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Around the Oilogosphere – May 3rd Edition – Could the Oilers Draft the Next Jake Guentzal? RNH to the Canes Proposal, See Ya Slepy, and Many NHL Rumors!

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It’s always tough to say goodbye to an Oiler who you think could’ve been a great contributor to the club had he been given some more opportunity. I really liked watching Anton Slepyshev progress through the club from his days in the AHL to bottom 6 spot duty to being top 6 in the playoffs in 2017 but it seems as if the Oilers management and coaching staff haven’t seen enough from the Russian skiller to be able to give him what he needs to stay in North America and so he’s off back to his homeland to play with CSKA Moscow.

I hope the Oilers retain his rights somehow because there’s a player there and maybe he just needs a bit more time to refine his game in a different environment. Could he be Evgeni Dadonov 2.0?

THE NEXT JAKE GUENTZAL/KYLE CONNOR

Last week we talked about  three of the draft options the online scouting community were projecting for the Oilers at #10 which included Isac Lundestrom and Jesperi Kotkaniemi as well as the player we’re going to talk about below whom I’m ready to throw my support behind 100% as the player the Oilers should take.

I imagine the reason I really like this kid has recency bias playing a major part. I think he looks very similar to Jake Guentzal or Kyle Connor and both of those players are having good-to-great playoffs right now. And Farabee had an outstanding U18s as well.

But I’ll let you judge for yourself.

Joel Farabee
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height / Weight: 6’0, 164 lbs
Born: February 25, 2000 | Cicero, NY
Nation: United States

First off, you can’t go wrong taking a highly touted prospect who’s playing for the USNTDP these days. That program is fast becoming one of the best for developing high-end NHL players like Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Charlie McAvoy, Matthew Tkachuk, John Gibson, Jacob Trouba, etc. I could go on and on.

Basically, you’re going to get an NHLer if you take a player who is thriving on this team.

Secondly, I like players with some jam to their game. Not taking anything away from the skilled Marners, Ehlers, or Johnny Hockeys. It’s a personal preference. To me, it means there’s a bit more depth to that player apart from offense. Joel Farabee has this in spades.

“The best thing about Joel is that he competes so hard, and he goes to the areas most people don’t want to go to, and he scores tons of goals at the front of the net. He’s talented enough to score nice goals, but he adds so many goals because of his willingness to go to the hard areas, and he’s comfortable in those areas because he’s legitimately tough.” – NTDP Coach Seth Appert (link)

That’s not to say that Farabee is simply all blue-collar with respects to his game. No, he’s also got the skills to play in today’s NHL.

  • Shot? Check!

“He has a quick release and can snap the puck with pace.” – NHL Central Scouting’s Greg Rajanen (link)

  • Stickhandling? Check!
  • Playmaking? Check!

“Farabee has good hands and stick skills allowing him to control the puck while moving at top speed. Defenders must respect his speed, and so they back off him on the rush, creating shooting and passing lanes.” (link)

  • Skating (Speed/Agility)? Check! Check!

“Joel Farabee is an excellent skater, with the agility and edge work to get by defenders in one-on-one situations. He also has an outstanding first step and lightning quick acceleration” (link)

  • Hockey IQ? Check!

Farabee has good vision and is an outstanding playmaker off the wing. He anticipates extremely well and seems to be a step ahead of the play. Farabee finds open ice without the puck and makes smart plays with it. (link)

  • Two-Way Attentiveness? Check

What sets Farabee apart is how effective he is defensively. He uses his smarts to put himself in position to intercept passes and break up plays. Once he gets the puck on his stick, he’s excellent at transition offense. He’s one of the best 200-foot players at the top of the draft. (link)

  • Compete? Check!

“His fearlessness and work ethic make him a load to handle in the offensive zone.” (link)

“One thing you notice instantly is his work ethic on the ice — Farabee has a nonstop motor and will bust it from start to finish on every shift” (link)

“He excels in all zones, providing his team with a tireless work ethic” (link)

That’s a lot of checks and one would think if he’s that good he’d be no.1, right? And that’s true. What I’d say to that is he’s not at the same level in some of those areas as the forwards listed ahead of him (Svechnikov, Zadina, Tkachuk, Wahlstrom) and vice versa.

What is holding him back from being ranked higher is his physical stature. He’s on the smaller end being 6’0″ and 165lbs at the moment and what that means is that his shot isn’t where Wahlstrom’s or Zadina’s is and his skating isn’t as powerful as Svechnikov’s or his checking isn’t quite as good as Tkachuk’s, but by no means is that an indication of the kind of player he’ll develop into.

A player as smart as Farabee is will find a way around his limitations and turn them into strengths as a professional and if his floor is as a 3rd line special teams specialist, I’m fine with that because his ceiling is that of a top-6 scoring winger.

AN INTERESTING HURRICANES/OILERS TRADE PROPOSAL

I’ll just lay it out here and let you mull it over.

To Carolina: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins + Jesse Puljujarvi OR the #10 pick
To Edmonton: 2nd overall pick this year + Justin Faulk

We all love Nuge, myself included, and we all know Chiarelli and McLellan love him but does the salary cap love him? Could the Oilers use a bit more room under said cap to add a free agent or two?

Look, I know that if RNH plays alongside McDavid for an entire season AND stays healthy, he’ll put up at least 60 pts. He’s probably one of the last players I’d like to see the Oilers trade BUT Andrei Svechnikov will score 20 next season for sure. He’s that good. My good buddy The Oil Knight (Sean) has watched him a bit closer since he’s based in Ontario and he says that Svechnikov plays a very similar power game to that of Evgeni Malkin.

So would the Oilers be better off with Nuge at $6M and 60pts for the next three years or Svechnikov at $3.75M for the next three years with 20 goals or more each year?

Conversely, could McLellan handle another teenager on the roster where English is his 2nd language? (Ridiculous excuse btw)

I think Carolina wants a star centre and as much as I like Jordan Staal, he’s not that guy. Justin Faulk is now Carolina’s Justin Schultz and could use a change of scenery and depending on if they took Pulju or the #10, they could have Aho’s winger for the next 10 or so years.

Thoughts?

OILERS NEWS

Shots fired! Drew Remenda: “Firing the assistant coach to me is ridiculous.”

Edmonton Oilers may have lost Anton Slepyshev to the KHL

Chia Haters vs. Chia Supporters

Sorry state of what Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers rivalry has become

NHL RUMORS

NHL Rumors: Hurricanes, Oilers, Canucks and Maple Leafs

NHL Rumors: Minnesota Wild … Plekanec and Canadiens

NHL Rumors: Canucks Options At Center … John Tavares

NHL Rumors: Dallas Stars and the Philadelphia Flyers

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Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors, Trades

The Jets are the Latest Team Talking to the Oilers

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According to Darren Dreger and Josh Yohe, the Winnipeg Jets are showing interest in upcoming Oilers UFAs Pat Maroon and Mark Letestu.

Pierre LeBrun believes that the Oilers are looking for a 1st round pick in return for Maroon but would be happier with an NHL-ready or near NHL-ready prospect to help turn the team around a bit quicker next season.

The highest return on Letestu that I’ve heard is a 3rd round pick which I think is fair for a 32-yr old UFA. And Edmonton will likely be without their 4th rounder from this year’s draft due to Al Montoya most likely suiting up for more than 7 games.

So which prospects do the Jets have that would interest the Oilers?

Right off the bat, let’s get the players who the Jets would be insane to deal away.

  • Kyle Connor
  • Jack Roslovic

There’s no point in even wasting any time speculating about these two. They’re currently in the Jets top 6 according to rosterresource.com and producing. Winnipeg would be nuts to sell on any of these guys for a couple of soon-to-be UFAs

But the Jets do have three players in their minor league system that I believe could interest Edmonton.

  • Mason Appleton – 6’2″ 201lbs – Right Shot – C – 21 years old

Appleton is leading the Manitoba Moose with 16 goals and 30 assists in 51 games. Some were surprised that he turned pro a year early after being named Captain of his NCAA team in his junior year. Here’s a scouting report from Dobber’s Prospects:

Plays with a fast pace and has great vision on the ice to find his teammates with a crisp pass. A bit of a late bloomer, but will get his first taste of pro hockey this year and could make an impact soon enough at the NHL level.

I think the fact that he can move, he shoots right, he’s producing in his rookie year in the AHL, and that he’s a centre are all things that would peak Chiarelli’s interest. Winnipeg seems set at centre for the foreseeable future as well with Scheifele, Little, Adam Lowry, and Andrew Copp down the middle.

  • Sami Niku – 6’1″ 175lbs – Left Shot – LD – 21 years old

Niku is 4th in team scoring for the Manitoba Moose. He has accrued 10 goals and 27 assists in 51 games played down in the minors. This also being his first year in the AHL and North America. He’s drawing comparisons to current Jets blueliner Tobias Enstrom and Sami Vatanen.

The small Finn could fall into the same vein as a Sami Vatanen if he’s able to survive the rigors of the NHL. A high-risk, high-reward long-term fantasy selection. – Dobber’s Prospects

I’m all for the Oilers adding more offensive-minded defensemen to their system. I do not think there are enough. Sure there’s Bear and Jones but I feel the more the merrier down in the AHL because you can teach defense to a young player, offensive, I’d argue, is a helluva lot tougher to teach if you don’t have it.

  • Brendan Lemieux – 6’1″ 209lbs – Left Shot – 21 years old

I’m not sure if Brendan is as irritating as his old man (Claude) but he has certainly progressed well. In his first season with the Moose last year he played 61 games and scored 12 goals and 7 assists as well as 130 PIMs (maybe he is as irritating as Claude…). This year in 31 games he has 28 pts (12g 16a).

Brendan competes in a similar skilled yet gritty mold often getting under the skin of opponents. Not afraid to drop the mitts or lay out a larger player, Lemieux plays a no fear and borderline reckless game. His offensive skills are underrated as he has shown an ability to finish off plays with a soft touch. Lemieux is an impact forward that rivals despise playing against and the fact that he can play several roles up and down the lineup is certainly appealing.

This might be my favorite potential target for the Oilers. They need this sort of player I believe as they don’t have an aggrevator on the squad at the moment. Zack Kassian has relinquished that role in an attempt to play a more sound hockey game. In 9 NHL games this season he’s amassed 21 PIMs and 1 assist.

What do you think? Would these players fit the description of players that would help the Oilers next season?

Let us know in the comments below!

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Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Trades

Five Trades I’d Like to See the Oilers Make

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Trade me right f*cking now!

With the NHL trade deadline making it’s decent sooner than later, I reckon it’s time to get into some hypotheticals and create some stir. In my opinion, the Edmonton Oilers are an improving team but they are lacking some key elements found in the teams that brought coach Todd McLellan’s San Jose Sharks and general manager Peter Chiarelli’s Boston Bruins Success.

I feel that the Oilers are lacking in the following:

  • Veteran Playoff-Experienced Leadership – I don’t think this team has a definitive leader that everyone looks up to. No Chara, no Thornton. Hendricks is a dandy veteran and Hall is an emotional guy but I don’t see the team buckling up and following those two into the trenches.
  • Intelligent Puck-Moving Defenceman – Jultz, I’m sorry, but he’s not going to cut it and as good as Oscar Klefbom is, he’s not the guy you’re looking for here. Sekera is okay, Davidson too but there’s not-a-one guy who can move the puck fast enough or smart enough on this Oilers team.
  • Shooters – Have you watched the Oilers PP or whenever they get set up in the offensive zone? How many cute little passes do they try to make before the other team takes the puck away and sends it down-ice? They need a trigger man and for some reason Yakupov isn’t getting the chances or taking advantage of the one he does have. Eberle is doing well now but he does well every year when the playoffs are out of reach and he’s just as guilty of making those cute plays as the others.
  • Physical, Tenacious, Fearless Wingers – McLellan and Chiarelli want a better cycling team down low? Well players that are slight in stature won’t last long in that system. The team needs size and puck protection on their wings. If Nuge comes back and Draisaitl is moved to the wing, this could be a redundant element.

Now just to preface, I don’t want the team to make all of these trade. That’s just nonsense. I would, however, like to see the team make some considerable moves. I really think that the team is due for a big shake up and this might be the last season where we see Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Justin Schultz playing for the Oilers.

These aren’t rumors I’ve heard through the grapevine nor are they proposals I’ve ripped off of HFBoards or Facebook or Twitter. They’re simply cannon fodder for conversation, nothing more and nothing less. Besides, I’m sure there are much smarter people over at HFBoards with much better suggestions. I’m just trying to have a bit of fun and hope you guys will join in.

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Trade #1

Justin Schultz to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 3rd round pick.

Reasoning: To get him the F out-of-town. He’s harshing my mellow and the Lightning could use a RH dman to cover for Jason Garrison while he sits on IR. The Oilers need to stock up on early round picks too. Their system is bone dry.

Trade #2

Teddy Purcell to the Chicago Blackhawks for Mark McNeil.

Reasoning: Every likes Teddy and he deserves to go to a team that has a good chance at winning the cup. The Oilers would get back a 22-year-old, hard-working, gritty forward who scores at nearly a point-per-game pace in the AHL. He’s 6’2″ and nearly 200lbs and plays a style suited to the bottom six. Regularly spoken of by Bob Stauffer when it comes to trade rumors between the Hawks and Oilers.

Trade #3

Taylor Hall to the Winnipeg Jets for Jacob Trouba, Kyle Connor, and Andrew Ladd.

Reasoning: As I’ve said in the past, I do not believe that Taylor Hall is in Peter Chiarelli’s long-term plans. He’s not afraid to make the difficult move either. Jacob Trouba is a highly regarded young dman who is struggling in his third NHL season but he’s coming up in trade rumors a bit more frequently now. The American-born defenseman plays the right side and is a restricted free agent this summer. Trouba reminds me of Dave Manson a bit, he’s mean and he’s got a cannon. Left winger Andrew Ladd is the leader this team has been clambering for since Bill Guerin left, and Kyle Connor is tearing up the NCAA Jack Eichel-style.

For Oilers fans, yes it would hurt to lose a talent like Hall and the Oilers would have to work hard to get Trouba and Ladd signed but every year Hall plays I can’t stop thinking about other elite wingers that had to go elsewhere to experience success. Marian Gaborik, Rick Nash, and Ilya Kovalchuk are all examples. And I look at a defense that is built around Oscar Klefbom, Andrej Sekera, Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba, and Brandon Davidson and think, “Yup, that’s not too shabby! Expensive down the road but effective.”

Jets fans can rejoice in potentially having one of the best lines in hockey in Hall-Little-Wheeler as well as a defence that includes Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers and Josh Morrisey.

Trade #4

Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for Kyle Okposo and Josh Ho-Sang

Reasoning: Here comes the muscle. Okposo would be the Nathan Horton-like player Chiarelli is looking for. I added Ho-Sang here because he’s a headache with tremendous potential but is also a wildcard AND Okposo is a free agent at season’s end who is looking for some top dollar. Another note on Ho-Sang, the Oilers are truly lacking some real offensive prospects in their cupboards. Sleypyshev? Is he the only real offensive gem (if you can consider him a gem) down in Bakersfield that is an Oilers draft pick?

Ok now. I’m sure you’re fuming over that Hall idea but calm your tits. Yes, Eberle and McDavid are having success together and Ebs looks like a man possessed. He’s fun to watch again but I urge you to look up the names Blair MacDonald and Rob Brown… He’s a complimentary winger who doesn’t fit into McLellan’s and Chiarelli’s system in my opinion. McDavid is THAT GUY who makes others better, right Benoit Pouliot?

Trade #5 (If the Oilers win the draft lottery)

The first round pick to the Buffalo Sabres for Rasmus Ristolainen and the Sabres first round pick.

Reasoning: Auston Matthews-Jack Eichel-Ryan O’Reilly… That is a 1-2-3 punch if I’ve seen one. I think it’d hurt for them to lose the big Finn Ristolainen but they signed Cody Franson to be an impact defender and he’s playing third pairing… Perhaps he’s being deployed incorrectly. With Brendan Guhle coming in next year or Chad Ruhwedel, they’ve got cover for that #6 spot in the defense.

Edmonton simply doesn’t need any more 1st overalls let alone high impact forwards. They’re dying on the back-end and a deal like this would do wonders I believe.

So what do you think about my trades? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to check out the new Better Call Hall tee below! It’s on for $14 until Tuesday I believe, then she goes back up to regular price.

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