One of the Edmonton Oilers’ biggest issues this past season was their inability to create offense from the blue line. The team struggled to move the puck up ice and lacked a strong point shot. The Oil got so desperate for help in this regard that they employed Brad Hunt in the NHL during a portion of this past season.
If the Oilers want to improve their powerplay in 2016-17, they’ll need a strong offensive defender with a big shot. Luckily for them, the Anaheim Ducks have an abundance of rearguards and one of them fits the bill in a big way. The one? Pending RFA D Sami Vatanen.
Why Is He Out There?:
The Ducks are a budget team and have a plethora of defenders on their roster. Clayton Stoner and Kevin Bieksa will both be back on expensive deals, while Cam Fowler will likely join them. The team has to re-sign top option Hampus Lindholm and that will not be cheap.
Simon Despres, Josh Manson and Shea Theodore are all strong young options that the Ducks are looking to get into the lineup as well, especially Manson and Theodore. I’m no math expert, but that is too many defenders for six lineup spots.
Factor in that Vatanen is looking for a raise this off-season and you get the perfect storm for a good young player to shake loose on the market.
What Does He Do Well?:
Sami Vatanen may just be the best offensive defender on the market (that we know of) this coming summer. He’s a terrific puck-mover who can get the puck from his own zone to his attacking forwards with ease. Anyone who has watched the Oilers the last few seasons knows how much of a weakness that has been for this club. It’s a strength for this player.
In addition to being able to move the puck, Vatanen has a strong point shot and is a legit powerplay option for just about any club. He’s handled a lot of PP duty in Anaheim and he’s had a lot of success with it. That point shot, which is both hard and accurate according to reports, would really open things up for the forwards down low.
This is an exceptional offensive defender (9-29-38 in 71 games) that would really help the Oilers in a number of areas where the team has struggled for a long time. While he isn’t a top-pairing guy, he’s a very strong option that is exactly what the doctor ordered for this team.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play?:
If Sami Vatanen was Edmonton’s lone off-season addition, then he would likely slide in on the top-pairing alongside Oscar Klefbom. That said, I think that is highly unlikely, and that if Edmonton brought in Vatanen they would also bring in a more two-way option to play with Klefbom. More likely, Vatanen would play on the second pairing.
In reality, that is exactly where he should be. Judging by Vatanen’s ice time (21:18 per game) and his weaknesses (size, physical play, inconsistent defensively), he’s more of a second pairing defender than a top guy. There’s nothing wrong with that, Edmonton needs defenders like this.
What Will He Cost?:
After the deadline, a rumor cropped up from Jason Gregor suggesting that Nail Yakupov and Benoit Pouliot were in play in trade discussions with the Ducks. Could those two have been part of a potential package for Vatanen? Would the Oilers move those two for Vatanen and another asset this summer? It’s possible if you ask me.
Would you do something like Pouliot and Yakupov for Vatanen and, say, a forward from the AHL (Stefan Noesen)? I would certainly be willing to entertain that.
Closing Argument:
If the Oilers want to improve this upcoming season, they’ll need at least two top-four defenders added to their current group. One of them must be an offensive threat and must be able to help on the powerplay, which is exactly what Sami Vatanen is. He’s not a perfect player, but he may be the best offensive defender available to Edmonton this summer.
Adding him to the current group would certainly change Edmonton’s mix on the blue line and would enhance a powerplay dying for a threat up top.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
