Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbsy
I think the oilers have about 3 glaring holes:
- top line winger
- a top 2/4 dman
- 2nd line winger
If they can get a true top pairing winger, it allows Draisaitl/Nugent-Hopkins to drop down and be what they need to be, a 2nd line C.
Their d going forward, without depending on the prospects to suddenly jump in prematurely (i assume sekera is on IR for the rest of his contract, or so the oilers should hope) :
Klefbom, Larsson, Nurse, Russell
Adding another top 4 is critical, as the Klefbom injury has shown.
Ideally, they get another dependable winger to give Draisaitl/Nugent-Hopkins someone to play with on the 2nd line.
What i would use if i was the oilers to fill these gaps?
1) Nugent Hopkins - his deal is up in a few seasons at which point they won't even be able to re-sign him. At his proper slotting, he's a 2nd line C, making him redundant to Draisaitl, who is younger, cheaper, and in opinion already better than rnh.
2) 1st round/2nd round picks - not to be used on rentals, but rather trying to plug the above 3 holes, with players with term on them.
3) poolparty - change of scenery, he looks pretty lost, and still may have decent value.
This is still a broken plan, as only rnh has $ savings reaped when he is moved out.
I don't think the oilers need to go scorched earth rebuild again. They do need to be bold, but not boldly stupid, which seems inconceivable to them.
It is funny that they already shipped out pieces with at least SOME value in Strome, caggiula, a pick, and only received deadweight cap hits in return......
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Draisaitl has proven time and time again that he is not effective centering his own line. The only time he puts up remarkable numbers is when riding shotgun with McDavid. The only tradeable assets they do have merely creates a new hole that will need to be filled and no prospects ready to make that jump. Nicholson also admitted they won’t trade futures for immediate help.
Trade RNH? Your 2nd line center is now Reider or Brodziak.
Trade Draisaitl? Your top line winger is now Lucic or Khaira.
Your not going to get a quality player that helps immediately for Puljujarvi alone, additional assets will need to be attached.
Klefbom has trade value, but then your just plugging one hole and opening another.
Chiarelli so effectively gutted that roster of talent and filled it with bloated contracts that they pretty much have no choice but to trade everyone not named McDavid and go for scorched earth rebuild v5.0.