Off-Season Targets: Nate Thompson

Well, that does that.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs came to an end last night, the Penguins securing their second straight year on top of the hockey world. So now the focus of the hockey world will focus on what the offseason holds. More importantly, what it holds for the Edmonton Oilers.

Today’s offseason target may sound a little familiar to Oiler fans. Thompson spent this season with the NHL’s most hated team, the Anaheim Ducks, and played a pivotal role in eliminating the Oilers this past spring. At the ripe old (Hockey) age of 32, Thompson could provide to be a good presence on this Oilers team next year.

But will Peter Chiarelli be interested enough in Nate Thompson to offer him a contract on July 1st?

Why Is He Out There?:

Nate Thompson is a free agent this summer. While the Ducks do have plenty of time to talk extension with the 32-year-old Alaskan, some signs point to him testing the market.

It is also relevant to bring up the plethora of issues that Anaheim has to deal with in the coming weeks. With the upcoming expansion draft causing all sorts of troubles for the Ducks and the NHL Draft right around the corner, signing a bottom 6 guy like Thompson should be near the bottom of the priority list.

Anaheim will be focusing a lot on their defensemen this summer and that could lead to Nate Thompson signing the dotted line for another club.

What Does He Do Well?:

Nate Thompson is described as a high-intensity player that can play in a utility role. He isn’t known for his offensive production, he only managed 2pts in 30 games this past season, but he does provide to be useful in other areas of the game.

Thompson is a versatile player that can play each forward position well, and at a good pace. He does present some value in the faceoff circle, averaging an impressive 53.3% in the dot. You can also make the case that he is an effective penalty killer.

He is a grinder in every sense of the word, but that has lead him into some injury trouble in recent times. When he is healthy, he plays a heavy game that goes a long way in wearing out the opponent.

Another thing that he brings to the table is a multitude of NHL experience. In an NHL career that has spanned 10-years, Thompson has racked up 550 games played in the best league in the world. This is something that the Oilers would definitely take into account.

To summarize, Nate Thompson is a versatile bottom 6 winger that plays a risky, yet effective, grinder game. He has a known knack for being a successful faceoff man and penalty killer when he is healthy.

Where Will He Play/Where Should He Play?:

As I have alluded to many times throughout this post, Nate Thompson is a bottom 6 forward on basically any team he plays for.

This past season he spent most of his time playing alongside Chris Wagner and Logan Shaw on the team’s 4th line. This is somewhere where he succeeds and it will be somewhere he will play if the Edmonton Oiler’s bring him aboard next season.

As it stands, Thompson would most likely slot in as a winger on the Oiler’s fourth line, occasionally taking draws in carefully picked situations. I could also see him being a staple on the team’s penalty-kill units. This is somewhere where he would fit and be the most useful for the team.

What Will He Cost?:

Here is the good news for the Oilers, Thompson would come at a cheap cost. His expiring contract paid him 1.6-million annually, and he hasn’t done much to garner much of a raise. Considering his most recent struggles with injuries, I think a short-term deal in the neighborhood of 1.3-1.4 million would be a fair deal for both the Oilers and Thompson.

Closing Argument:

In the end of all of this, I do think that the Anaheim Ducks will eventually sign Thompson to an extension. From what I’ve heard from fans of the team, he would come at a cheap price and he has proven to be a very effective player with the system that the Ducks play.

However, if they do decide to let him go, I think the Oilers would be a nice landing spot for Thompson. He would provide a veteran presence and add some more edge to a budding bottom 6 group.

In terms of the contract, I think it would be pretty easy to work out a short-term deal that doesn’t confuse the cap situation for Edmonton.

While he may not be the prettiest option out there, Nate Thompson could be a legitmate option for the Edmonton Oilers if the Anaheim Ducks decide to let him walk this summer.

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