Category Archives: Lindsay Ryall

Armchair GM, Edmonton Oilers, Lindsay Ryall, NHL, Rumors, Trades

How a Drouin Trade Could Affect the Oilers Upgrades

It seems most play-off years a rookie or newish player will be thrust into the spotlight at the right time and this year that player looks to be, Jonathan Drouin.  The Tampa Bay lighting made relatively short work of a team they lost to last year when they had superstar forward Steven Stamkos  in the line-up.  What’s the difference? Obviously the team is playing better together and Drouin is proving to be a driver for that success.  A very interesting situation considering the player asked for a trade this past season, and GM Steve Yzerman was apparently interested in accommodating him.

Back in Edmonton there is a similar theme with at least one high-profile forward likely leaving town.  Edmonton Oiler’s General manager Peter Chiarelli will need to move at least one (likely 2) high-profile top six assets to shore up his defence next season.  If  Yzerman decides to move Drouin in the off-season, a situation of competing assets, (not unlike when the Oilers were rumoured to have offered RNH for Seth Jones) could arise and it wouldn’t help the Oiler’s bargaining position.

At the present time, there are three players that are likely to be marketed for defensive upgrades in the off-season: Nail Yakupov, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Jordan Eberle.  Of course Taylor Hall could potentially be added to that list but I personally can’t see Chiarelli trading both first and second overall 2010 picks in his GM employment history.  So how do our current crop of tradeable assets compare to Drouin?  Like most situations, there is a range.

Nail Yakupov: Although Yak is only a couple of years older than Drouin and has better point totals as well as very comparable ppg numbers (.46 to .44 for Drouin), you have to give the edge to Drouin.  His hockey sense is better, he skates better, his junior numbers were better, and he can play both wing and centre.

Head to head edge: It should be closer than it is, but if we were in a competing trade and offering, Yak, the other GM would take Drouin unless it was a plus plus on our end.

Ryan Nugent Hopkins:  The Nuge is an established top six center who is dedicated to his craft and has focussed on playing both ends with equal prowess.  The problem is, at this point he is coming off a bad year and is being pegged by most as a 50 – 60 point player, which puts him in the second-line center spot.  Drouin however has not played enough pro to establish what his potential is, and in the games he’s seen at the NHL level, Drouin still carries first line center potential, maybe even  than the Nuge.

Head to head edge: If Drouin has a strong second series, he could be considered the more favourable asset, in a trade due to his low salary and upside.

Jordan Eberle: Eberle does one thing but he does it very well: score goals.  So Eberle is currently the best on the team (being pushed by McDavid) at putting the puck in the net.  Unfortunately that’s really all he does and when franchises are building playoff teams they need their top six players to contribute at both ends of the ice, as well as check effectively.  nonetheless, scoring goals is the hardest thing to do in the NHL and Ebs is among the best.

Head to head edge: I would think that Eberle has the edge in offensive upside but Drouin has greater flexibility because he can play centre as well as wing.  In Drouin’s favour, his contract is much lighter, and that will make a difference in today’s cap world.

What makes Drouin so attractive as a prospect is his potential.  The NHL already knows (or feels they do) the top end of the Oilers core group, while Drouin has considerable more upside at a lower price.  In the NHL, potential is the alluring opiate that drives every scout into a frenzy and every GM’s toe to tapping.  And to be sure, every member of the organization is looking for that sweet cherry high that happens when they land that player who changes the team, especially if the price is right.

What will Stevie Y do?

It’s difficult to say what Drouin and the Lightning will do in the off-season.  When asked about his long-term future with the club, Drouin’s answer was somewhat cryptic:  In a story that appeared in CBC Sports Drouin commented on returning the lighting organization:

“We’ve talked about the decision to come back here. I think that we’re going to fix this in the summer and see how it goes from there.”

Soooo, does “fix it in the summer” mean he’s going to be moved in the summer?  Or something else?

If Drouin was on the open market he would make for tough competition for what Chiarelli needs to accomplish, especially if both teams were making a pitch making a pitch for a comparable asset.

But despite the rhetoric between both sides I’m hoping Yzerman has the situation well-managed.  He’s done all the right things.  Been patient, avoided a war of words in the media, and put Drouin in position to succeed and feel part of the team again.  I’m guessing he would rather keep Drouin than trade him.  And lets hope so, one the trade rumours had Drouin heading to Anaheim for a young D-man . . . now that wouldn’t be good for the oil.

Edmonton Oilers, Edmonton Oilers Post Game Report, Lindsay Ryall, NHL

It’s The Battle of Alberta Part Four . . . With Playoff Implications

1 Comment

Edmonton Oiler fans have been waiting for some time for the Battle of Alberta with the Calgary Flames to be a little more interesting, or at least more competitive.  And while we’re a fair distance from the battle royales of the 80’s, the latest edition of the Battle of Alberta promises to be a good one.  Considering the Oilers are currently three points behind the Flames, and both teams are trying to stay in the playoff race, there should be no shortage of motivation on both ends of the ice.

What’s Happened  So Far?

The Flames currently lead the season series by two games to one, but the Oilers have been playing decent hockey of late and are due for a victory.  If that’s going to happen, a number of things need to fall into place, most notably, the Oiler D will need to play way over its head.  Besides the defence, there are a number of other interesting sub-plots to review.

Is Zack Ready To Do Some Damage?

The Oiler’s have needed someone to menace the opposition for sometime, and newly acquired Zack Kassian could fill the role perfectly.  If he played the odd shift on the top line, opposite wee Johnny Gaudreau, and bullied him a bit, the results could lead to some dysfunction with the Flames.  At any rate, Kassian cleary showed in his last outing he can capably keep up, although his cardio is still lagging a touch. Look for Kassian to make an impact, it’s games like these that the Oilers acquired Kassian for.

Time For Yak To Build Some Momentum

Nail Yakupov had a stormer of a game in his return to the line-up Thursday night against the Sharks (1 goal, lots of energy) and needs to follow it up with a repeat performance.  We’ve all seen glimpses of his potential and with a good rest and recovery, he looks re-energized.  If he continues to skate  hard, throw the body, and shoot whenever the puck is on his stick in the O-zone, good things will happen.  Personally I think Yak could add a dimension to his game by re-inventing himself as a modern-day Esa Tikkanen and shadow/check Gaudreau to ineffectiveness.  Just a suggestion.

What To Expect From The Flames

Winger Michael Frolik has had three goals against the Oilers this season, but has missed 12 games due to injury.  He’s a beast on the PK and highly opportunistic.  The Oiler’s should be aware of him.  T.J. Brodie has been an Oiler killer this year with a goal and three assists.  As is standard, the Oilers will need to stay out of the box and block the point shots to limit the effectiveness of Calgary’s D.

Another Edition Of Dr. Drai vs. Sam I Am

For any true hockey people, this debate was put to rest some time ago.  But then Calgary forward Sam Bennet had four goals against the Florida Panthers which has Flames’ fans fired up, thinking they have the best pick from the 2014 entry draft.  Bennet is more physical, but that’s pretty much where his advantage ends.  The Deutschland Dangler has the size to control the game and is a passing wizard.  He’s at a point per game clip and has clearly out-played Bennett in head to head matches so far this season.  There is a concern that Draisaitl is lagging a bit energy-wise going into the second half of the season, but the All-Star break will help with that. The latest installment of the Battle of Alberta will be another opportunity for Leon Draisaitl to continue to silence any critics.

Projected Lines For The Oilers

Taylor Hall                  Ryan Nugent-Hopkins              Iro Parkarinen

Benoit Pouliot             Leon Draisaitl                          Jordan Eberle

Teddy Purcell             Mark Letestu                            Zack Kassian

Lauri Korpikoski         Anton Lander                           Nail Yakupov

 

D – Pairings

Andrej Sekera          Mark Fayne

Darnell Nurse           Justin Schultz

Brandon Davison      Eric Gryba

Goal – Cam Talbot

On the top-line Iiro the Hero continues to try to make the most of his opportunity on the top line while Zack Kassian looks to provide some agitation on the third line.  Yakupov on the fourth line may provide an interesting dimension if he can continue to compliment Korpikoski and posibly get Lander going.

On the Defense, Schultz paired with Nurse concerns me somewhat.  There is a shortage of right hand D at this time, so perhaps this is the only option.  Schultz paired with anyone but a veteran steady presence is a concern to me.

Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, Lindsay Ryall, NHL

Oilers/Habs Swap problems While Looking for Solutions

1 Comment

Following the Oiler’s recent road loss to the Calgary Flames, the Edmonton Oiler’s Peter Chiarelli pulled the trigger on a deal that had been rumoured for a few days, trading former number one goalie, Ben Scrivens for heavyweight agitator Zack Kassian, who was playing with the Montreal Canadians AHL affiliate.
From an Oiler’s perspective, the trade will not offer any cap-relief (Edmonton is retaining some of Scriven’s salary according to Jonathan Willis) but the reasons for the trade are for more than just saving a few bucks.

Will Kassian Make the Oilers Tougher?

Kassian does have potential.  In spite of his personal challenges, he was a top 15 first rounder (13th overall in the 2009 NHL entry draft) and at 6’3 217lbs, can play the agitator role to a tee, because he can stir up crap and has the physical ability to clean up the mess he creates.  He also has a decent touch around the net for a skater of his type, and  was a point per game player with the OHL Peterborough Petes in his draft year, made Canada’s World Junior squad in 2010, and has shown he can contribute at the NHL level.  So what is it about this deal that makes you want to take a shower?

The most obvious issue is that Kassian has had substance abuse issues that could flare up, or worse, negatively influence a youthful lineup.

But let’s be honest, Chiarelli has traded for a player that Oiler fans relish in detesting.  Hating Kassian because he purposely injured Sam Gagner (career has never been the same since) and taunted that player about it afterwards.  That sort of behaviour goes to character, and it remains an area of concern.

Another consideration is how it will affect the current lineup.  You would have to think current enforcer Luke Gazdic has a target on his back and his time in the lineup will be affected by how hard he is pushed by Kassian in the minors.  If Kassian proves he has recovered, Gazdic’s days are numbered, which is what it is, but Gazdic is an honest player and respected teammate.

Eetu Laurikainen

Maintaining Player Development

As for Ben Scrivens, an opportunity to repeat history is presenting itself.  Will he be able to follow in Devan Dubnyk’s footsteps and re-invent himself?  My observation is he’s a career back-up, and we should all wish him the best in making the most of that opportunity.  In trading Scrivens the Oilers are rightly adjusting to an AHL goalie tandem that will focus on development as talented Finnish netminder Etu Laurikainen has been recalled from the Finnish Elite league, and will continue to hone his craft in the AHL.

 

But getting back to Kassian, will he make the most of his opportunity? He has the ability.  If all the cards were played correctly he could see time with former WJC teammate Taylor Hall.  Or, if he doesn’t sort himself out, spends time in the pressbox, he likely won’t get re-signed in the summer.  From a pure asset exchange, it’s a low risk trade.  There’s no question the Oilers need a tough guy who can play in the top 9, and Kassian has that ability.  At this point it could go either way, and while Chiarelli, has not given up a lot for Kassian, his reputation in judging character and the player are the highest risk.

Armchair GM, Edmonton Oilers, Lindsay Ryall, NHL

Could Shattenkirk’s Acquisition Stop the Oiler’s Defense Blues?

9 Comments

It’s always the paradox when critiquing any aspect of the Edmonton Oilers.  If you criticize the goaltending, the question arises:  Is it really the goaltending or the sloppy D that gives up grade A chances?  Is the bottom six so un-productive?  Or would their numbers improve if they had a Defense that could get them the puck?  Looking for a solution in this tail chasing exercise always comes to the same conclusion:  The Oilers need to make a meaningful trade to get an efficient puckmover for their blueline.

The question is timing, and if there is enough of a sense of urgency to trade a valuable asset now, or continue to develop their current crop of young D.  However, with Justin Schultz’s potential a bit hazy, sooner, rather than later, should be the order of the day.  But who should be the target?  Looking for an established top four defender is not easy.  For proof of recent failed attempts, simply look to Oiler’s farm team or pressbox where a couple of failed free agents reside.

The problem is, teams don’t trade their top pairing defencemen, so you need to gamble on a player that’s on the rise, or target a team that has a surplus of D, that could lead them to cap trouble if they don’t make a decision.  Following that logic, the Oiler’s should consider the St. Louis Blues, and offensive D-man dynamo, Kevin Shattenkirk.

To identify why Shattenkirk might be available, you only have to look at the St. Louis Blues’ success in drafting, developing, and acquiring d-men.  Joel Edmundson is a 2nd round draft-pick from 2011 who will be an RFA this summer and is playing on the top pair with Alex Pieterangelo.  Pieterangelo was acquired via the draft in 2008, 4th overall, and anchors the top pairing.

In the 3 spot there is veteran Jay Bouwmeester partnered with towering 3rd round revelation, Colton Parayko, who has been having a solid season to this point and (with Shattenkirk injured) has slid into the four spot on the depth chart.  This puts the St. Louis Blues in the driver’s seat as far as their blueline personnel goes.  Shattenkirk will be a UFA in 2016 – 17, but they have options.  With the young D-corps they have, they don’t need to mortgage the farm to keep him, in reality, they can let him walk.  But why let a legitimate top four defender walk when they can gain an asset?

For Shattenkirk, this is a bad situation.  If he continues to lose ice time to Parayko his stats will suffer, and that won’t help his case leading up to free agency two seasons away.  Alternatively, If he played out his contract in Edmonton, he would be playing on the top pairing all the time, feeding the likes of Mcdavid and Hall, making a 60 point plus season a very real possibility.

Could Edmonton Make a Deal Work?

For Edmonton, Shattenkirk would be a very nice fit, and solve more than a couple of problems on the Oil blueline.  The book on Shattenkirk is decent defense, and exceptional offense.  He reads plays well, has a powerful point shot, sends out accurate passes to his forwards, and quarterbacks the powerplay as good as anyone in the league.  He has registered 40 points or more in three of his last four seasons including 44 points in 56 games last year.  If he had played the full season he would have set the standard for offense from the D that season. Currently, the Oilers don’t have a defenseman that can do all those things consistently and wish they did.

How Might a Potential Deal Look?

There is no rush for St. Louis to trade Shattenkirk, but as early as December  they will likely be identifying needs for the playoffs.  If Parayko continues to fit in well on the Blueline, and there  are no major injuries, they may be looking for a deal.  Do the Oilers have assets to help them?  Currently the Blues are being hard hit by the injury bug.  Paul Stastny, Jaden Schwartz, Steve Ott, and Patrik Berglund are all in the infirmary.  They could use some depth and support there.  The Blues are always looking for more value and draft better than most, so a high pick might be worthwhile too.  Since they are losing a D-man, a defensive prospect in return might be worthwhile.  So my initial offer would be:

2016 first round pick plus Anton Lander for Kevin Shattenkirk

This is where things get risky, more for the Oilers than for the Blues.  At their current pace, the Oilers will likely again be in a high percentage lottery position and with American born phenom Auston Matthews the potential prize, that would be a lot to lose.

However, from another perspective, the Oilers aren’t likely to finish that low in the draft selection.  Even in their current funk I would see them drafting somewhere in the 6 to 8 spot.  Drafting there should be enticing enough for the Blues.  And would the Oilers be willing to give up a first rounder for a proven commodity?  At this stage I would think so.

Including Anton Lander may be an overpay but would be of interest to the Blues as they could use reinforcements on a long playoff run, especially one so proficient in winning face-offs.  And in return, the Oilers receive an offensively gifted defenseman who wouldn’t look so over his head in a top pairing spot like Sekera or Schultz.

Speaking of Schultz, Shattenkirk’s arrival could allow the Oilers make a definite decision on that player.  Playing the two on separate pairings, it would make sense that by the trade deadline they could either trade Schultz for some kind of asset, or walk away from him at the end of the season.  Either way, a trade for Shattenkirk could go a long way to solidifying a still shaky D.

But could the Oilers pull this off without giving up any part of their core?  I would think so, simply because the Oilers forward corps doesn’t match well with what the Blues are looking for, and, while Shattenkirk is an upgrade, he’s not a true number one, and therefore wouldn’t warrant the return of our top four fourwards.  Whether Chiarelli can pull a deal like this off is another question, but its a question worth asking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqVN24mtpjU

Beer League Hero, Lindsay Ryall, NHL, Sunday Night Pint

BLH Sunday Night Pint #14 – Milk Was a Bad Idea!

2 Comments
Photo by Andy Devlin

Welcome back to the BLH Sunday Night Pint! It’s our 14th installment and we’re going to talk Anton Lander, Connor McDavid, Roster moves, and HUGE mistakes! But before all of that… What in Sam’s hell went on last week?… The reffing has been atrocious and not only the refs on the ice, the bloody guys in Toronto working with the NHL making that calls on not one but TWO goals that cost the Edmonton Oilers points in the standings… Unbelievable! Let’s hope everything returns to normal sooner than later!

Anyways, crack your beer! It’s time to get this party started!! Today’s myself (BLH) and Lindsay Ryall (@lindsman77)

What is Going to Happen to Anton Lander?

LR: Nothing immediate will happen with Lander, I believe Mclellan will do everything to help Lander get his game back . If he is still wallowing come the trade deadline and a team is placing high value on a face-off man, Chia may trade him.  In all likelihood he will round back into form.

BLH: I don’t think he’ll be long for Edmonton if he can’t provide any help while he’s on the ice. As you can see from Montreal’s third line, getting production from your bottom 6 is nearly as important as getting it from your top. If Leon Draisaitl is a better option there, then maybe Lander will get packaged up and dealt to pick up a defenceman.

Will Connor McDavid Break 100 Points This Season?

LR: Unfortunately, I think a 100 point season will be next year, not this one.  He’s remarkably elusive but it will be hard to dodge the injury bug as an 18-year old.  Doesn’t have the best line mates on the team either.

BLH: Boy he’s looking like he might eh? I’m going to say yes despite my prediction on the Oilers Rig’s first podcast of the year where I said Hall would win the Oilers’ scoring title. That was before McDavid was setting the league afire. He’s a point-per-game player at this point and top ten in league scoring. I think he’ll definitely get very close if not over 100 points. The realy question might be, can he score 50?

What Will the Oilers First Move Be After Jordan Eberle is Take Off the Injured Reserve?

LR: Move Yak to the third line and see how he (Eberle) does with McDavid.

BLH: How about this conundrum? If Draisaitl is meshing with Nuge and Hall and Yakupov is clicking with McDavid and Pouliot, you can’t mess with that. Plus you have a young Swedish pivot that is in dire need of a kick in the arse, what better kick than playing with the best RW on the team?

The talk is starting though. If the Oilers want to make a move to stitch up the defence, they’re going to have to move an important piece. Personally I believe that Eberle is that piece. Could he be part of the elusive Lowetide special, the 3 for 1 deal? Well it got the team a Chris Pronger before… It might bring another.

What’s the Biggest Mistake the Oilers Have Made This Season?

LR: This was more of an off season move, but signing Sekara to such a long-term deal when he is not a top pairing d-man.

BLH: The biggest mistake the team has made is not getting rid of some of the useless veterans. To me guys like Purcell, Fayne, Ference, Nikitin, and Scrivens are holding the team back. Now yes I do know that their contracts are burdensome and Ference does have a NMC in his deal. My suggestion then would be to make it worth Mr.Ference’s time to move, bury contracts, healthy scratch players or eat money in deals. Those veterans are holding back the younger more capable players looking to break into the team. If this is a year where the team is evaluated and not expected to make the playoffs, then surely eating some dollars wouldn’t be a problem.

Thanks for reading and let us know in the comments below your thoughts on this week’s BLH Sunday Night Pint! It’s gonna get chilly folks (single digits temp-wise?!!) so head on over to the Beer League Heroes Merch Shop and pick up a sweet Oilers themed hoodie or a 16-bit Superstar sweater! They’re priced very reasonably and from all accounts they’re the most comfortable way to keep yourself warm! Click the pic below to check out all our designs!