Ducking Around

If the Edmonton Oilers were only missing one piece to their puzzle, who would it be?

I’m going to take a look at a single player from each NHL team that I believe would be of great significance to the Oilers chances of winning their next Stanley Cup. We’ll break down the player’s game, why the Oilers need him, and how much might that player cost.

What kinds of players do the Edmonton Oilers need? Well, they’re stacked with skill but they still have some issues in the department of defence at every position. I’d like to see them upgrade in the character department. Perhaps adding some veterans with an excess of playoff experience or younger players with great leadership traits.

Today we’re going to look at the Anaheim Ducks. The player I believe would really take the Oilers to the next level is Andrew Cogliano.

Edmonton was 28th in the league on the penalty kill with an abysmal 76.7% kill rate. Andrew Cogliano is renowned for his skills on the PK. Not only that but due to his speed and insane work ethic, he’s a very dangerous piece to have on the ice with a man down. He’s also an iron man not missing a game in his 8 seasons to date.

Every body knows the Oilers made a mistake when they traded him for a 2nd rounder in 2013, a pick which turned out to be Marc-Olivier Roy. Cogliano is on his way to the Western Conference final and Roy is set to play out his final year in junior at this year’s Memorial Cup but has yet to be signed. There’s still the possibility for him to be signed but the closer it gets to July the likeliness of him getting a contract lessens.

Cogliano would be a huge get for the Oilers and would solidify their middle 6 at every position given his ability to play anywhere on the forward line. He’d provide cover for a young center/winger which in Edmonton’s case would be a ginormous priority and ideally I’d seem him lining up beside Taylor Hall and Connor McDavid or Anton Lander and Teddy Purcell.

The cost for a player of such importance to his current team would be something dear. Now Anaheim looks pretty set everywhere but I’m thinking due to Cogliano’s age, skill set, and extremely manageable contract the price would start with at least a 2nd round draft pick in this year’s draft and a prospect of note, say Bogdan Yakimov.

I’m not sure if Yakimov has a near future in Edmonton unless they move Lander to the wing and promote him to 3rd line center. He certainly looks a player so far but the Oilers are starting to build quality depth down the middle with RNH, McDavid, Lander, Draisaitl, and Gordon.

Rickard Rakell is actually a RW so maybe a player like Yakimov could tempt the Ducks alone. Matt Beleskey (UFA) could be moving on this summer and Darnell Nurse’s teammate in Sault Ste. Marie, Nick Ritchie could find himself on the 3rd line left wing for Anaheim next season. A line of Yakimov, Ritchie, and Rakell could really cause havoc for opposing teams.

Would you pay that price? Let me know below in the comments!

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