Last time I took a look at some of the Unrestricted Free Agents the Oilers could try and target. Now let’s take a look at what is needed up front. Contract wise, we seem to be set on the left side going into next season. We have the electrifying Taylor Hall, skilled pest David Perron, super enforcer Luke Gazdic, inconsistent Jesse Joensuu and the gritty Matt Hendricks. Definitely the strongest aspect of our attack.
Down the middle our lack of depth is absolutely on display. We have the two way skill of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, down year Sam Gagner and defensive specialist Boyd Gordon. So while not the best group, not the worst. The issue at hand would be the group after that. The Oilers have absolutely no depth after that.
The same could be said for the guys patrolling the right side of center. We have point producer Jordan Eberle and sophomore sniper Nail Yakupov. That’s it, that’s all. I am going to throw Tyler Pitlick into the list, not only because it’s sad to only have two NHL players, but I think he will FINALLY make his mark next season. So we will throw him into the mix. Even though he is a restricted free agent. He can be signed for cheap and brings some size and speed to the bottom six.
Both Ryan’s, Jones and Smyth will probably not be back with the club next year. Jones will likely be signed by another team at a discounted rate to prove he can still play. Ryan Smyth should retire at the end of the year, hopefully. Then I could see him joining the Oilers front office. Maybe even the coaching staff. I get people want to see him sign and maybe play another year on the bottom line with a little power play time. But this team needs to bring in decent veterans to show these kids the way. As it stands, the young out weight the veterans. While youth is good, it’s just not working and something has to give.
So lets take a look at some of the players the Oilers could try and sign in the offseason that could help our team next year.
Just like on the back end, don’t expect the cream of the crop to end up here. Gaborik will go to the highest bidder, as he has always done. Do I really have to explain why we don’t want Heatley and how he won’t end up here? Pretty sure management has long memories, plus he’s been brutal for years. Vanek is another guy who will go to a team he thinks he has a shot at winning it all with, hence him turning down an Islanders Mega Offer. Paul Statsny is an interesting case. While I do think he’s absolutely overpaid. He is still a pretty good player and will probably get a contract to show that. Just don’t expect it from Edmonton, he brings what we already have.
Mike Cammalleri is in the exact same boat. He brings a whole lot of what we’re “supposed” to already have, being speed and skill. Ales Hemsky has been lighting it up in Ottawa and I can see him signing an extension on an actual playoff team. Milan Michalek is a guy who could add some size and skill to our top six, but he’s in the same ball park as Hemsky for injuries hurting his career. I guess we might try and sign him as a sorry for starting it all. If you think we feel bad about Torres almost killing him. But I just don’t see him coming here. Matt Moulson is a guy who’s also going to end up with a contender and it’s well deserved for him. I always love players who constantly prove people wrong. So while I would like to see him in Edmonton, we won’t be able to afford him.
Last but not least would be a part of the biggest trade on the Deadline. Ryan Callahan is the EXACT type of player that would help this team. He’s gritty, hits and plays an excellent two way game. He does everything you would expect in a leader. Problem being, he wants “First Line Center” kind of money. No thanks. If the reports are correct that he’s looking for $6m+ on a long term contract, run away MacT. We don’t need that here.
So once again, that sure thins out the herd so to speak. So what does that leave us with? We need to add to our right side as well as adding some depth down the middle. Plus an upgrade anywhere, even on the left side, would be welcome. So let’s take a look at some guys who could possibly help add some size and two way play to his midget Oilers squad.
Brendan Morrow is a guy I wrote about last year, before he signed in St. Louis of coarse. He can line up on either side of center. He brings leadership, grit and some two way play. He would be an ideal add to this team. He’s a guy that could move up and down the lineup as needed and add some puck battle wins to our top nine. Morrow plays a style of game that is sorely missing on this Oilers squad.
Another guy that could help, maybe to a lesser degree would be Dan Winnik on Anaheim. Another guy that can play on both sides of center. He’s an excellent two way player who can play a gritty game. He also has to bonus of being able to put some points as well. He’s known as a excellent teammate and can play in all situations. He’s a player that would definite be an upgrade to our bottom six forwards.
If you want to go the veteran route, look no further than David Moss. He would be another guy that adds size and two way accruement to our bottom six. He plays a sound two way game and also has a physical element to his game. Another guy who can score in bunches. He can skate well for a big guy and kill penalties.
If you want to go the absolutely crazy route, Steve Downie’s your guy. If he can put all the off ice shenanigans in his back pocket and control the crazy, he would be a welcomed addition to Oil Country. He hits hard, plays every shift like it’s his last and can score while he’s at it. Another guy who can play both sides of center, he can also play in all situations. Again, if, and that’s a big if, he can control himself. He would be an excellent addition to this hockey club.
Jack Skille is a guy that never quits. He plays all out every single shift. it helps he has speed to burn and can pitch in offensively every once in a while. He plays a pretty good two way game, and his shifts can bring energy to the rest of the team. He’s the type of bottom six guy that can help even re-energize a building.
Nikolai Kulemin is a special kind of player. He’s a big strong body that can wheel. He has a hard shot and play all zones of the ice. He can line up on both sides or center and play very effective in whatever role is given to him. He would be a little more expensive than the guys I’ve mentioned already, but rightfully so. He brings a lot of aspects that this team need desperately. The only real knock on him would be he can go into scoring slumps and doesn’t use his size nearly enough.
David Bolland could find himself a free agent come July first. He could be one of the Oilers top targets. He plays a two way physical game. Bolland can win face-offs and put up a few points. He has won at every level and would bring a lot of the basic aspects of the game to Edmonton. He would be a perfect top nine forward that can play all positions up front. He knows how to win and brings so many aspects that would upgrade the forward group in a big way. He also brings a “pest” aspect with him, he can get under anyone’s skin. He’s a guy who just never gives up and can pitch in any way you need him too.
Jay McClement is a guy who might fly under the radar. He is another Leaf that could help our team. He’s a big body that can bang, win face-offs and play a big role on the penalty kill. He is also a guy that can bring some leadership to the this team through the bottom six. He is another guy that has an engine that won’t quit. A character guy who takes his role seriously and does whatever is needed.
If you haven’t noticed already, the name of the game is guys who are big and physical. But just as important is the fact they are versatile. As in they can play whatever position they are needed to play. That formula continues with the last guy I am going to look at. Brian Boyle, currently of the Rangers, is a freak of nature. He’s HUGE standing 6’8 and can skate very well for a big man. He can also play any position up front and can throw his body around in a big way. He can win face-offs and plays a sound two way game. He would be an ideal add to our bottom six.
All of these guys, no matter what age, at this stage of their careers are bottom six guys that can help. For the most part they are role players that have enough skill they could find themselves up and down the lineup. I think any one of them would be a perfect add to this team that would upgrade out forward corps. The biggest asset each of these plays own would be that they have a compete level that would help this team a long the same line as a Matt Hendricks. You have your higher tear role players in Bolland, Morrow, Kulemin and Downie. Followed by the lower tear guys like Winnik, Moss, Skille, McClement and Boyle. No matter what tear you classify them as, they all would be a true upgrade over the group we are icing this year. So if we do end up bring in any of these guys, it would be a very good thing.
Might not be on the score sheet every night, but it would be with the attitude and drive of the team. When a young play sees a guy getting half as many minutes working harder, it always drives them not to get embarrassed. Just look at when Hendricks is on his physical game. Or when you don’t hear a Gordon’s name during a game, which is a good thing for a defensive guy. We have enough skill up front, we need more role players who can help this team. Not just bottom six guys to take up roster spaces.
Thank you so much for reading. This is part two of my six part fun series. I always love to interact, so leave a comment or give me a follow on twitter @shawn_kelemen
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