We’ve looked at a long list of defenders during this off-season targets series, but very few forwards. Tonight, I change that a little bit, looking at a tough and gritty forward from the desert who might be of use to the Oilers. That forward is Coyotes’ grinder David Moss, a free agent on July 1st and a guy that might just fit that Pisani/Moreau role on this roster.
Why Is He Out There?:
David Moss is out there for one reason and one reason only, he is a UFA on July 1st and has a chance for one final payday at the NHL level (32 YO). Moss is a veteran player who puts in good performances every night and fills a role every team seemingly has. The Coyotes would love to keep Moss, but money is the reason he is on the market, and like Boyd Gordon one year ago, he could be out of the Yotes’ price range.
What Does He Do Well?:
David Moss is an Ethan Moreau type winger that is a perfect fit on a team’s third line. Moss is a positive possession player who regularly posts Corsi For %’s over 50%, and regularly posts around 20 points a season. He’s a strong defensive winger that can chip in from time to time, and does all of the hard work, he’s your typical NHL role player.
As mentioned, the Corsi numbers love Moss. This past season he posted a 52.3% Corsi For while playing on a non-playoff team. Those are pretty good numbers for a two-way winger, and the type of numbers a team like Edmonton could greatly use.
Moss can play on the PK too, which is a big plus considering the fall the Oilers’ PK unit took this past season. Moss is a proven player in this area and can be a veteran stabilizer in that regard, something Edmonton has not had in years.
He’s a good five-on-five player too, which is another area where the Oilers have struggled. Moss also isn’t a black-hole offensively, as he is usually good for somewhere between 20-25 points a season. He posted 22 this past season, and 20 during the lockout shortened 2013 season.
Moss is a decently sized player that has a physical side to his game and is solid defensively. He’s the kind of two-way forward the Oilers lack, and could desperately use in their top-nine forward group. Not to mention, Moss and Gordon have a bit of chemistry as they have played together before, in Phoenix.
Where Will He Play, and Where Should He Play?:
Moss is naturally a right winger, so he’d slide in on the third line behind both Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov on the Oilers depth chart. That’s exactly where he should be too, so the issue of players being brought in to play too high on the depth chart would be avoided here. Moss is a very good bottom-six player that would be on the third line for most teams in the NHL. This need and player type is a match.
What Will He Cost?:
Another player that can fill a hole and only cost the Oilers money, Moss will likely be looking for a multi-year deal that sees him get a raise on his current contract, which clocks in at $2.1 M per season.
I’ll say a starting offer of two-years at $2.5 M per would be my starting point, and I believe he could be brought to Edmonton on that figure. That being said, I suspect a two-year deal clocking in at about $3 M per year is more likely to attract him to a rebuilding club. Either way, he’ll be in the $2.5/$3 M per year neighborhood.
It’s a bit of an overpay, but I’d be willing to give it to this particular player, who could greatly help the Oilers’ bottom-six forwards.
Closing Argument:
The Oilers used to have an identity of a being a hard-working team that was tough to play against and that would have players of the Pisani/Moreau/Torres build. It’s been a number of years since players like that populated Edmonton’s lineup, and it’s a big reason why the team has been so bad.
David Moss is exactly that kind of player, and can come in and fill the role once held by Fernando Pisani and Ethan Moreau during the last respectable stretch in Oiler history.
Moss is a solid two-way forward that puts up okay offensive numbers, plays a lot on the PK, and plays sound defensive hockey. He’s an above average possession player and is a guy that is, quite simply, a smart hockey player. When looking for a two-way forward, David Moss is exactly the kind of player Edmonton should be looking for, tough, smart and reliable.
Moss will likely cost a little more cash than the Oilers want, but he’s a guy that can fill a hole that has been plaguing the team for years. The bottom-six must be improved on, and David Moss is a perfect example of what this team lacks in that area.
David Moss won’t come to Edmonton and save the Oilers, but he will be part of the solution, a very good secondary piece that can be a veteran leader and play solid two-way hockey. A tough player that can play a shift and be a positive possession guy? Sign me up!
If David Moss is even remotely interested in playing for the Oilers, Craig MacTavish should be on the phone making this guy an offer. Here’s this summer’s Boyd Gordon, go and get him MacT.
[adsanity id=1808 align=alignnone /]Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
