The Los Angeles Kings fell in the opening round of the playoffs this spring, capping off their second disappointing season in a row. The team is now facing some serious questions and is battling some major cap issues. The Edmonton Oilers, on the other hand, have some serious cap spaces and needs all over their roster.
A young team like Edmonton needs veterans, but there is always room for a younger player who can contribute. LA’s Tanner Pearson has been tossed around a little bit by those in and around the Oilers as a possible target this off-season. Does the 23 year-old forward fit, and would LA really move him?
Why Is He Out There?:
The Kings are trying hard to re-sign Milan Lucic this summer. If they do that, they are likely going to be paying the power forward over $6,000,000 per season. In addition to that, the Kings must find a way to add a top-four defender to their current mix. While solid, their blue-line isn’t good enough to win them another Stanley Cup.
Los Angeles will also need to re-sign Tyler Toffoli, Nick Shore and the above mentioned Pearson next summer. That’s a lot of money that needs to be handed out with very little wiggle room. The Kings are also bogged down with contracts for veterans Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik.
Would the Kings package a young player like Pearson with a bad contract to clear some money? It’s quite possible.
What Does He Do Well?:
Pearson is extremely valuable because he is only 23 years old, under team control for multiple years, and is already established at the NHL level. He’s an average sized player at 6’1” and 200 pounds, but he’s tough on the puck and isn’t afraid to throw the body around when need be. He’s not a physical player, but he’s certainly not soft either.
His scouting report, courtesy of The Hockey News, says that he “oozes hockey sense” which indicates he’s a very smart player. Pearson is more of a goal scorer, he has a great shot and he uses it at will. Pearson’s offensive instincts are very strong, making him a threat whenever he is in the offensive zone.
Defensively, he’s clearly learned from the Sutter system in LA. He’s a reliable player in his own end and isn’t one to cheat in this area of the game for offense.
This past season, in 79 games, Pearson posted 15-21-36, up from 16 points in 42 games in 2014-15.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play?:
If the Oilers acquired Tanner Pearson this off-season, it would likely be the first of two moves for the club. Pearson is a left winger, an area of surplus in Edmonton. If the rumors are true, then Benoit Pouliot could be on his way out of town in just a few weeks. If that happens, then Pearson would play on Edmonton’s third line to start things in October.
I haven’t seen enough of this player to accurately slot him, but based off of his scouting report and looking at his stats, he appears to be a top-nine NHL forward. He would be right in the wheelhouse in Edmonton.
What Will He Cost?:
This is an interesting one, because the real asset going back to Los Angeles would be cap space. If the Oilers acquired Tanner Pearson, that would mean they are taking back the contract of someone like Brown or Gaborik. Brown’s deal, which runs through 2022-23 with an AAV of $5,875,000, is a total non-starter for me. That’s the kind of deal that cripples a hockey team.
Gaborik’s deal is more affordable ($4,875,000) and has less term (2021-22) on it. That said, it’s still a hassle and it would not help Edmonton. Unless the Oilers were willing to take the buyout hit, this wouldn’t be worth it.
For arguments sake, let’s say Gaborik and Pearson costs you Nail Yakupov and, say, a 3rd round pick. Would you do that?
Closing Argument:
Tanner Pearson is a really appealing player. His age fits in perfectly with Edmonton’s young core, he’s got a ton of skill, and he can play a hard/heavy game. I’m sure the Oilers would love to get their hands on him, but it’s going to cost them.
If the Oilers can add this player without taking on a bad contract, then they should be all over it. He would be a great addition to the top-nine forward group. If Edmonton must take on money (Brown/Gaborik) then this deal has the potential to haunt Edmonton into the next decade.
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