Tag Archives: Pavel Zacha

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

Edmonton Oilers: Would You Make This Swap?

There are reports out of Russia this morning that New Jersey Devils RFA Pavel Zacha has agreed to terms with KHL club Avangard Omsk. Note though that no signing has been reported yet, just an agreement to terms. The club itself has distanced itself from the news and claimed it to be premature.

In the event that Zacha does actually sign with Avangard, he will not be able to return to the NHL until the 2020/21 season as NHL-out clauses are forbidden in the KHL.

You’re right, this has nothing to do with the Edmonton Oilers except for the droves of media and fans that have already jumped on the Jesse Puljujarvi for Zacha train… Would you make that deal? I sure wouldn’t.

Zacha was a fine player, if not a bit overhyped, in the OHL with Sarnia back in 2014/15 and 2015/16, but like Puljujarvi, he was rushed a bit. In his draft plus one season, he played for New Jersey and managed to scrounge up 24pts in 70 games. In the following two seasons, he’s only managed to increase his production per year by one point (25) and in just this last campaign, he was sent to the AHL for four games where he put up five assists in five games. Getting sent to the minors in year three after two years in the NHL full-time can’t be a great sign, can it?

Personally, I don’t think the big Czech has the ceiling that Puljujarvi has. He looks like he could be a solid 3rd line player who contributes on the penalty kill. He’s had trouble staying healthy so far as well with seasons of 70, 69, and 61 games played. I don’t know, maybe he’s like Pulju in that he’s been mishandled so far and there’s something more. I just don’t see it right now.

If I’m dealing Puljujarvi to NJ, I want someone back who can score. Not another body to make an already packed bottom-6 even more congested. Maybe the Oilers put him in a package to get Taylor Hall? I don’t know.

A Plan I’ve Seen Before

Oilers GM Ken Holland has been accruing a massive amount of veteran players on 1-yr deals this off-season and it sort of reminds me of how the Maple Leafs have done business of recent. Basically signing cheap players for the year and then pilfering them off for draft picks at the deadline. The key being that those players were coming from Europe but could still be sent to the AHL or they were veteran NHLers that would interest NHL teams looking for depth on their playoff run.

Given that the 2020 NHL entry draft is friggin’ loaded, is this the plan for the Oilers? They’ve got fourteen players on expiring contracts between the big club and their AHL affiliate. It makes perfect sense to play the season out, deal as many of those expiring contracts away at the deadline and then give the kids in Bakersfield a run out to end the year.

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Brennen York, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

10 – Colorado Avalanche

With a mere 10 days remaining until Peter Chiarelli announces Connor McDavid’s name as the newest Oiler, I’ll take some time to look at the top 10 teams and their game plan heading into the draft.

The Colorado Avalanche do not necessarily have a plethora of young prospects in the pipeline, but by no means do they lack elite, young talent. In the past six or so years, the management core has assembled a unique group of forwards which includes the likes of Nathan Mackinnon, Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog, and Ryan O’Reilly. The top 6, for the most part, is in place, however they could still use a right winger to play alongside future superstar Nathan Mackinnon. Where the Avs lack depth and upside is on the blue line. Sure, they would love to grab a guy like Noah Hanifin or Ivan Provorov, but that’s not happening without a bit of an overpayment. Luckily for the Avs, this draft is littered with solid defensive prospects after Provorov and Hanifin, which leads me to the most likely target for the Sakic and Co. University of Michigan defenceman Zach Werenski had a monster season this year, leading the Michigan blueline as a freshman. He also chipped in an impressive 25 points, and played a big role on the USA World Junior squad. With Barrie and Johnson locking down the right side, a future with Bigras and Werenski patrolling the left side may mean a deadly top four in Denver. If, however, the likely scenario occurs in which Werenski is taken in the 6-9 range, the Avs will have a pile of forward prospects who are rype for the picking.

Draft Day Gameplan

– Use the 10 overall pick. If the big 3 D are gone, my list would have Rantanen at the top, followed by Meier, Zacha, and Crouse.

– Avoid any trade that involves bringing in Dion Phaneuf. There will surely be a lot of talk around bringing him in, but he’s a guy you don’t want around that young core.

– Address the lack of forward depth by drafting offensive minded players in rounds 3 and 4, such as Korostelev, Speers, Trenin, and Gagne

– Pick 40 has to be solid. I’d avoid centers, but BPA is never a bad option. Keep an eye on Fischer, Dunn, and Senyshyn.

All in all, I would avoid making any major deals unless you’re bringing in a defenceman in the Josi/OEL stratosphere.

Avs Big Board (Without McEichel)

1. Noah Hanifin

2. Mitchell Marner

3. Ivan Provorov

4. Dylan Strome

5. Zach Werenski

6. Mikko Rantanen

7. Timo Meier

8. Pavel Zacha

9. Lawson Crouse

10. Yevgeni Svechnikov

Who do they take?

I find it unlikely that Werenski and Rantanen will remain, so you have to look at Timo Meier and Pavel Zacha. If it comes down to that, Pavel Zacha is the guy.

Darkhorse pick?

The Colorado Avalanche are in a spot where they could reach a bit, but if I’m choosing a true dark horse in this spot, it would be Jacob Larsson.