Craig MacTavish didn’t exactly give the Oilers a face-lift on Monday, but he started tinkering with the NHL’s worst roster. MacTavish claimed F Matt Fraser off waivers from the Bruins, while also placing F Steve Pinizzotto on waivers. Later in the day, the Oil traded F Mark Arcobello to Nashville in exchange for F Derek Roy, who had cleared waivers earlier in the day.
Fraser Claimed:
The former Bruins forward joins the Oilers as a clear upgrade over a few of the current bottom-six forwards in Edmonton. Fraser is young, only 24 years old, and has NHL size, standing in at 6’1” and 204 pounds. Fraser has a lot of pluses, including scoring at all previous levels.
Fraser was a scorer in juniors, and was a dominant scorer at the AHL level with the Texas Stars, averaging close to .5 goals per game. Fraser’s also a physical player who likes to throw the body around, go to the net and create traffic, and stand up for his teammates.
He’s a guy that never got a good chance in Boston, but has the tools to be a good player. His shot is seen as a really good one, and he has the ability to play on the power-play.
Fraser is a low risk pick-up who could pan out for Edmonton. He’s got decent offensive ability, size and physical ability. If he can mature and develop a little bit, he could be exactly what Edmonton is looking for in their bottom six. He’s worth the risk, and could help moving forward.
As for Pinizzotto, he’s a solid guy, brings a good physical style and some work ethic, but he just is not a NHL player. He is an AHL-level guy, and doesn’t belong in the NHL. I wish him the best of luck, but I think he’s done as an Oiler.
As for a line-up spot? I suspect Fraser starts on the fourth line, but I’d be stunned if he wasn’t a third line mainstay by mid-January.
Oilers Acquire Roy:
Later in the day, Edmonton dealt Mark Arcobello to Nashville for veteran center Derek Roy, who was a key part to previously very good Buffalo teams. Roy has fallen off a bit since playing for Dallas, Vancouver, St. Louis and now Nashville, but he brings some stability to the position.
Roy is on a cheap one-year deal, and is likely here on a try-out to prove he can still play in the NHL. At the same time, he also fills a massive hole at the center position, which has been an issue all year.
Roy’s offense has been decent throughout his career, but he only managed 37 points in 75 games a year ago for the Blues. This season, Roy has ten points, just one goal, in 26 games. That said, he has a past track record of being able to post offense, and is a guy who has played on the power-play before and can take a face-off.
He also gives Edmonton a bridge player to fill in for Leon Draisaitl, who is best suited to be sent down to the WHL in the coming weeks.
Derek Roy isn’t anything special, but he’s a player that belongs in the NHL. Mark Arcobello was easy to root for, but he’s an AHL’er and a first call up option, not an everyday NHL player.
Will this trade make a massive impact on the team? Not, likely not, but Derek Roy is a player who belongs in the NHL, and he plays the center position. I won’t complain.
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