A few nights ago I was on the Oilers Live Podcast with Sean from theoilknight.ca and we talked about a plethora of things including:
- the Oilers to date and why they are where they are and who’s to blame.
- Their developmental system (or lack thereof)
- Erik Karlsson and where he might end up
- Pat Maroon and the recent rumors on his destination including one city nobody has thought of yet.
- All the latest Oilers trade speculation.
You should head over to Mike’s website and also subscribe to his podcast as every week he’s got either a handful of Oilers die hard fans being interviewed or bloggers/journalists who cover other NHL teams. His latest before the one I was on was with former Edmonton Oiler Jason Strudwick and it was a beauty!
BRANDON DAVIDSON TRADED AGAIN!
So far Brandon Davidson has been an excellent source of “income” for Peter Chiarelli. Last year at the trade deadline Davidson was dealt for David Desharnais, who in turn provided the team with some excellent veteran leadership and a critical OT goal in the playoffs vs. San Jose and Now Chiarelli has acquired a 2019 3rd round pick for the defenseman from the New York Islanders.
I think it’s an awesome trade. Anytime you can turn a waiver wire acquisition into a 3rd round draft pick, you’re doing something right.
Would I have preferred to keep him? Hell yes! I really have enjoyed Davidson’s effort and impact on the team since being selected off of the waiver wire but I do understand that he’s a dman with value, he’ll never be anything more than a bottom pairing defender in the NHL, and that by dealing him Chiarelli opened up another roster spot on the 50-man list.
How do you think everyone else reacted to the deal?
I wish peter chiarelli traded himself to the islanders instead
— cass (@tallltrees) February 25, 2018
Chiarelli: “Lets take an #Oilers player who is affordable and young and everyone likes and trade him for a pick that will likely never play in the NHL and can’t help us at all for the next three years.” #FireChiarelli #Oilers
— Oilers Wizard (@OilersWizard) February 24, 2018
All hail Peter "the plug" chiarelli. A gm who doesn't understand cap numbers, players, or how it all works, yet cost the @EdmontonOilers a draft pick to sign him as gm and continues to destroy a team just like Brian Burke has done his entire career! #herecometheoilers
— Doug (@Oceanstormprint) February 24, 2018
Dear Peter Chiarelli,
You, sir, are an idiot. You wouldn't know value if it sat on your face. With every move you make you show yourself to be a charlatan. Stop destroying our hockey team.
Signed,
A tier two fan who has had enough.
— GCW (@GCW_69) February 24, 2018
Only 1 tweet required for this Account!#FireChiarellihttps://t.co/PtOIg8VkTm pic.twitter.com/5w6UbNqb72
— "Fire Chiarelli" T-Shirts HERE! (@ChiarelliMustGo) February 25, 2018
Those are the AGAINSTs. The way I see it, unless Davidson would’ve brought back a 1st rounder or a top pairing right-handed powerplay specialist, the trade was going to be a fail in their eyes anyhow.
Here are some FORs:
I like Brandon Davidson but he is easily replaceable. Why wouldn't people want to continue to stockpile picks is beyond me
— Nick Grant (@ThePuckBeast) February 24, 2018
Seeing mixed reactions on #Oilers Twitter in regards to Brandon Davidson. All I know is that the 3rd round of the 2019 draft is STACKED.
— Clerk Kent (@Obi_Two_Kenobi) February 24, 2018
I like Brandon Davidson. But his salary next year, 4th in depth chart for LD, and NYI losing 2 UFAs on LD. This was a good hockey deal.
— PuckMarks (@puckmarks) February 24, 2018
Let’s look at some of the analytics bloggers Twitter opinions on the trade.
5th on the current LHD chart and making too much for a 7 (should be able to bury a 7's contract 100%) imo. Reasonable trade.
— Woodguy (@Woodguy55) February 24, 2018
I really like Davidson, but that's a solid return for a good third-pairing D, especially since EDM has two other good third-pairing D on the roster in Auvitu and Benning. https://t.co/6lFwu2TKGx
— Jonathan Willis (@JonathanWillis) February 24, 2018
This seems like a tidy bit of business for the Oilers. https://t.co/qc4NK3SaIK
— dellowhockey (@dellowhockey) February 24, 2018
1/ Re: Davidson. I see a couple of sides to this story. On the one hand, the trade is a bit mystifying as Davidson is a solid young player on a good contract, wants to play in his hometown, and is an RFA (so he's NOT the type of player you want to sell at the deadline).
— Oilers Nerd Alert (@OilersNerdAlert) February 24, 2018
Davidson cost the Oilers nothing to acquire a couple of months ago, so good work turning that into a third round pick. Does seem a little odd to move him though.
— Ryan Batty (@ryan_batty) February 24, 2018
Lordy that is a lot of tweets. So, I think, as usual, the fanbase is divided on the deal.
Look, the Isles get a nice depth dman and the Oilers get another asset to which they could use, and Chiarelli said he would prefer to do this, to try and obtain a near-NHL ready prospect at the draft. Another thing he could do is use it to try and move up in the draft this year.
One more positive, the Oilers are 1-0 in the post-Davidson era 🙂
LATEST ON THE TRADE FRONT
I suspect now that Rick Nash is a Boston Bruin that Pat Maroon will be going to Tampa Bay. I mean I guess the Bruins could pick Maroon up to if they wanted to really go for it.
Who might the Lightning give up for the Big Rig? Who knows to be honest but here are a few names to let percolate in your head bone:
- Vladimir Namestnikov
- Anthony Cirelli
- Matthew Peca
If I recall correctly, Winnipeg is in on Letestu and Maroon and you can add Mike Cammalleri to that list. Putting up 10 pts in the last 10 games tends to put you on the radar of other teams this time of year and if Davidson can bring a 3rd rounder, Plekanec can get the Habs some solid prospects, and Nash can bring in 4 pieces for the Rags, surely Maroon, Letestu, and Cammalleri will net the Oilers 1, if not two, acceptable young players who will have a chance to show what their worth down the stretch.
I’m hoping that Chiarelli clears some roster room up at this deadline too.
Winnipeg is in “win-now” mode more than ever right now. The iron is hot and they NEED to strike. But you know what? St.Louis is awfully quiet right now… The pundits are tossing Jake Allen’s name out there… Do the Oilers and Blues get together on a deal? It’d have to be a money in, money out type of deal though. St.Louis is right up against the cap at the moment.
You know what’s going to happen right? All three of those guys will head to teams that we never even thought of.. lol.
I was having a conversation with a buddy of mine at hockey last night and he suggested Josh Ho-Sang in return for that draft pick Davidson got the Oilers…
What do you think?
