Day one of free agency is easily the most publicized and busiest day of the free agency period. Usually, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves in the middle of things, and Tuesday was no different. The Oilers came away with three new players and an improved roster, and while there are still things to be done, the list is no longer as large tonight.
The Additions:
The Oilers were in the market for another defender, a left winger, a center and a few depth players. The Oilers were able to snag their left winger in Rangers forward Benoit Pouliot, their defender in Devils rearguard Mark Fayne, and a depth option in Tampa’s Keith Aulie.
Pouliot gives Edmonton something it badly lacked, a big scoring winger that can play up and down in the line-up, be a net-front presence on the power-play, and win the battles in the corners. That’s what Pouliot is, and he’s also a guy that the advanced stats love and is a solid possession player. He’s not physical, but he’s big and skilled, and fits in with what Edmonton is trying to do.
As for Fayne, as mentioned earlier today, he’s a good shut-down defender that also has a bit more puck-moving ability than your traditional shut-down guy. He’s decently young, is a very good possession player, and is a top-four defender at the NHL level. That’s a really nice package, and something Edmonton badly lacked. The Oilers need guys that can play steady defense, and Fayne is one of those guys.
Aulie likely won’t be seeing much ice time in Edmonton, but he’s a nice depth option. He only played in 15 games this past season, but dealt with injury issues. He was a regular, playing 45 games, in 2013 and was a bottom pairing player for the Bolts. He’s a good option for the number seven spot and allows the Oilers to send Darnell Nurse back to the OHL and Oscar Klefbom to the AHL.
The Subtractions:
Defender Taylor Fedun was not qualified by the Oilers on Monday, and signed with the San Jose Sharks in the opening hours of free agency. He got a one-year, two-way deal that sees him get a nice little raise and a fresh start. I don’t think he’ll ever be a top-four defender, but Fedun is smart and likely has an NHL future ahead of him. Best of luck to him in the future.
Ales Hemsky, who was traded at the deadline, ended up with the Dallas Stars on a multi-year deal, while Jason Labarbera, traded last December, signed a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks.
Ryan Jones and Nick Schultz both remain unsigned on the free agent market.
Rumblings:
The Oilers had a solid day one, but I don’t believe they are done. The Oilers still need a center for the second line, and they know it. The team kicked tires on Paul Stastny prior to him signing in St. Louis, and kicked tires on Olli Jokinen according to reports in the last 48 hours.
630 CHED’s Bob Stauffer was pumping up the tires of Blues’ center Patrik Berglund all day Tuesday, and he seems like a really good option for the Oilers’ second line. He’s signed to a reasonable contract, but with Stastny on board the Blues may look to dump him to open up space to sign their RFA’s.
The rumored asking price according to Stauffer was a first-round pick in 2015, which is something I would consider doing if I were Edmonton. A package including the 2015 second round pick and a prospect like, say Anton Lander, David Musil or Martin Gernat could get a deal done too I’d imagine.
Berglund is a big boy, has decent offensive production, and is the perfect two-way center to play with David Perron and Nail Yakupov. He’d give the team 12 legit NHL forwards too, which would be the first time in a long time. It’s an option worth pursuing.
Jeff Petry’s name was also mentioned by Stauffer as potentially being out there Tuesday, and while he wasn’t connected to the Blues for Berglund, he was still a guy talked about. At one point during their radio broadcast today, Stauffer mentioned the only way Edmonton would get a top-pairing guy is by trading Petry for a bigger contract, but a better player, which was in response to a caller asking if the Oil were still looking for a top-tier defender. That’s the only way I’d move him.
In no way was Stauffer saying the Oil were shopping Petry, but he basically confirmed his name is out there in talks.
What happens next is very important for the Oil. If they can add a legit second-line center, they will have set up three offensive lines that can score and a tough minutes fourth line, which would give them 12 legit NHL forwards for the first time in years. It might not be sexy, but the defense, thanks to Fayne and Nikitin, is better as well.
Regardless of the term given to Pouliot, today was a good day for the Oilers, and can be labeled as a win for the team. The next step is equally as important however, and Craig MacTavish must tread lightly.
[adsanity id=1808 align=alignnone /]Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
