Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli has made a point of making the Oilers a bigger team that is tough to play against. In his quest to do this, he has added Zack Kassian and Patrick Maroon to the forward group. Maroon, who brought physical play and skill, was a revelation after his acquisition at the deadline. Kassian slowed considerably, but he had a unique situation and showed signs of being effective.
It’s probably a good bet that Chiarelli will look to add another bigger forward this summer. Fear not, Chiarelli won’t be looking to add another JF Jacques kind of player, no, Chiarelli loves big guys that can play. Jamie McGinn, a pending UFA from the Anaheim Ducks, may just be the perfect candidate.
Why Is He Out There?:
Anaheim acquired McGinn from Buffalo at the trade deadline for draft picks in hopes that he would help push the Ducks further in the playoffs. McGinn was good for Anaheim, but the team as a whole struggled in the opening round and lost in seven games to Nashville.
The Ducks need to re-sign RFA’s Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen and Rickard Rakell this off-season. In addition to that, they’ll need to make decisions on David Perron, Brandon Pirri, Frederik Andersen and Chris Stewart. The Ducks also have a ton of top prospects in the AHL who are pushing for NHL employment and who could provide value contracts.
For a budget team like Anaheim, paying a depth player like McGinn may be out of the question.
What Does He Do Well?:
At 6’1” and 210 pounds, McGinn provides the kind of size Edmonton is looking for. He isn’t afraid to use that size, either. He plays a physical style, not afraid to throw the body around and intimidate the opponent. In addition to that, he’s a very smart hockey player.
Jamie McGinn plays an underrated game defensively. His scouting report describes him as someone who can play a sound defensive game. Through limited viewings, the eye test backs this up. McGinn understands where to be and is strong against the cycle. The Oilers lack forwards who excel in this area. He also is very capable when it comes to winning battles.
Offensively, Jamie McGinn is a solid player but is very streaky. He’s got the ability to put the puck in the net with what I’d call a decent shot and he’s willing to go to the dirty areas and score the greasy goals. In 84 games this season, McGinn posted 22-17-39 between Buffalo and Anaheim.
McGinn posted a 47.8% CF% in Buffalo (63 games) and a 50.6% CF% in Anaheim (21 games). He’s a decent possession forward, judging by his 2015-16 results.
Last notes on McGinn: He’s a very versatile forward, he’s a good bet to stay healthy, and he’s only 27 years old.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play?:
As a left winger, Jamie McGinn would be in an interesting spot if he signed with the Edmonton Oilers. Based on merit, McGinn would start as the team’s fourth line left winger. He’s clearly below both Taylor Hall and Benoit Pouliot in my mind. In addition to that, Patrick Maroon looked more than capable of top-nine duty during his short stint in Edmonton post-deadline.
That said, if McGinn is signed it is very likely a trade is coming. Lots of smoke surrounded Benoit Pouliot and still does. If he gets moved, McGinn would move up to the third line.
In an ideal situation, Jamie McGinn is a third line forward. In Edmonton, that means he would be playing in an ideal spot.
What Will He Cost?:
McGinn’s cap hit on his last contract was $2,950,000 per season. In real dollars, he made $3,000,000 this past season. McGinn, who scored 39 points last year, will likely look for a raise on his last amount. I’d suggest that $3,500,000 per year is where McGinn will clock in.
As for term, I’d imagine a two or three year deal is what this player will get on the open market. If I were Peter Chiarelli, I’d strongly consider a two-year deal at $3,500,000 per.
Closing Argument:
The Edmonton Oilers need more size and physical play in their lineup for 2016-17. That being said, that size MUST be able to play the game. Patrick Maroon is the perfect example, and in a depth role Zack Kassian fits too. Adding another forward of that variety will only help the Oilers moving forward.
He’s not a perfect player, but Jamie McGinn is available to Edmonton for only money this summer and he checks off a lot of boxes. The bottom six forward group in Edmonton is not very good. Adding a player like McGinn can only help.
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