The Oilers are scouting the Canadian University Ranks on the search for some serviceable youngsters who can come in next season because they’re about to empty their coffers as Ken Holland has one last gift before he rides off into the sunset.
But before we get to that, give us a follow on the socials!
- Youtube: Beer League Heroes Channel
- Twitter: @beerleagueheroe
- Instagram: @beerleagueheroes
- Facebook: Beer League Heroes
The Latest Edmonton Oilers Trade Rumors
Oilers Scouting the University Ranks
“Canada West is a good league. These players are often good over-agers from junior who just did not get drafted. But they are mature, smart, and competitive. Guys like Eric Florchuk (a big, talented Center from Fort Saskatchewan who has been a point a game player in the WHL and CWUAA) and Jakin Smallwood (a good Leduc kid who played on a line with Conor Geekie in Winnipeg) are right in the Oilers back yard. If Edmonton is shipping draft capital out this Spring, they will have organizational slots to fill.” – Kurt Leavins, Cult of Hockey
- Edmonton’s had some recent success plucking overagers out of the junior leagues with James Hamblin and right now there’s a kid named Cam Wright who’s playing well. Had the Philp kid not decided to retire, he’d probably be playing 4C for the Oilers right now.
- I think last week or the week before that Bob Stauffer brought up Florchuk’s name. So you can take that as a very good indicator that the Oilers will try to sign him.
The “Cost” of Bringing In a Proven NHL Player
“Pittsburgh acquires Justin Schultz from Edmonton for 2016 third round pick (Filip Berglund) – February 27, 2016
Boston acquires Dennis Seidenberg and Matt Bartkowski from Florida for Craig Weller, Byron Bitz and a 2010 second round pick (Alex Petrovic) – March 3, 2010
Colorado acquires Erik Johnson, Jay McClement and 2011 first round pick (Duncan Siemens) from St. Louis for Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart and 2011 second round pick (Ty Rattie) – February 19, 2011
St. Louis Blues acquire Jay Bouwmeester from Calgary for Reto Berra, Mark Cundari and a 2013 first round pick (Emile Poirier) – April 1, 2013
Tampa Bay acquires Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller from N.Y. Rangers for Vladislav Namestnikov, Brett Howden, Libor Hajek, a 2018 first round pick (Nils Lundkvist) and a 2019 second round pick (Karl Henriksson)” – Daily Faceoff
- You can add one more trade to that, Edmonton acquires Mattias Ekholm from Nashville for Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first round pick, and a 2024 4th round pick.
- What’s a common denominator in all these deals? Sans the Oilers (yet), the teams acquiring the veteran dman went on to win the Stanley Cup.
- The other commonality is that the prospects given up in the deals never became better than the best player in the deal, the feature defenseman.
- So when we see rumors of the Oilers pilfering their youth to bring in veteran NHL players, we should think about the trades above.
Is This Ken Holland’s Going Away Gift to the Oilers?
“Now that the rival Canucks have made a bold move, how will the Edmonton Oilers respond? Maybe it’s too rich a price tag, and the Pittsburgh Penguins may decide not even to move him, but I love the idea of Jake Guentzel in an Oilers uniform.” – Pierre LeBrun, The Athletic
- I’ve got a hard time believing the Oilers could stump up enough trade capital to bring in a rental and make no bones about it. He’d be a rental because he’s a UFA at season’s end and unless I’ve heard wrong, he’s already turned down an offer of $8.5M/yr in PIttsburgh. How would the Oilers be able to afford him if he’s looking for more than that?
- That being said, if some miracle were to occur and Guentzel was willing to sign in Edmonton, how good would that top-six be?
- What does this trade even look like? Holloway, Broberg, Foegele, 2024 and 2025 first rounds for Guentzel (50% retained)?
The King of the North is here! Click the pic and grab a shirt!
