Earlier this week, the New York Islanders threw a major roadblock in the way of the Edmonton Oilers when they re-signed D Johnny Boychuk to a seven year deal worth $6 M per season. Many believed Boychuk would hit the market, and many believed that the Oilers would be the front-runner for his services. It would fill a major hole on the blue-line, even at the major price tag.
Unfortunately for Edmonton fans, the dream of Boychuk was just that, a dream. Boychuk likely will finish his career on Long Island, and Edmonton will have to look elsewhere for help this summer.
First, let me say this, it never should have came to this. The Oilers had talks with Boston all summer long regarding Boychuk, and they couldn’t seal the deal. The Islanders got him for just draft picks, a small price to pay for such an impactful player. The fact that Craig MacTavish couldn’t find a way to get it done is very disappointing. It looks even worse now too, because Edmonton doesn’t have any hope of adding a solid D through free agency anymore.
So, what’s left for Edmonton? How can the Oilers better this atrocious blue-line this summer? Let’s have a look, shall we?
Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks (Trade):
The best of the bunch, by a mile. Seabrook represents the best defender likely to change hands this summer. The salary cap likely will not go up much if at all due to the Canadian dollar, and Chicago is about to give massive raises to both Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. The Hawks, like they were in the summer of 2010, will be in a major cap bind.
That means Chicago will need to dump a few contracts, and the highly paid Seabrook is likely to be one of them. Seabrook will be a free agent on July 1st, 2016, so there is some risk here for the team trading for him, but one suspects the acquiring team will make sure before hand that a re-signing is likely.
Seabrook is a guy who plays top-pairing minutes for the Hawks, and is a guy that generates quite a bit while on the ice. He has a decent shot, is sound defensively, and posts solid point totals. On top of that, his Corsi For and Fenwick For numbers are very good. While he doesn’t play against the top opposition a ton, he has the ability to go against them and provide solid and steady hockey.
Seabrook isn’t an elite defender, but he’s likely the only indisputable top-pairing guy on the market this summer.
Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs (Trade):
Yeah, yeah, I know, you all hate him, put that aside for a second now, okay? Dion might be the most realistic option for improvement on Edmonton’s blue-line this summer. He’s part of a toxic team in Toronto, and it’s clear both the Leafs and the player want an end to this relationship ASAP. My bet? It happens at the draft this June.
Dion isn’t an elite defender, but he is a top-pairing guy at the NHL level. In my mind, he’s a low number one or a high number two depending on the team he plays for. In Edmonton, he’d be the number one defender, and it honestly wouldn’t even be close.
Dion is a hard hitting and physical defender who can put up points and play in all three areas of the game. He plays a lot at even strength, can QB a power-play and plays on the penalty kill. He handles big minutes, and usually fares decently well in them.
Dion is having a nightmare year this year, but it’s painfully obvious he is not this bad. This, to me, is a classic case of a player in a toxic situation who would benefit greatly from a fresh start. Dion was an elite defender in Calgary, and I believe he will again be closer to that Dion once he leaves Toronto.
This guy would improve the Oiler blue-line, regardless of the personal feelings that people have of him. He’s a good defender having a bad season who could be had cheap.
Paul Martin, Pittsburgh Penguins (UFA):
I’m a little hesitant on this one, because Martin is not a top-pairing defender. That said, Martin is a veteran left-shot who is a proven top-four guy at the NHL level. He’s not offensively gifted, but he isn’t a black hole in this regard, and he is a solid shut-down defender. He plays big minutes for the Penguins, and he delivers.
Martin is a steady defender, a better version of Steve Staios to my eyes. He does a lot of the little things right, and while he doesn’t play a sexy game, he plays a very effective game. No doubt he would come to Edmonton and be the team’s best shut-down option in a number of years. Again, he’s not the sexy name, but he’s a good player.
He’d only cost money, but I highly doubt he leaves the Penguins. Even if he did, it would take Edmonton a massive overpay to get him on board.
Mike Green, Washington Capitals (UFA):
For the record, I’m completely against this move, but this is EXACTLY the kind of defender Edmonton usually adds in free agency. Mike Green is a dominating force on the power-play and can move the puck with authority, but he struggles in a big way defensively. He makes a lot of mistakes and is a liability from time to time. He’s a better version of Justin Schultz, this is a second pairing defender.
He’s also become injury prone the last few seasons, and will likely command a massive overpay on the market this July. I’d stay clear, but I list him because, well I could see this happening.
Honorable Mentions:
Anaheim Ducks defender Francois Beauchemin is a free agent this summer, and is a guy I’d love to see Edmonton sign. He’s a solid puck-moving defender who plays huge minutes and can handle himself defensively. He’s a proven top-four guy and can play on the power-play too. That said, I’d be stunned if he hit the open market, the Ducks love him.
Zbynek Michalek could be an option as well as a shut-down defender, but he’s not a guy that will drastically move the needle. I think Edmonton needs two defenders this off-season, and Michalek could be that perfect second guy brought in. That said, he likely commands a big deal.
Jeff Petry coming back would be awesome, but let’s be serious, the odds of that happening are in the negative at this time, the relationship is dead. Cody Franson will be on the market as well, but I’m a little hesitant about him to be honest.
Trade Chips:
Should Edmonton go the trade route for a Seabrook/Phaneuf/other, the team will have to give something up. The Penguins 2015 first round pick (acquired for Perron) certainly will be a chip, while young D Martin Marincin is likely another trade chip. I think prospect Bogdan Yakimov could be moved in the right deal, and I wouldn’t rule out a defender like Martin Gernat, David Musil or Dillon Simpson being in a deal as a throw in prospect.
What Will Happen?:
Everyone has a different opinion on this coming summer. Some think Edmonton will stand-pat and continue developing young players, while some think the Oilers will go all Garth Snow this off-season like the Islanders did last year. The answer? Likely somewhere in between. That said, I think there are two guarantees, one is a new starting goalie, and another is a new top-four defender.
Ideally, I’d pull off a trade for Brent Seabrook, but I think the likely option is a Phaneuf trade or a signing of Paul Martin.
Thoughts? Tell me what you think in the comments section or on twitter @Alex_Thomas14
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