TSN: The Oilers are attempting to find a taker for Andreas Athanasiou and/or Matt Benning

[stungun54]

Trade Bait: Frozen cap makes ‘franchise-changing’ players available - TSN.ca

bit of a weird article. says oilers in for all these deals like potentially resigning hall, but are in cap issues? sure you got to move some guys i guess but easier said
than done under stagnant cap for everyone.

 

[actuallynotPJStock]

I don't understand why they would give up two 2nds for a player they don't think is worth 3 million, especially when that's already what he was making.

I think this is the case of him not living up to his potential of what Holland expected him to bring to the team. Frankly he hasn't been good since he arrived. That being said, put me in the camp of believing he can rebound and regain some of his form pre-Oilers. Is the gamble worth the 3 mil qualifying offer? That's for Holland to decide.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

I don't understand why they would give up two 2nds for a player they don't think is worth 3 million, especially when that's already what he was making.

It's not a $3 mil valuation, though. The Oilers can't force him to sign his QO. He can elect arbitration and that's a big risk. If an arbitrator puts a lot of weight on the 30 goal season and awards $4 mil - $4.25 mil, Edmonton is in a bad spot.

I go on about arbitration, but it's legit. Friedman was on Buffalo radio earlier and said "... teams are terrified of arbitration. They want no part of it..."

~ 9:52 --> The Instigators

 

[Roof Daddy]

Ever heard the phrase "Don't throw good money after bad. "?

A better option is trying to find a hockey trade for a similar guy who might not get qualified but might be a better fit

This is likely what is being pursued. An example would be a guy like Chris Tierney. I'm not saying the Sens would do it, but you've got an identical situation (26yo, QO is the same amount) where maybe the GM says "not sure I want to qualify my guy, but I would qualify their guy because I think he brings an element we're missing."

 

[GrandmaSlices51631]

Maybe I'll get condemned by other Isles fans but I'll take AA for the 3rd line. What's everyones criticism of him?

We have Dal Colle, EDM can take him. He shows up to practice every day.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Are the Oilers really going to make a decision based on 9 games? that seems stupid

 

[SEALBound]

If Klefbom needs surgery, AA for JJ. Easy.

 

[Cogburn]

Every team has a Benning, as far as having a player that might not be qualified as their QO is too expensive for the team.

Every team also has a player in the same situation as Athanasiou. I also can't see any team paying for his rights (at least paying an mount that makes sense to Edmonton) when if this rumor is to be believed, the Oilers might walk away from him (by means of arbitration or not tendering a QO).

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

As a Sens fan, I'd do Matt Benning for Jayce Hawryluk. He was good with us, still seems to be finding his role (skill, grit, defense, offense) but I think he can be a good, gritty bottom 6er who chips in offensively. Good hands and plays with a definite edge. RFA with a sub-900k salary.

 

[herzausstein]

I think most teams will sit back and see if Edmonton gives them qualifying offers and waits to pounce on the opportunity to get them for free.

 

[_Del_]

Jayce Hawryluk.

I'm a fan. No idea about Edmonton, but I would think Tipp would love this.

 

[Fig]

As a Sens fan, I'd do Matt Benning for Jayce Hawryluk. He was good with us, still seems to be finding his role (skill, grit, defense, offense) but I think he can be a good, gritty bottom 6er who chips in offensively. Good hands and plays with a definite edge. RFA with a sub-900k salary.

Dang, I was wondering if a Benning/Janko swap would work (Oilers can always walk away from Janko) as Flames badly need an RD (Andersson is our only one) and Janko while kinda meh in our bottom 6/better as a C than wing is at least still a decent PK specialist.

I think Oilers like this option from the Sens better though.

 

[kb]

I can’t see Edmonton just cutting bait on AA after giving up two 2nds. That’s a price you pay for a guy you think will stick around.

Toronto did it for 20 games of rental 4th liners in consecutive seasons.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Are the Oilers really going to make a decision based on 9 games? that seems stupid

He was incredibly bad all season long. Hes really not a good hockey player. He will follow the likes of Spooner and Gagne who had good seasons here and there but ultimately out of the league at a relatively young age due to too many holes in their game

 

[Ishad]

Maybe I'll get condemned by other Isles fans but I'll take AA for the 3rd line. What's everyones criticism of him?

He's not skilled enough to be a top line player and he's not defensively responsible in any situation.

 

[McDoused]

The cost the oilers paid for AA is a sunk cost. You cant throw good money after bad money.

No one expected the pandemic and unfortunately we can't really afford to qualify him with a flat cap. If the cap was increasing the Oilers could risk a 3-4M contract.

It looks like UFA's will be signing for cheap. He can use that 5-6M and bring in someone who can play in your top 6 forwards or top 4 defenceman.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

Ever heard the phrase "Don't throw good money after bad. "?

A better option is trying to find a hockey trade for a similar guy who might not get qualified but might be a better fit

Trading him wouldn't be what I had in mind regarding "cutting bait". The guy has scored 30 goals in this league, that's not worth nothing, and Edmonton doesn't need the cap space *that* badly. Surely there's a smarter way to open up a bit of space than letting him walk.

Personally I thought AA got better the longer he was here.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

The cost the oilers paid for AA is a sunk cost. You cant throw good money after bad money.

No one expected the pandemic and unfortunately we can't really afford to qualify him with a flat cap. If the cap was increasing the Oilers could risk a 3-4M contract.

It looks like UFA's will be signing for cheap. He can use that 5-6M and bring in someone who can play in your top 6 forwards or top 4 defenceman.

Athanasiou is a 30 goal scorer with speed and defensive warts, I'm not sure what you think you're getting if not something in that mould for that price.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

I do believe that arbitrators will take into consideration a Covid operating model but what that looks like who knows? In AA’s case he had one really good outlier year, other than that he’s a .5 pt per game guy and fairly one dimensional. In a normal world that would look like closer to 4 mil maybe 3.7 but now it could be closer to 3.2. As Michael Stipe said, Everybody Hurts.

 

[McDoused]

Athanasiou is a 30 goal scorer with speed and defensive warts, I'm not sure what you think you're getting if not something in that mould for that price.

I'm all for trying to get AA signed for the right price. I think he's easily worth 3M. I don't see him getting crazy money in arbitration.

However, you do have to look at the opportunity costs from free agency. If you also let Benning go, now you have 5-6M that you can use in free agency and potentially bring back a top 4 defenceman or first line winger.

 

[SupremeTeam16]

He was incredibly bad all season long. Hes really not a good hockey player. He will follow the likes of Spooner and Gagne who had good seasons here and there but ultimately out of the league at a relatively young age due to too many holes in their game

He’s played for a garbage coach on a garbage team his entire career. I think he’s salvageable but the money might prevent the Oilers from trying it out. I could see him signing somewhere and turning into a competent player over the course of a season or two.

 

[bucks_oil]

Good depth options if they're not tendered offers.

Could Benning be waived to start the season?

No, Benning is unlikely to be waived. He's an ideal utility D-man and can fill in admirably even as high as on the 2nd pair from time to time. And he is young.

The issue is that he's simply a budget casualty.

I would expect the Oilers can find a home for Benning certainly. Very little to dislike about this player provided you have reasonable (ideal bottom pairing) expectations.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

Oilers need to get back in line with the other teams with AA type forwards. There is going to be a lot of 3rd and 4th line guys getting the squeeze as the money is going to flow up the food chain with a flat cap.
I see a lot of players getting cut loose with no QO being offered

 

[BKarchitect]

Maybe I'll get condemned by other Isles fans but I'll take AA for the 3rd line. What's everyones criticism of him?

We have Dal Colle, EDM can take him. He shows up to practice every day.

AA is like the antithesis of how the Isles got successful under Lou Lam and Trotz. I'd like to see them add some more skill but AA is not the way to go. Although you could stick him on a line with Ho-Sang and create a combo loaded with speed and skill and short on everything else (desire, work ethic, adaptability, growth, etc) needed to be a consistently successful NHL player. In other words, Trotz's nightmare.

 

[ChaoticOrange]

I'm all for trying to get AA signed for the right price. I think he's easily worth 3M. I don't see him getting crazy money in arbitration.

However, you do have to look at the opportunity costs from free agency. If you also let Benning go, now you have 5-6M that you can use in free agency and potentially bring back a top 4 defenceman or first line winger.

We have 11 million to play with right now and honestly not much in the way of major signings. I'm convinced we could rehome Russell for a comparable forward in the Sutter or Perreault mold.

Bear needs a deal but he will be bridged around 2.5 mil IMO. We're not going to spend 8 mil on a 1B goalie and a 3C. I guess I just don't really understand the desperation for cap space, it's not like we're hunting big fish this offseason anyway.