EDMONTON — Things We (Think We) Know. Series 1, Volume 5.
Things We Know
As Ken Holland sniffs around at the Trade Deadline, he’s finding that the price of trying to hit a home run as a team deep in Long Term Injury Reserve is either impossible, or simply doesn’t make long-term sense.
We’ve always thought an Erik Karlsson acquisition was sheer fantasy. The price involved with enticing San Jose to eat millions of dollars of cap space over four seasons — and perhaps paying off an intermediary to help take a bite out of that number — is just too imposing.
Remember, when the Leafs moved Patrick Marleau and the remaining $6.25 million on his deal, it cost them a conditional first round pick. Try to get a team to eat three or four million for four seasons… What would that cost?
Holland is still hunting for a defenceman, and if they can afford it, a depth forward to go along with that. They inquired on Jake McCabe, but he has a No Trade List and won’t come to Edmonton. They like depth centreman Sam Lafferty, but haven’t come to a deal yet because the price is likely a tad higher than the middle round pick they would be ready to surrender.
Patrick Kane is still out there, but even if you could make that deal work, it’s becoming increasingly clear that another offensive player is not what the NHL’s highest scoring team requires.
Things We (Think We) Know
So Joel Edmundson (back) is too beat up. And Vlad Gavrikov is too expensive, and sounds (at least today) like he’s going to Boston. McCabe said no, and Jakob Chychrun? Well, we suspect he was hurt when the Arizona Coyotes sat him down for “trade related purposes.”
Chychrun has been on the market for so long, the fact 31 GMs have all failed to acquire him tells you the price tag is simply unreasonable, and very likely, the Coyotes won’t take back a (Jesse Puljujarvi) contract that almost everyone who wants Chychrun would have to send them.
But what about John Klingberg?
When Anaheim signed Klingberg last summer (one year, $7 million), we immediately said he could be the No. 1 chip at the March 3 deadline. But he hasn’t had a great season, and his name has fallen out of the conversation.
He’s not Gavrikov defensively, but he’s far better with the puck. He’s not Karlsson offensively, but I’m not sure if asked to concentrate on his own zone that he couldn’t make you better there than Karlsson would.
Remember, many who said Duncan Keith wouldn’t help last season based their opinions on his numbers with the Blackhawks. Well, the Ducks may be worse.
Yes, Klingberg is a righty. But he could be a sleeper acquisition whose versatile game helps.
I’ve always liked him.
Things We Know
You can’t have it all, and when Holland spends to the limit every summer, I’m not sure you can expect him to max out again at the deadline.
In short, he’s an LTI GM, forced into the position by Oscar Klefbom’s injury. So he has to spend to the max before the season begins, and he does so by signing the Zach Hymans, Evander Kanes, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and when he needed a goalie, he signed like-him-or-not Jack Campbell.
But that leaves Holland shy on opportunity at the deadline. That’s just how the CBA works.
It’s nearly impossible to find a big ticket item when you’re an LTI team — unless you want to deal the Dylan Holloways and Philip Brobergs. And even then, without those guys, you’d be in worse cap trouble next season.
Things We (Think We) Know
Edmonton already leads the NHL in goals per game (3.76). But they’re 21st in goals against per game (3.26).
The Oilers have the best powerplay at 31.7%, but the 26th best penalty kill at 75%.
If I’m Holland I don’t need Patrick Kane. I need a Mike Peca clone. I don’t want Jakob Chychrun — I want Brooks Orpik.
Sure, finding those old school players in today’s game isn’t easy. But you get my point: think “keeping pucks out.” Not “putting pucks in.”
A lot of folks wondered, back in October, why Holland signed Mattias Janmark. Now that it’s late February, Edmonton could use two more guys just like him — couldn’t they?
I want veterans who can skate, check and kill a penalty. So that when Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the powerplay gets me a lead, I’ve got more guys who know it’s their job to preserve it — and are good at it.
Edmonton has a few: Warren Foegele, Janmark, Hyman, Derek Ryan… But the Oilers need another defenceman who thinks that way. And another forward — preferably a centreman.
