As the league prepares for the long Olympic break, the trade market will freeze. A return to action will see a race towards the trade deadline, forcing teams to decide on the direction of their franchise.
Let’s take a look at what the buzz surrounding the Edmonton Oilers is in this week’s rumours roundup.
Pickard waived and clears
Finally the Oilers have brought an end to their three pronged goaltending situation, sending longtime backup Calvin Pickard down to the AHL. Thankfully, Pickard has cleared waivers. While it is good the Oilers did not lose Pickard for nothing, it does make the AHL crease a bit more complicated for the time being.
For one, it might limit the number of games that the ascending Connor Ungar is able to start. Despite bouncing around the ECHL for most of the first half of the season, Ungar has been spectacular for the Bakersfield Condors. Matt Tomkins has been sharing the crease, while prospects Samuel Jonsson and Nathaniel Day remain with the ECHL Fort Wayne Komets.
For some, the Pickard demotion is nothing but necessary housekeeping. For others, it represents that a bigger deal might be on the way. Of course, nearing the deadline deals are bound to happen. It does clear up a spot on the NHL roster, and might make Pickard more valuable as a trade chip. All the same, Pickard only has a limited trade value so the Oilers might value him as a reliable third option.
Wallstedt still a target
On the topic of goalies, the Oilers have found themselves linked to Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild. The Wild continue to be an ultra aggressive team in their roster building, so it should not be out of the question that a very promising young player like Wallstedt is available.
Conventional thought is that the Wild are hoping to add a top centre, and that current starter Filip Gustavsson makes Wallstedt expendable. For the Oilers, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are clearly untouchable, and so the smoke circles around Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Perhaps Nugent-Hopkins makes sense for the Wild, though chances are they will have their heights set a bit higher. Meanwhile, Wallstedt might be a nice long term fit for the Oilers, but there is little guarantee that he would be ready for the starting role this season. Needless to say the Oilers would be cautious in dealing away Nugent-Hopkins’ sweetheart contract.
This potential deal seems to be more smoke than fire. More than anything it seems to be a pipe dream from Oiler fans who long for a blue chip prospect that many felt the team should have drafted. With Tristan Jarry’s stats with the team starting to come under the microscope it is a dangerous game to compare stats from afar.
Exploring Panarin
Another big name on the market is Artemi Panarin of the struggling New York Rangers. The star winger is a pending UFA, and so it is interesting to ponder how a potential extension might be part of the deal.
For the Oilers this does seem unlikely. Fitting his salary under the cap, if only as a rental, will take a lot of work. This means retention from the Rangers side, as well as offloading salary on the Oilers side. Andrew Mangiapane’s salary comes to mind, but is only a piece of the puzzle even with 50% retained by the Rangers.
All these factors make the deal more costly for the Oilers, who already are at a disadvantage without many high end prospects. Certainly high draft picks would be part of the equation, but it is likely the Rangers will target prospects as part of their return. It is difficult to imagine the Oilers will have the pieces to keep up with other bidders at even footing, let alone for all the extra parameters required.
Naturally, Panarin would be a huge addition for the Oilers. His elite offensive skill would be huge alongside McDavid, or more likely Draisaitl. It is encouraging to see the Oilers sniffing around one of the biggest names on the market, showing a willingness to be aggressive.
Wingers on the list
Last week we outlined some centres that might be of interest to the Oilers, though for many the ideal add is another winger. Multiple candidates have emerged, with two in particular getting some traction.
Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs is definitely one to keep an eye on. A pending UFA, McMann has earned a raise on his current deal. A big, fast, power winger, McMann dos a lot of his scoring off the rush. His speed is a factor, allowing him to change his shooting angle quickly.
No doubt McMann would be a good addition, and he is still growing his game. As a late bloomer McMann has shown a commitment to his craft that should see his best hockey in front of him despite being in his late twenties. More than that, his small cap hit makes him quite affordable against the cap. In terms of measuring impact at a cap hit under $2M, McMann might be the best option on the market.
Meanwhile, Michael Bunting of the Nashville Predators could be available as well. The agitating winger can produce in a middle-six role. Bunting costs more against the cap, and would likely require some salary moved out to counterbalance from the Oilers side.
Adding winger would make the path for icetime more difficult for some of the Oilers younger wingers. The battle has already been steep for rookies like Matthew Savoie and Isaac Howard. Howard might even be one of the more likely trade pieces if the Oilers need to ship out a prospect, along with Beau Akey.
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