Even with the NHL on pause for the Olympic break, the pending return to action brings with it speculation. After a skid into the break, the mood around Oil Country has been left to fester with a bad taste. Put it all together and there is plenty of speculation.
Let’s take a closer look at the buzz with this week’s rumours roundup.
Coffey back to the bench
A potential change behind the bench is top of mind. Even prior to Leon Draisaitl’s candid comments, which cast blame upon the coaches as well players, the Edmonton Oilers meandering through the first half of the season has some restless for change.
What is old might be new again, as rumours about a potential return behind the bench for Paul Coffey have emerged. An Oilers legend as a player and longtime member of the front office, Coffey is already a big part of the Oilers efforts as a whole. He has stepped in as an assistant coach before, and the results were quite favourable. However, it is clear that Coffey does not seem to have much desire to stay behind the bench. Perhaps the short life span of NHL coaches is a big piece of the equation here.
Last time Coffey went behind the bench, he was often credited with instilling confidence in the Oilers defencemen. Many believed that he was able to get more out of his blueline by encouraging them to make plays with the puck or attacking up the ice. With the Oilers defensive game still a mess despite a talented blueline, it is easy to see why these rumours have kicked up.
The Oilers have already made some moves on the back end, waiving Troy Stecher and trading away Brett Kulak. Clearly the Oilers value the youth and potential upside of younger right shots in Ty Emberson and Alec Regula. While it is possible the Oilers make some more changes to the blueline, the team might favour a move elsewhere instead. In that case, adding Coffey to a more hands on role might be the best chance at maximizing the talent the Oilers already have.
TOR has launched The Oil Rig Podcast!
All episodes are available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, and more! Check it out!
Trade board rumours
As the trade deadline nears, more and more insiders are releasing their own trade boards. These will continue to shift, especially as teams grapple with the realities of their place in the standings.
Let’s take a look at some key archetypes that the Oilers are rumoured to be looking for.
Power wingers
With the Oilers scoring being so top heavy, many think that adding a quality power winger is vital to improved team play. Although Jack Roslovic and Kasperi Kapanen have filled in nicely on Leon Draisaitl’s wing, the prevailing thought is filling this spot can help give the bottom of the lineup more punch. With skilled wingers like Matthew Savoie still growing his influence on the game, the thought is that a bigger power winger would be the perfect complement.
Jake DeBrusk might be the top option, on a struggling Vancouver Canucks team. Warren Foegele seems to have hit a rough patch with the Los Angeles Kings, setting the stage for a potential return to Edmonton. Bobby McMann has become a popular name given the Toronto Maple Leafs recent struggles, and his smaller cap hit will make his acquisition simpler. Blake Coleman brings some defensive traits along with his hard nosed play, though the Calgary Flames may opt to hang onto him for another season.
Connor Garland is not as big or powerful, but is an analytical darling. Some have suggested that Patrik Laine could be on the move, though it is difficult to see how the Oilers could fit his salary, even if they wanted to.
Defensive centres
Others might look at the Oilers imbalance at forward and see a hole at centre. In particular, the Oilers could use a bonafide presence on the third line to help define the identity and shape of the group. The Oilers have had some defensive struggles this season, and so some defensive identity might go a long way.
The Oilers do have some options, but none have emerged to really grab hold of the spot. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic might be best served on the wing, and both might be more offensive players than the ideal checking centre. Meanwhile, Adam Henrique might have enough game left to step up here, but injury has taken him out of the lineup.
Ryan O’Reilly is likely the ideal candidate, though the Oilers might not be able to afford him. The same might be said for Vincent Trocheck, though not as accomplished a defensive centre, though his right shot and face-off proficiency would undoubtedly be a boost.
Others, like Brayden Schenn and Boone Jenner, are physical enough that they might fit a power forward role more than a defensive centre role. Still, both would upgrade the lineup and give the Oilers flexibility. Centres of this quality will be expensive to trade for, and perhaps too lofty a hope for the Oilers.
Still, a lower tier of centre could still be a boost. Scott Laughton and Nic Roy of the Toronto Maple Leafs might be available, and either could be a perfect fit for the Oilers. Jesperi Kotkaniemi is more of a wild card, though a change of scenery might be perfect to the once highly touted Finn.
Defensive RD
Finally, the most direct way to upgrade the defensive performance of the team might be to add a defensive right shot defenceman. The Oilers have a clear hole here, as Emberson and Regula do not quite fit the bill, and Jake Walman has been playing his weak side. Adding a high end penalty killer would go a long way on its own, but a chance to reset the balance of the blueline is valuable as well.
Nick Jensen is a great option if the Ottawa Senators wish to sell. Jonathan Kovacevic has had some great analytics in the past, the New Jersey Devils potentially looking to shakeup their blueline. Brandon Carlo is a much more traditional stay at home type of defender.
Braden Schneider is younger than most on the list, which could point to upside. The cost here will likely be higher for that reason, and the results are not quite as extensive. Luke Schenn is really more of a depth option at this point, but the Oilers might value a physical flair mostly absent from the bottom of their rotation.
Follow The Oil Rig on social media!
