Over the last few weeks, we’ve taken a look at numerous defensive targets for the Edmonton Oilers. We’ve looked at both free agents and trade targets, and today we’ll close this portion of off-season targets with one last defensive trade target. This is a player who has developed slowly, but has emerged as a strong NHL defender as of late.
Mark Pysyk developed in Buffalo but was then shipped away last draft weekend to Florida. It was a tough season for everyone in South Florida, but Pysyk was strong yet again and continued building his resume. The pending RFA rearguard will be looking for a new contract this summer and is without doubt an expansion target for Vegas.
Could Edmonton acquire Pysyk from the Panthers before the expansion draft, or perhaps even the Golden Knights after the selection process?
Why Is He Out There?:
As I’ve mentioned in previous Off-Season Targets pieces, the Panthers have some serious expansion concerns when it comes to their defenders this summer. The club must protect Keith Yandle (NMC) and obviously will keep Aaron Ekblad. If they go 7-3-1, as many expect, then the club can only protect one of Jason Demers, Alex Petrovic and Pysyk.
The Panthers could go 4-4-1, or they could ship one of the above mentioned defenders out of town to recoup some value before losing someone to Vegas for nothing. Of course, Vegas could also take the player and ship him off to a team like Edmonton.
What Does He Do Well?:
While he isn’t an elite offensive defender by any means, Pysyk is a quality puck-mover who is mobile and is still developing. In fact, Pysyk’s bread and butter is his puck moving ability, which is complemented by his above-average skating. This allows Pysyk to join the rush and makes him an offensive threat.
He’s a quality passer, which is a skill that the Oilers blueline still lacks a bit, and he can provide offense. His boxcars weren’t overly sexy this season by any means (4-13-17 in 82 games) but he can contribute as a secondary offensive defender. Behind Oscar Klefbom and Andrej Sekera, that’s exactly what he would be in Edmonton.
Pysyk is not a defensive liability by any means, and is a very calm defender who excels at making the simple play. There isn’t an overly sexy quality to this player’s game, it is just an overall sound style.
He averaged 18:33 TOI per night last season in Florida.
Where Will He Play/Where Should He Play?:
The right-shooting Pysyk would no doubt slide into Edmonton’s top-six on defense, it’s just a matter of where. I have him comfortably behind Adam Larsson, but slightly ahead of Matt Benning. That would put Pysyk on Edmonton’s second pairing with Andrej Sekera when healthy. Until then, it’s likely that Pysyk would play with Kris Russell or Darnell Nurse.
As for where he should play, well the former Oil King is likely a fringe top-four defender with room to grow at this point, so the second pairing isn’t a bad one for him. On a Cup winning team, however, I imagine he’d be a third pairing option.
What Will He Cost?:
If Edmonton acquires him from Florida, the ask is likely to be a forward. Would Anton Slepyshev, expansion ineligible, get the deal done? What about Slepyshev and a late-round draft choice?
If Edmonton acquires him from Vegas? Slepyshev could also fit the bill here, but so could prospect Caleb Jones and Edmonton’s first round pick this June (Not both, but one or the other), number 22 overall. For the record, I think both Jones and the pick would represent an overpayment on the Oilers’ part.
Contract wise, Pysyk is coming off of a two-year pact that paid him $1.125 million per season. Pysyk is due for a raise but shouldn’t break the bank by any means. I could see a two-year bridge deal at around $2 million per getting it done with this player.
Closing Argument:
As I mentioned over the weekend when discussing Alex Petrovic, the Oilers likely won’t be able to get a sexy option on the right side this summer due to a lack of options. If Edmonton really wants to upgrade the backend, and I suspect they do, then adding a younger option that can grow is likely the most realistic way to do it.
Mark Pysyk hasn’t fully established himself as a top-four defender in the NHL, but he’s now an established NHL’er and is still developing. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Pysyk, in the next year or two, will be a top-four defender.
Again, it’s not a sexy option, but adding Mark Pysyk could be a cheap and smart move for Peter Chiarelli this off-season. If nothing else, it’s a name to watch for.
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