Outside of goaltending, Edmonton’s biggest needs reside on the blue-line, where the Oilers desperately need at least two NHL players added this summer, ideally two top-four defenders. Getting defenders, especially top-pairing ones, can be very difficult. Edmonton hasn’t had a true option on it’s top pair since Sheldon Souray and Lubomir Visnovsky were booted out of town in 2010. It’s been a long time.
For Peter Chiarelli, this will be his most difficult task. That said, there are a few options available to him this summer. In addition to free agency, Chiarelli could be poised to take advantage of a team in the position he found himself in last summer, salary cap hell. One of those teams? The Chicago Blackhawks, who have a very good defender in Brent Seabrook.
Why Is He Out There:
Two words friends, salary cap. The Blackhawks will have to pay both Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews $10.5 million a season starting in July, and will need to ice a full roster with $21 million already used up. That limits them with other big ticket options, one of whom will be Duncan Keith, and another who will be Marian Hossa. The Hawks will need to shed some salary.
Seabrook is slated to hit free agency on July 1st, 2016, and will likely be out for a big raise, something Chicago simply can’t afford to give him. That could propel the Hawks to deal him this summer, while they can still get some assets for him for the future. They did this in 2010 with Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and Ben Eager.
What Does He Do Well:
Brent Seabrook is a legit top-four defender at the NHL level, in fact I think you can comfortably slot him as a number two option on most hockey clubs. He has decent size, standing in at 6’3” and 218 pounds, and has tons of experience in this league at age 30.
Seabrook is a clam defender, one who can control the puck with ease and who rarely rushes his play. He minimizes mistakes, and has a high hockey IQ, playing a rather smart game. You won’t often see him out of position when he is on the ice.
His skating ability is on par with most high-end defenders, and he is a strong player, one who is willing to get into his fair share of physical play. He won’t intimidate anyone, but he’ll certainly get involved and throw his body around, which is a big plus.
Seabrook logs big time minutes for the Hawks, and is actually capable of handling the top-pairing role. He doesn’t face the toughest competition in Chicago, but he logs the massive minutes and still goes up against some very good opponents. He’s also proven, in years past, that he can handle those tough minutes against top opponents.
Seabrook is a decent offensive player too, as he has a great shot, something we have seen a few times these playoffs, and has the ability to make that all important solid first pass. He’s not PK Subban with the puck, but he’s pretty good nonetheless.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play:
If Edmonton trades for Seabrook this summer, he’ll be on their top-pairing next season, likely as the team’s top defensive option. As for where he should play, to me Seabrook is a legit number two on a championship team, which still makes him a top-pairing option.
There are very few in the NHL, but to me Brent Seabrook is a legit top-pairing defender, who would perfectly fit the role he is being brought in to fill. For the first time since Souray, this would be a case of Edmonton actually filling a defensive hole with a legit and capable option.
What Will He Cost:
I think a lot of people have this massive price in their heads, but Seabrook probably won’t cost as much as people think. The biggest asset going back to Chicago here will be cap space and a massive contract off the books, which is more valuable than people think.
From Edmonton’s perspective, I’ll say at minimum this costs the team the 16th overall pick and Martin Marincin, and would be prepared to throw in another prospect, say Dillon Simpson, to get the deal done. This could be that three for one deal we’ve all been waiting for.
Closing Arguments:
The Edmonton Oilers badly need to add a top-pairing defender this off-season, and Brent Seabrook might represent the best option on the market. He’s proven he can handle the top-pairing role on a championship team, and he brings all the intangibles Edmonton loves.
His big, he can play physical, he’s a veteran, he’s a leader, and he’s a legit top-pairing defender in this league. He can help the power-play and play a shut-down role for Edmonton, it’s honestly a perfect match between the player and the team.
Look, a lot of teams will be after Seabrook and I’m sure the price won’t be too cheap, plus you’d have to re-sign Seabrook before July 1st 2016, but if Edmonton is confident, I’d make the call. Brent Seabrook represents a real top-pairing defender who could be on the market this summer.
While he never promised one, this could be Peter Chiarelli’s bold move to start off his tenure.
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