So, I was reading the NHL.com list of the Top-60 Defensemen. This is a list focused pretty heavy on scoring from the back end, but, hey, we all know the Oilers need that..
For the Oilers there are two players on that list: Andrej Sekera is number 39, and Oscar Klefbom is noted as a key injury.
Now, of course, this list is centered on point producing defensemen – which the Oilers lack desperately.
Looking at the list, these are the Defenseman ranked ahead of Sekera who have been offered around in deals (confirmed), and no, this will not include Burns, or OEL, or Byfuglien, only defensemen who’s organizations have actively shopped them.
15 – Kevin Shattenkirk (1 year left on deal, asking price will be a Top-6 C and/or a RW)
18 – Sami Vatanen (Pending RFA, Anaheim has D, will look for cheap Top-6 scoring)
21 – Keith Yandle (Pending UFA, however is a pure LHD, no RHD experience)
38 – Alex Goligoski (Pending UFA, is also a LHD)
18 – Sami Vatanen (Pending RFA, Anaheim has D, will look for cheap Top-6 scoring)
21 – Keith Yandle (Pending UFA, however is a pure LHD, no RHD experience)
38 – Alex Goligoski (Pending UFA, is also a LHD)
On the other side of Sekera, if we look in terms of a support defenseman to round out a Top-4 of Klefbom, Davidson, Sekera, we have:
44 – Mark Streit (Has term left, is older, LHD also)
50 – Brian Campbell (UFA, older, also LHD)
50 – Brian Campbell (UFA, older, also LHD)
Teams with more than 2 D on this list:
Anaheim: 3 D in the Top 60 (Vatanen, Fowler, Lindholm)
St. Louis: 3 D in the Top 60 (Shattenkirk, Pietrangelo, Parayko)
Calgary: 3 D in the Top 60 (Brodie, Giordano, Hamilton)
LA: 3 D in the Top 60 (Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez)
Colorado: 3 D in the Top 60 (Barrie, Beauchemin, Johnson)
Nashville: 4 D in the Top 60 (Josi, Weber, Ekholm, Ellis)
Boston: 3 D in the Top 60 (Krug, Chara, Liles)
Anaheim: 3 D in the Top 60 (Vatanen, Fowler, Lindholm)
St. Louis: 3 D in the Top 60 (Shattenkirk, Pietrangelo, Parayko)
Calgary: 3 D in the Top 60 (Brodie, Giordano, Hamilton)
LA: 3 D in the Top 60 (Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez)
Colorado: 3 D in the Top 60 (Barrie, Beauchemin, Johnson)
Nashville: 4 D in the Top 60 (Josi, Weber, Ekholm, Ellis)
Boston: 3 D in the Top 60 (Krug, Chara, Liles)
We can assume any team with 2 or less D-men on that list will want to keep both. Nashville has shown a refusal to move any more D-men for scoring, so they’ll likely keep all 4 of theirs (shows where they get their scoring from, hell of a D even without Seth Jones). Calgary and LA are unlikely to move anyone, Colorado even with 3 in the list is desperate for more D, and Boston is also on record as searching for more D.
So, that leaves Anaheim and St. Louis as the two organizations who are on record as looking for offense and being willing to move a younger scoring D (and both are conveniently on the right side).
In summary, we won’t get a Doughty, or a Weber, or an OEL, or Burns, or Byfuglien. Our two most likely shots are Shattenkirk and Vatanen.
As for Hamonic or Trouba (neither of whom are on this list), I’ll just point out it’s extremely likely they end up dealt for each other in the off-season once the two teams can figure out the fine print, since Hamonic wants to go to Winnipeg, and NYI wants a young RHD coming back. So, sad as it is, betting neither ends up here.
Thanks for reading once again! Let me know in the comments below who you think the Oilers could or should try to pick up this summer in the comments below!
Th
Would the number 4 pick at the draft be interesting to NY for Hamonic?
Hi Nathan! Thanks for reading and commenting!
I think IF the Isles had interest in a top 5 pick in the draft, there are a couple names that come to mind. Jakob Chychrun might be one. The Sarnia Sting defender has been the top rated blue liner all season but has seen his stock stagnate a bit whereas the likes of Olli Juolevi and Mikhail Sergachev’s have continued to rise.
The other guy I reckon they’d like is Matthew Tkachuk. Kyle Okposo is set to leave and you’d have to wonder if the gritty Tkachuk would be a down-the-road replacement for him.