Buckle Up: Oilers Rumblings

We’re less than three weeks from the NHL draft in Florida. Shortly after that, the floodgates open for free agency, it’s a fun time. The Oilers go into the draft with multiple picks in the first, second and third rounds, and will also pick Connor McDavid first overall. On top of that, many in the industry believe there will be many trades at this year’s event.

Outside of McDavid at one, we have NO idea what the Oilers will do. With Peter Chiarelli as GM and Todd McLellan as coach, we can expect some change, but how much and where? The full answers will come over the next few weeks. As for right now, we can only interpret the clues we get from the media and other leaks.

Oilers Re-Sign Hunt, Miller:

I’m a big fan of Andrew Miller, no doubt about it. The small forward was great in college with Yale, and he’s emerged as a prospect in Edmonton after just two seasons.

Miller dominated in the AHL this season, scoring 60 points in 63 games, with 27 of them being goals. Miller was an impact player at that level, and provided the Barons with a real offensive threat. Miller also played in nine NHL games, where he scored six points. That included his first NHL goal.

Miller will never be an impact NHL’er, he’s too small and not skilled enough, but he certainly has the tools to make the show. He’s got speed, he’s smart, and he has enough skill to get by. I suspect we see him in Edmonton for more than nine games this coming season.

Brad Hunt, on the other hand, likely doesn’t have a future as a player in the NHL. Hunt is tremendous with the puck, dynamite on the power-play, and weapon from the point, but defensively he’s a nightmare. Hunt simply can’t play effectively at the NHL level in his own zone, and he’s susceptible to mistakes. Frankly, he’s kind of a liability.

That said, Hunt is the best defender the team has at the AHL level. His offensive ability allows him to be an impact player, while his size is much less of a factor, allowing him to play better defense. Hunt likely is the number one defender for the Condors next season, and I’d imagine he sees some NHL time.

One thing we can’t deny Hunt, he’s really good on the power-play in the NHL. Will be interesting to see if Todd McLellan notices that.

Both contracts are two-way deals with a term of one year.

Out Goes Aulie?:

D Keith Aulie is a restricted free agent this summer, and he may be looking for work soon. The Journal’s Jim Matheson tweeted out the following on Monday afternoon:

@NHLbyMatty: Suspect Edm will let Keith Aulie hit UFA market and have farmhand Brandon Davidson ready to be the No. 7 D man here.

Aulie was decent at times for the Oilers, but overall he was okay at best. He’s a slow player and has no puck-moving ability, which is an issue in today’s game. As a physical defender in a depth role, he’s fine, but Edmonton has other options. I imagine the Oil let him walk, which is probably the right move.

As for Davidson, I’m rooting for him to make the team. He was Oklahoma City’s best defender in post-season, and he looked good in his NHL stint last spring. As a number seven defender in a shut-down role, I think Davidson would fit. On top of that, he’s got the ability to be a permanent NHL’er on the third-pairing moving forward.

Samsonov Part Two:

In 2006, the Oilers traded for F Sergei Samsonov at the deadline. Could another Samsonov be Edmonton bound this summer? Russian G Ilya Samsonov is the top rated goalie in the draft, and some think he could go in the first round. Would Edmonton take him at 16? Jim Matheson speculated so on twitter yesterday.

@NHLbyMatty: If Russian goalie Ilya Samsonov was there at No. 16 for Edm, would you take him? Absolutely. Could be another Vasilevsky.

Matty isn’t the first person to speculate this either. TSN’s Bob McKenzie threw the idea out there on twitter the other day too. Bob said Edmonton’s focus after McDavid should be on D and C, while he also said that some scouts are saying the Oilers should look at Samsonov at the 16 spot. Bob went on to say he’s the real deal too.

I think Samsonov is a good prospect, but drafting a goalie like that so early is a big risk. Drafting goaltenders is usually a crap shoot, and it took Edmonton almost seven seasons to develop Devan Dubnyk. Chiarelli and company don’t have that long to wait for an asset to help them, they need it now.

Drafting for need over best player is always a bad idea too. I’d be VERY hesitant to take Samsonov this high. That said, the rumblings are there, so we must at least acknowledge them.

Nelson To The Baby Pens?:

Last note this morning, and a quick one at that. Todd Nelson is, according to Eamon Alexander, a front runner for the head coaching job in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with the Penguins’ AHL affiliate.

@ironcityice: As of now it seems Todd Nelson is one of the leading, if not lead candidate for the WBS job. Interviews pending, they’re likely for this wk.

Nelson was talked about for Johnston’s job, he’s a former Pen, & made the playoffs every year as coach for OKC in AHL, 2x going to rd 3.

Like I said the in-depth search for WBS coach & then interviews will begin tomorrow, as will Pens attempts to land some more draft picks.

Nelson is a solid coach, he proved that in Oklahoma City and in Edmonton. He’s going to be a head man in the NHL one day, and he likely feels the same. His best chance to get another head job? Take that position in the AHL with another organization. If Pittsburgh picks him, there is no doubt he’ll want to leave the Oiler organization.

This is likely the big hold up with Todd McLellan announcing his staff. McLellan wants Nelson as an assistant of some sort, while Nelson clearly wants to be a bench boss. I’d say, at this point, it’s either WBS or Edmonton for Nelson.

We should keep a close eye on this. I’d also imagine the Oilers ask for compensation should Nelson go to Pittsburgh, considering he is under contract.