8M raise on their current contracts. You can easily cover that with the departure of Fayne's 3.5M (2.675M with buried), Ferences 3.25M and finding a way to dump Pouliot or Eberle (preferably both) as well as the potential to dump RNH if needed (another 16M combined) . It really is a non-issue unless this team cant find a way to continue to churn out depth players like Slepyshev and Caggiula on cheap RFA contracts. This is where Spencer Foo would continue to help as he'd be another developed player nearing NHL readiness that could be thrown into a depth role in the coming years.

Its pretty clear that we should be fine for quite a while because of how cheap our blue line is and the high probability that we will have more cheap RFA players to fill the bottom roles on the D core in the coming years with the likes of Reinhart, Oesterle (if he decides to stay, not RFA but cheap), Jones, Bear, Paigin, Mantha, Lagesson, Simpson and some others further down the road like Marino. Obviously not all of those players will make it, but thats a more than strong enough pipeline imo to continue filling out the bottom half of the D core.

 

[belair]

I'm surprised of all the talk of trades and FA signings and what not, and not really any talk of how the cap situation is going to work after Draisaitl and McDavid are signed.

Cap dedicated to salaries pre-McDavid extension is at $50m with Draisaitl at $6.5m and Kassian at $2.5m. It's going to be tight.

 

[MessierII]

Cap dedicated to salaries pre-McDavid extension is at $50m with Draisaitl at $6.5m and Kassian at $2.5m. It's going to be tight.

Letestu on a UFA contract got 1.8 you think Kass will get 2.5?