Bob McKenzie was on the Jason Gregor Show earlier today and they talked about a plethora of things including McKenzie’s upcoming Q&A event in Leduc on July 5th, the expansion draft, and most importantly to us Oilers fans, Jordan Eberle.
Here’s the Eberle segment from that interview:
JG:You’re expecting him (Eberle) to be moved in the next 24hrs?
BM:Well, I kinda qualify it as I usually do a million ways to Sunday. I mean, in this business there are no absolutes and there are no guarantees. Everybody wants them. Everybody wants me to come on and say,
“Yup! Jordan Eberle is getting traded for sure. He’s going to be gone.”
I can’t say that because I don’t know that. But what I do know is when you start to connect the dots a little bit and the dots that I’m connecting, we know that there are 6 or 7 teams that have been in relatively serious degrees of negotiations with the Oilers on Jordan Eberle.
We know that this is not just someone calling up and saying,
“Hey! I’d be interested in Eberle if you’re going to trade him!”
The talks on those fronts have been more substantive and therefore if you’ve got that many teams that far down the road, logic suggests that there’s a chance that a deal could get consummated.
The mere fact that they are going down this road, at this time, gives you a pretty strong indication that at some point Jordan Eberle is going to be traded.
Now, I said this on the morning show, there’s no fire here but the mere fact that the Oilers are getting as serious as they are about talking to these multiple teams and that there is the specter of an expansion draft that might motivate some of these other teams who are interested in Jordan Eberle to do that deal now, it leads you to believe it’s quite possible it could happen but far from guaranteed.
And as I said this morning, Jordan Eberle doesn’t need to be traded at all if you don’t want to, that’s the first thing that people should remember. The second thing is, if you do say, “We gotta trade Jordan Eberle.”, the financial aspect of his contract, you probably don’t need that money for a year until McDavid kicks in and some of the other things that will be happening. You can probably get away without trading Jordan Eberle and absorb Draisaitl’s money into the equation but the fact that he didn’t have a great playoffs, the fact that there is still substantial interest in him, and the fact that they are talking to so many teams leads me to believe that it’s more likely than not that Jordan Eberle is going to get traded.
It really does look like Eberle’s time in Edmonton is finished and after two seasons under McLellan and Chiarelli is it not plain to see that his style of play simply doesn’t fit in? It’s too bad though, I liked Jordan Eberle and he’s a very skilled player. He’s going to make another team very happy but when your time is up, it’s up.
You can listen to the whole interview below!
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The Edmonton Oilers are on the verge of making the playoffs and going into this year’s trade deadline they need to make a choice I believe.
Will they load up for a Stanley Cup finals run?
Will they stay the course and simply add pieces to secure that playoff bid.
I think every fan would love for Chiarelli to say ‘F*ck it!’ and go for the Cup but if you have forgotten, that’s sort of how we got here, no? Lowe and co. also took that same sentiment into the draft and thankfully because of those attitudes, we’re sitting pretty with Connor McDavid.
Personally, I believe the team should tinker with the roster not swing for the homerun at this year’s trade deadline.
My concerns with the team now are:
Backup goaltending
Scoring from the bottom six
The right-handed bomb from the point
A face-off specialist for the 3rd line
The lack of playoff experienced veterans
Who might the Oilers’ assets for trade be?
Benoit Pouliot – Let’s hope his strong play continues 🙂
Jordan Eberle – Can’t see him being dealt mid-season but you never know.
Brandon Davidson – The potential is there and rival GMs know this. Davy might bring back a key piece since he’s unlikely to be protected in the expansion draft.
Oscar Klefbom – If Chiarelli is really looking to expedite this rebuild, he could very well use the big Swede. I wouldn’t recommend it but it’s an option nevertheless.
The Oilers 1st round pick this year – Edmonton will do what it takes to improve and if a 1st rounder is part of that price, then so be it. The Oilers will be looking to recoup a 2nd rounder at some point anyhow.
Any one of David Musil, Jordan Oesterle, Griffin Reinhart, Joey Laleggia, Anton Slepyshev, Laurent Brossoit, or Dillon Simpson – It’s time to cash in on some of these prospects as it looks like their futures as Edmonton Oilers are in jeopardy. Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, Zayat Paigin, William Lagesson, etc. are coming in and they’ll need spots.
Let’s address the concerns one-by-one.
SUPPORT FOR TALBOT
I have heard that the Oilers aren’t pleased with Laurent Brossoit’s development and are exploring all options heading into the final half of the year. I don’t blame the Oilers for wanting to find a goalie that they feel they can trust and there are quite a few out there I’d give the job to before Brossoit.
For me, this could be a very undervalued acquisition (remember Roloson in ’05?) and I wouldn’t be against the Oilers adding an expensive goalie here but the caveat being that the player they do pick up would need to have extensive playoff experience and a positive one would be nice but not a requisite.
Ryan Miller (36 years old, $6M – UFA) – Is Miller that bad a keeper? I mean he’s been playing for the Canucks and that defense is questionable. As a backup for Talbot, I’d feel very safe knowing if anything goes wrong, Ryan Miller is there to come in.
His career playoff record is 56GP 28W 27L, .915SV%, 2.49 GAA.
Brian Elliott (31 years old, $2.5M – UFA) – I know he plays for the Flames but it’s not like he’s lighting up the league down there and he’s had extensive post-season experience during his time with the St.Louis Blues. I like this.
Career playoff stats: 37GP 15W 19L, .911 SV%, 2.49 GAA
Michal Neuvirth (28 years old, $1.625M – UFA) – The Flyers have a couple of goalies that will be UFA this summer but I’m not sure I trust Mason not to shit the bed at any given moment. Neuvirth, on the other hand has been a trusty backup for some time now. He doesn’t have tons of playoff TOI though
Career playoff stats: 13GP 6W 6L, .933 SV%, 1.93 GAA
There are a few others like Reto Berra, Jonathan Bernier (4-1-0, 933, 2.01GAA this season!), Ondrej Pavalec, and Anders Nilsson but I dig the fellas above. You?
AFTER EBS AND DRAISAITL, CAN WE TRUST THE KIDS?
So that right wing thing is still… A thing. I have a feeling that we’re going to witness a Jordan Eberle scoring explosion soon. The chances that he is getting are coming by the handful now and the timing couldn’t be better. That being said, Jesse and his Ripper (Full House references anyone?) are tearing up the AHL right now and I really want to believe that if the Oilers called him up after the trade deadline, that he’d do the same in the NHL but I don’t know that. Anton Slepyshev is still another question mark for me. I love how the Russian plays but when will it translate to consistent production on the stat sheet?
There is a perfectly good reason for Peter Chiarelli to go out and acquire a Radim Vrbata or a Jarome Iginla next month and that reason is the fear of Eberle/Draisaitl going cold again. The other thing is, in a playoff run or Stanley Cup run, you generally want to put your chances in the hands of the most capable players and usually, those players are a tad older or more high-end.
I’d love for the Oilers to go out and pick up the 2nd leading scorer in NHL history, Jaromir Jagr, because as a third line player that would allow the Oilers to move Zack Kassian to the 4th line where there’s not a lot that he can do to hurt the team.
Jagr isn’t a fast player by any means but he might be one of the smartest and Chiarelli had him for a run in Boston back in 2012/13. Of course, that fact and the Panthers making the playoffs could work against the Oilers trading for the legendary Czech.
Other names I’ve heard through the rumourvine: Brian Gionta and Alexandre Burrows. Not a lot of scoring there but would provide elements of their own in bottom 6 roles.
BOMBS AWAY!
There still seems to be interest from the Oilers in trading for a right-handed player that can add that cannon from the point or the left wall to their power play. I’m 50/50 on the idea I think. The PP is running pretty well (11th in the NHL at 20.4%) and picking up a defenseman or RW with a specific skill set is a daunting and risky task.
Dennis Wideman (CGY) has been in the rumours all year long. The Islanders’ young defender, Ryan Pulock, has emerged as a possible trade candidate but I’d like to see the Oilers going into the playoffs with an older crew, not a younger one.
This is possibly an area where Radim Vrbata and Jarome Iginla draw in again.
I’ll throw out some power play long shots (pun intended) for you though:
Colton Parayko/Kevin Shattenkirk (D) – St.Louis – Not the same Parayko we saw last year and the Blues are struggling a bit and apparently Bob McKenzie has said, in so many words, that Shattenkirk’s tune might have changed since last season and Edmonton could be back in the picture.
Sami Vatanen/Shea Theodore (D) – Anaheim – The highly-rated Theodore has seemingly fallen down the depth charts since Carlyle took over again. How will the expansion draft protection list affect the Ducks? And do they still want Benoit Pouliot?
Torey Krug/Zdeno Chara (D) – Boston – The Bruins are on shaky grounds, would they move either of these players to shore up the offense? Probably not if they’re close to a playoff spot eh? That being said, Chara’s salary drops to $4M next season…
Patrick Eaves (RW) – Dallas – What is happening to the Stars?
Ryan Strome (RW/C) – New York Islanders – More like, what is happening to the Isles?
Brandon Pirri (RW) – New York Rangers – This guy shoots, plain and simple. I can’t speak to his defensive game but if you want a shooter, you pick this guy up. Maybe the Rangers would have interest in Mark Fayne.
DRAWING FROM EXPERIENCE
Having a centre who can be counted on to win an important draw is of the utmost value in the drive to the playoffs and the Oilers have one guy in Mark Letestu they can count on (sort of). One. Maybe Leon Draisaitl could be another but we’re not 100% sure as to how he’ll perform when the team NEEDS that faceoff win.
Colorado’s John Mitchell should be available and he has a respectable win percentage on the draw at 55.55%. He’s got 1 goal and no assists this season, so one would think that his price would be of the minimal variety.
Bob Stauffer likes to pump Derek Ryan’s tires every chance he can get and the small pivot for the ‘Canes is having a pretty decent season (31gp 8g 10a) whilst winning 55.2% of his face-offs in 280 attempts. Now, Ryan isn’t exactly a full-time centre like Patrice Bergeron but he it looks like he can win a face-off now and then.
Hail Mary: Sean Couturier. If the Flyers fall out of the playoff race, do you think they’d be willing to move him? I think they’d be ridiculous to even consider doing it but one has to wonder if Travis Konecny would be a more financially astute player to take on 3rd line duties in Philly until his rookie contract is up?
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OLD GUYS
This one is pretty simple. I’ve already named Radim Vrbata and Jarome Iginla earlier as grizzled veterans that would fill some serious holes and roles on this Oilers team but how about Shane Doan? Would he like to come home or would he be more inclined to shack up with his cousin in Montreal (Some guy named Price)?
The stats community is always singing PA Parenteau’s praises and it doesn’t look like the Devils will be making post-season plans this year. Is this a player that would help the Oilers down the stretch?
Another fella from the East, Mark Streit, has always been intriguing to me. He provides a nice puck moving option for the Oilers and he’s a UFA ($5.25M this year) at season’s end. He’s a leftie IIRC though and the Oilers have a shat ton of those.
I don’t know, I’m just thinking of the Oilers have an older roster going into the playoffs (hopefully), I’d feel more comfortable going up against a team like San Jose in the 1st round.
So what if the Oilers looked like this after the trade deadline?
Basically sacrificing Klefbom, Davidson, Eberle, and Pouliot plus prospects and draft picks for some immediate help and taking on some extra salary as tax.
All of the players acquired here would surely be available for nothing more than marginal prospects and later round draft picks, no? Perhaps an offloading of Mark Fayne?
I’m just spitballing here folks. Probably a lot of wishful thinking, actually, definitely a lot of wishful thinking because it’s impossible to know who will and who won’t make the playoffs right now. The standings are pretty competitive this year and a 5 game losing streak could ruin any team’s chances at the post-season.
Thanks for sticking around this far! Enjoy your day! – BLH
**stats taken from NHL.com and Capfriendly.com**
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Let it be known! Darnell Nurse is not to be f*cked with…
Through two games at the 2015 Young Stars Classic in Penticton, BC the Edmonton Oilers have given its fans all it could ask for after what could be described as the longest summer ever!
Before this tournament started I think it’s safe to say that Oilers fans were all in agreement that it would be the Connor McDavid Show but so far it’s been the Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse, Anton Slepyshev, and Josh Winquist Show. McDavid’s only notable highlight is the one below.
McDavid has only played one game and that might be all he plays albeit but Draisaitl and Nurse have come to play! The big German has 2 goals and 2 assists whilst going +5 throughout the first two games and his backhand might be the best the NHL has seen since Mats Sundin’s. I know Crosby has a helluva backhand too but Sundin’s was something to behold.
Nurse is kicking ass and taking names, not so much on the score sheet mind you as he only has a goal, 11 penalty minutes and has gone +2. But ask Rasmus Andersson if anyone is talking about Nurse’s stat line today. If you can get him to take the ice pack off his face long enough to give you an answer.
Josh Winquist is definitely letting the Oilers brass know that he’s the real deal with his 4 pts (3 of those goals) and should be a top-6 consideration in Bakersfield this season. The mystery man that is Anton Slepyshev is slowly being uncovered game by game. His chemistry with Leon Draisaitl is very intriguing and something I will be keeping an eye on this season if they’re paired up in the AHL. Oh and Kyle Platzer is looking a player. Hopefully the Oilers won’t let him walk like they did another Kyle… Brodziak.
If you’re looking for boxscores for the last two games, here’s the one for the Flames game and here’s the one for the Canucks game.
McKenzie’s Interview with Chiarelli
Bob McKenzie sat down with the GM of the Oilers and for 30 minutes covered such things as:
What would a successful season entail: PC mentioned “developmental progress” for the teams younger players and named every notable Oiler but Nail Yakupov and Justin Schultz… Hmmmm.
Connor McDavid’s expected point totals: PC said 20 goals and 40 assists with a bit of tongue in cheek.
What aspect of the Edmonton Oilers roster is it lacking: PC said team heaviness. Also mentioned that one of the philosophies that will be stressed throughout the organization is team toughness, team resiliency, and push back.
Todd McLellan: PC said this team is going to be a team that pushes the puck.
My take on all of this is that the 2015/16 season is going to be an audition for everyone on the roster. This year’s trade deadline and next summer is when we’ll see the true upheaval. McKenzie asks Chiarelli about making a deal that would include one of the top-6 skillers and Chiarelli doesn’t shy away.
FYI: Milan Lucic is a FA next summer… Expect him to feature prominently in rumors to Edmonton this season.
You can check out the interview right here and I highly recommend you read Lowetide’s latest post for more on the interview from his point of view.
Not to mention we do custom designs as well! So if you want a Rocket Richard #9 Habs done up, no problem! Still in love with #66 from NHL ’94? We’ll do that up too! But here’s the kicker, if you order a custom design, we’ll give it to you for 30% off!
Get in touch with us on Twitter and let us know how we can help you!
So head on over and pick a shirt up for yourself or a family member! We’ve got all colors, all sizes and all styles. From Hoodies to tank tops to baseball shirts, it’s all there!
Thanks for reading! Let me know in the comments section what you think about this year’s crop of Oilers rookies so far!
