Refining the Oil (Part Three)

Hello all! Here again with the latter half of my look at RW options for the Oilers.

Last time, we took a gander at the first 5, which you can find here.

Just as a reminder:

Criteria

Size: Pretty self-explanatory.

Contract: What’s he paid and for how long?

Player: Is he any good?

Availability: Is there any reason he’d be available?

Cost to Acquire (CTA): Between skill and contract, what’s his value and what will he cost to acquire?

I combed through NHL scoring lists from the RW over the last 5 years, and determined a list of 10 players that could be, at the very least, somewhat legitimate options for the Oilers, as plug and play, shore up options. You’ll notice a lack of superstars – those guys are expensive and rare and not what we normally call 2^nd liners. He’s come under fire recently, but as a $6M man, Jordan Eberle is the Oilers #1 RW for the foreseeable future.

Let’s get to it!

#6. Radim Vrbata

(948 GP, 265 G – 300 A – 565 pts, 51.1 CF%)

Size: 6’1, 194lbs

Contract: Only year of $1M x 1 year

Player: When you compare Vrbata’s career totals to anyone else on the list, you might wonder why he doesn’t get more acclaim as one of the better offensive players in the NHL. Despite wild swings up and down in shooting percentage, Vrbata has consistently scored well. It seems that the 2005 lockout was a good thing for him, as his numbers picked up significantly in the years that followed. Easy to forget that he put up 63 pts with Vancouver only two seasons ago. Shoots right.

Availability: The Coyotes are depending heavily on him for offense, but John Chayka seems to be all about asset management. If he decides to tank for Nolan Patrick, he might get a decent amount for Vrbata.

CTA: The Slovakian sniper may not be what he once was, but he’s still offensively productive. Despite the secondary scoring he’s providing, Arizona is struggling. If he continues to light the lamp, I think they could get as much as a 2^nd rounder for him at the deadline, though the more likely cost will be a 3^rd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG7UU5yfdUk

#7. Craig Smith

(373 GP, 91 G – 95 A – 186 pts, 52.6 CF%)

Size: 6’1, 208lbs

Contract: 1^st year of $4.25M x 5 years

Player: If you follow Jonathan Willis, you know that Craig Smith is a very, very good hockey player. His forte? He’s a “volume” shooter. Before the Preds locked him up long term, I was hoping he might shake loose and become McDavid’s winger, but alas. Seems to be very streaky (only 6 pts this year), but with decent size and good skating, he should be a good scorer for quite a while. He’s only 27. Shoots right.

Availability: The problem with the better, younger players on this list, is that there isn’t a whole lot of reason to assume they’re available. Smith fits well into Laviolette’s attack system, but the Predators may decide that they need to focus a little more on their defending ability. They are having their share of struggles right now for a team many expected to contend for a championship this season. If they decide to change the makeup of their forwards, Smith may shake loose.

CTA: High. As with the Nyquist deal, a Smith trade makes the most sense as part of a blockbuster. Could he become available in a player-for-player scenario? I don’t find it likely. But who knows, maybe the Preds decide to shed salary and deal him for Brandon Davidson. Smith is struggling this year, but he could have a mega-impact through the life of his contract.

#8. Ryan Strome

(205 GP, 34 G – 67 A – 101 pts, 52.0 CF%)

Size: 6’1, 200lbs

Contract: 1^st year of a $2.5M x 2 years

Player: In the interest of full disclosure, I have liked this player since his excellent performance at the WJC in 2011. That said, I’m far from the only one high on his skill; he’s been hyped for some time now. Touted as a center, it looks more and more like his future will be on the wing. His offensive skills are superb, and he’s a good skater. He’s been a .5 pts/g guy thus far in his career, and it’s a good bet that his numbers will climb. Very heady and thinks the game on a level with the Oilers top flight centers. Right shot.

Availability: Strome is in a similar situation to Nail Yakupov in terms of what he brings offensively. Everyone expected more, and the disappointment tinges how he’s perceived. There’s a legitimate chance that he’s available, and if the Islanders’ struggles continue, he may be on the move. Jack Capuano has yet to move him into the top 6, only giving him 13.5 mins of ATOI. He’s far from secure in Brooklyn and could bring NYI some defensive help in a trade.

CTA: Lower than it should be. He’s a bit of a risk, in the sense that he is unlikely to blossom into the top line talent he was touted as. However, he’s a good young winger, with smarts and skill, and a strong history of scoring in the NHL. In a way, he’s like Yakupov, minus the trade request drama and frenetic style. Trading Yak brought back a conditional 3^rd. I would think Strome will command at least a 2^nd + a mid-tier prospect. I would think NYI would have time for Brandon Davidson as well.

#9. Tobias Rieder

(167 GP, 30 G – 34 A – 64 pts, 49.3 CF%)

Size: 5’11, 185lbs

Contract: 1^st year of a $2.225M x 2 years

Player: Rieder is a player that Oilers fans know well already, considering the fact that the Oilers drafted him. All kinds of rumours surround his trading, but that’s beside the point; he’s become a very good, two-way talent. Remember him scorching the Oil for two goals on the same penalty-kill? Awful memory. He’s good, responsible, and talented. According to NHL.com, he’s a LW/C/RW, which is odd. Left shot.

Availability: Reider has now developed a history of being very difficult to work with when it comes to nailing down a contractual agreement. It could be that those troubles are behind him, but it may be that he shakes loose due to reputation. I doubt it, as he will be very useful to the Coyotes in their rebuild, and I’m sure Chayka knows that. I believe he shows up fairly well in the fancies, and we know that ARI values those highly.

CTA: Fairly high, but limited because of lacking offense. I’d say he could go for a pick plus a prospect, probably even as high as a 2^nd. He’s a useful player and can play both wings, but I think the price would be a little steep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we53lxOcdjc

#10. Jimmy Hayes

(257 GP, 49 G – 46 A – 95 pts, 48.6 CF%)

Size: 6’5, 215lbs

Contract: 2^nd year of $2.3M x 3 years

Player: I feel for Hayes. He’s obviously talented and not a bad skater for a big guy; I think there’s a player there. He’s been shipped around a lot, going from Chicago to Florida to Boston already in his young career, but the positive of that is that good teams have traded for him. He shoots right, but is not necessarily a better bet than some of the current options at RW.

Availability: High. Very high. This still-young season has been awash with rumours that he’s available, and it seems that Sweeney is keen on moving him on. $2.3M is a lot to pay a guy who plays only 10 mins/night.

CTA: Low. Patrick Maroon was dealt for a 4^th rounder and junk, and I doubt Haynes will bring back even that. Haynes is one of those guys who are too good to lose on waivers, but Sweeney will need to make a decision soon. His disdain for dealing with Chiarelli would have to be put aside.

YMMV

Those are the last 5 of the veteran RW options. However, in creating this list, I found a couple of unique players, whom we may call the YMMV group. Why that moniker? Well, they’re kind of dubious choices, or players in very odd circumstances. I think all three are intriguing, but I can see why others wouldn’t be fans.

Jarome Iginla – His contract is rich and he’s getting up there in age, but I can’t help but think Iginla would be a huge add for the Oilers. The Avalanche would have to sewer for him to become available, but (provided they were willing to retain $) if the Oilers are still in playoff contention, his experience, character, and one-timer would be tremendously valuable. Very interesting possibility. Wouldn’t it be awesome to see him in Oilers silks?

Brett Richie – The hulking RWer has been developing in the Dallas Stars’ system for a while now, but he’s coming into his own. He’s definitely a Chiarelli-type, with size and skill, and could shake loose when the Stars return to health. There is risk involved in acquiring him – he probably won’t be cheap, and at this point, he’s far from a sure thing.

Teddy Purcell – The 31 year-old scored 43 pts last year, and boy, wouldn’t that be nice to add? He’s struggling to get ice-time on an LA Kings squad that can’t score, which is a bad sign for an offensive guy like him. Could he be an option? He’d help the powerplay, and infuse some skill into the Oilers’ right side. Maybe you’re of a mind that this ship has sailed, but I wouldn’t be against it pulling back into the harbour. He’d probably be fairly cheap, but I’d think Lombardi would rather send him out of the division.