With the coaching search likely on hold until the end of the Stanley Cup Final, many of the trade rumours in Oil Country are centred around two areas of the roster.
Let’s take a look at some of the noise and nonsense in this week’s Edmonton Oilers rumour roundup.
Looking for top-six speed
David Pagnotta reported that the Oilers are “looking for a speedy winger.” As this hypothetical player might come via trade or free agency, there has been lots of room to speculate or imagine connections.
While this concept has certainly captured imaginations, the reality is the Oilers will only be able to afford so much. Is it really possible for the Oilers to keep pace in bidding wars, be they in terms of trade or cap cost? For this simple arithmetic many of the most tantalizing names are unlikely.
Jordan Kyrou and Owen Tippett, for example, are almost certainly out of the question. Might Jake DeBrusk be more available? All three would be nice upgrades, no doubt.
In all likelihood, the Oilers will have to look elsewhere. Bobby McMann will command a good contract as a UFA. Might Eeli Tolvanen, Collin Graf, or Ilya Mikheyev fit the bill? Perhaps an unqualified RFA will emerge, like Matias Maccelli. Price will be huge in determining whether or not these players are good investments.
There are options closer to home that might be more cost friendly, if not outright better options. Isaac Howard is hoping to take a big step this offseason. Kasperi Kapanen and Jack Roslovic both might be re-signed. Although Maxim Berezkin will not be joining the mix, staying in the KHL for two more seasons, the Oilers do have speed options in the lineup. Even more so if a younger player like Quinn Hutson or Viljami Marjala can surprise at training camp.
There might be two spots completely open in this lineup as it is, so the Oilers will be adding or keeping a few wingers. Chances are they will not be able to spend a lot on this type of player. With limited cap space and trade assets, the Oilers can only spend so much as it stands. Perhaps there are too many other needs for the roster, including at centre or in net.
Goalie situation still unresolved
The goalie situation seems to be more dire. One issue is that the goalie market seems to move quite slowly, as teams are often especially careful not to be too rash with the position. Still, a multitude of options are hypothetically available to the Oilers at this point.
We must begin with the relevant incumbents. Tristan Jarry remains with a large cap hit. His play could deserve a longer look than he got last season. At his best he might be able to lead a tandem, yet that level has consistently been elusive. Many fans are wishing his contract out of town, but he can still be a part of a healthy tandem.
Connor Ingram will be a UFA, and is the real decision that must be weighed. There is reason to think that his salary demands will not be as a starter, and perhaps even a willingness to stay in Edmonton. This price point will be crucial in comparing him to other possible options.
Goalies with some recent big game experience will have the upper hand on the Oilers incumbents. Sergei Bobrovsky and Frederick Andersen are popular UFA options, though it seems especially unlikely that Bobrovsky comes to Edmonton given the motivations that would need to lead him away from the Florida Panthers.
Jordan Binnington remains an option on the trade market, though the St. Louis Blues seem to have a lot of leverage and high asking prices for their veterans. Filip Gustavsson might be available for trade as well. While Binnington has the experience and reputation to outclass Ingram, Gustavsson being an outright upgrade over him is more doubtful. Between the trade cost, and likely a higher cap cost, not to mention a slightly unflattering record in big games, Gustavsson seems like a more questionable play against Ingram.
There are teams with interesting goaltending conundrums that might be fruitful. Sebastian Cossa seems to be the most likely to be dealt for the Detroit Red Wings, the situations with the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs are more open ended.
In Buffalo it might be an unproven Devon Levi, but there are murmurs that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen might be the odd man out. Colton Ellis and Alex Lyon played well this season. In Toronto it is youngsters Artur Akhtyamov and Dennis Hildeby knocking on the NHL door, with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll as more experienced options.
Again, it might be hard to suggest that any of these goalies are truly an outright upgrade over Ingram. This alone might point us towards a new contract between the Oilers and Ingram. Finding a clear cut starter might be hard. The upside of a young goalie on the cusp of coming into their own is the most exciting.
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