With the new season about to start up, fans are eager to engage, speculate, and discuss what exactly the Edmonton Oilers have to do to get over the hump and secure a Stanley Cup.
Let’s take a look at some of the projected trades from Puckpedia users for the Edmonton Oilers.
Here’s a brief look at five unique takes on what possible trades, signings, and roster-management decisions could be made.
The Band-Aid for a bullet wound fix
Well the Oilers are in a tight cap, and contract situation with only $225,833 of cap space headed into the season. This makes them have not the most flexible roster.
The Oilers have acquired a veteran goaltender and hope it solves everything approach before with the 2019 signing of 37-year-old Mike Smith. Maybe second time is the charm? Maybe not. Would Cam Talbot even be better than Stuart Skinner is another question entirely.
That being said, Talbot would likely create a more consistent regular season tandem for the Alberta based club. He’s also no stranger to the Oilers, with the veteran appearing with the Oilers from 2015 until 2019.
Draft capital in the form of the second rounder does not mean much to a contender like the Oilers, but Detroit would likely be looking for a decent return on a veteran goalie. It is doubtful that Detroit would even want Calvin Pickard for a second time around.
Verdict: Maybe, its doubtful that acquiring an aging 1A/1B goaltender would produce playoff results. This type of trade would be good for the regular season Oilers as it would lessen the load for Stuart Skinner.
A necessary evil
The Oilers have a plethora of cheaper, younger depth options than 32-year-old Mattias Janmark. If they can find a trade partner, and if the forward is willing to waive his NMC, and NTC they should not hesitate.
A fourth rounder might be a bit optimistic, but expect a mid-late round pick for the forward, a fifth to seventh rounder could also be the return.
Expect him to be replaced by Roby Jarventie, Quinn Hutson, Josh Samanski, David Tomasek, Noah Philp, James Hamblin, or Viljami Marjala. So there really isn’t a shortage of NHL/near NHL ready forward depth in the Oilers organization.
Also saving around $600K, would give Edmonton some semblance of cap space too, which never hurts.
Verdict: Yes, absolutely. It has the potential to make the team better and younger.
Depth upgrade
As outlined in the previous trade, the Oilers have a large amount of bottom-six potential depth forwards. One thing that could help both Edmonton’s cup window, and the longer term future of the team is the incorporation of some younger higher potential players.
It’s unlikely that Washington would deal Hendrix Lapierre, but this would be a win-win for both teams. Washington gets a NHL ready depth option, and picks for a retooling, while the Oilers get the 2002-born former first-round pick.
Lapierre could be a solid physical, playmaking middle-six forward for Edmonton. There’s some hidden upside in terms of offensive senses, and passing ability that means the Quebec product could possibly move up in the lineup even more in events of injury.
Lapierre still has to figure out some of the finer details of his game, which makes this a bit of a risk, but higher potential and his younger age makes it one worth taking if such an offer presents itself. He’s shown he can belong in a the NHL with flashes of promise in his 84 games of NHL action so far.
Verdict: Yes, there’s really no downside here. If a trade like this doesn’t work out, there isn’t much of significant value lost.
The Net-Generation
One area that the Oilers simply don’t have enough roster spots is in net. This is a good problem to have, and the Oilers can capitalize on this. This trade completely depends on the current Detroit Red Wings-Sebastian Cossa relationship.
Cossa seems to be hitting his developmental groove and there’s few future looking options in a crowded Red Wings crease. Its incredibly unlikely Cossa gets dealt, but just like Justin Bieber song, never say never.
Detroit recoups a decent goaltending prospect and some high end picks for the 22-year-old goaltender. Once again, only if they so choose to give up on him. For the Oilers, the goalie tandem of Cossa and Skinner gets better right now and in the future.
After a season or two of further development Cossa could even take the starters reigns if the coaching staff feels so inclined. This deal would have to follow a trade involving Pickard too, just to further cement the starting tandem, and assure Jonsson, and Ungar developmental time.
Verdict: Unlikely Detroit says yes, but if they do take it and don’t look back.
A Leaf and a half
Every trade is well intentioned, even the infamous Taylor Hall for Adam Larson trade surely made sense to some people (even if that person was only Peter Chiarelli). While Edmonton gets a third-pairing shut-down defender, and a capable backup, the loss of Mattias Ekholm would be felt harshly.
Add in the fact that this return, although decent doesn’t make sense for Toronto as they get better but also increase draft capital. That’s a sentence you don’t hear often.
Verdict: No.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
