Is Peter Chiarelli Done?

This summer has been crazy for the Edmonton Oilers. It started back in April with the shocking lottery win, and it’s continued through early July with some stunning moves. A new veteran GM, new veteran coach, new top-pairing defender, new starting goalie and a bunch of new players that fill other roles. Oh, and that McDavid kid.

I don’t know if the Oilers are good enough to make the playoffs next season, in fact I doubt it, but they are certainly a better hockey team today than they were at the start of April. Fact is, Peter Chiarelli has done a great job of making bets and checking things off his shopping list.

We gave Chiarelli a list for the summer, and he has checked off everything on it. That’s more than Craig MacTavish ever did. This is the first summer of the three that I have done this that a GM checked everything off. Has everything been a homerun? No, it hasn’t, but everything has at least been an understandable bet.

The real question is, is Chiarelli done? He’s still got some house keeping issues to handle, like the future of Ben Scrivens, the Justin Schultz contract, and the second buy-out window, but is he done adding?

As of Tuesday afternoon, I thought so, but then something interesting popped up. I’ve been saying, as have others, that Edmonton is likely one top-four defender away from being a solid NHL team. I’ve advocated for both Cody Franson and Christian Ehrhoff, but no one in the media seemed to think it would happen.

On Tuesday night, Oilers insider Bob Stauffer came out of his silence on possibly signing Cody Franson, tweeting out the following.

@Bob_Stauffer: Getting asked a lot about Cody Franson. Useful 2nd pairing right shot D. But, another Sports Corporation client is the one to watch IMO…

Stauffer is right in his assessment of Franson. He is a solid 2nd pairing defender, I’ll add that he’s a dynamite offensive option on the blue-line. I think he would be a good addition to the Oilers, but clearly Edmonton is looking elsewhere. That’s good and bad.

It’s bad in the sense that Franson could really help this team, but it’s good in the sense that they are looking for help and not content with standing pat after adding Sekera, Gryba and Reinhart. The defense is better, but it isn’t good enough.

Who else is a client of Sports Corporation who might help the current situation? In addition to Franson, I see UFA Andrej Meszaros, but he struggled mightily in Buffalo last season. Ladislav Smid? Been there, done that. Johnny Boychuk? He’s signed long-term on the Island.

Wait…..Is that? Yeah, that’s who I think it is….

@Bob_Stauffer: …Brent Seabrook has been a vital cog to the ‘Hawks dynasty. Will need an extension like the Phaneuf deal. Stud D and a leader

Brent Seabrook has been at the top of my wish list since about January, when I figured he would get moved because of Chicago’s impending cap crunch. He’s a legit top-pairing defender, an elite player who can move the puck up ice and who can shut the opponent down with ease.

For all intents and purposes, Seabrook would be Edmonton’s best defender since Chris Pronger departed in the summer of 2006. Yes, he’d be that kind of addition to this hockey club.

Is It Realistic:

Honestly, I don’t know. When Bob Stauffer talks, it usually means something is up. He’s the unofficial news-breaker for the Oilers, always ahead of the curve with things like this thanks to his connections. I don’t think he’s ever dropped a bomb quite this big however.

I never thought the Hawks would deal Brandon Saad, so I guess it isn’t impossible that they deal Seabrook, but I’d be a little surprised at this point. The one thing that could change their minds? If Seabrook isn’t willing to re-sign after this season. That could be the case for all we know.

If Chiarelli can pull off Brent Seabrook, it would be arguably the best summer in Edmonton Oiler history. This team would be positioned to fight for a playoff spot, maybe to even sneak into the dance next spring. Seabrook can have that kind of impact on a team.

So, back to the question from the top, is Peter Chiarelli done? I thought he was, but I don’t think we can say that for sure. I’m getting the feeling more is coming from the new brass in Edmonton.

New World Oilers indeed.