Usually on July 13th, all of the marquee free agents are off the board and teams are simply prepping for the off-season. 2015 is not a normal year however, and there are plenty of quality players just sitting on the free agent market. Some of these guys could really help the Oilers.
Edmonton is a vastly improved hockey club, but the Oilers are still a piece or two away from being a team you can pick for the post-season. They need a top-four NHL defender, and would stand to benefit from adding another forward as well, although that is more of a luxury.
Are there options out there that might help Edmonton? You better believe there are.
Cody Franson:
The best remaining UFA on the board in my mind, Franson is a legit top-four defender and a quality offensive threat. He’s a right-shot defender, and does a lot of things right. He puts up big point totals, has a good shot, and can move the puck at a high level. Franson is essentially everything Edmonton had hoped Justin Schultz would be.
If the Oilers ever decided to trade the man dubbed ‘Jultz’, then Franson would be the ideal replacement. In fact, I think you can easily say Franson is an upgrade.
If Edmonton could add this player, I might even put them in the playoff hunt. This guy is the perfect fit for Edmonton’s current needs.
Off-season targets looked at Franson this past spring here.
Christian Ehrhoff:
If Franson is the best UFA left on the market, then I think Ehrhoff is a close second. Like Franson, Ehrhoff is a legit top-four NHL defender. The biggest differences? Ehrhoff won’t post as much offense, but he’s better defensively. He can move the puck quite well, and is an option for power-play duty at the NHL level.
Ehrhoff’s advanced statistics indicate a highly underrated player who could really help a hockey team. He’s also a veteran presence and has been on a few really solid teams. He briefly played under Todd McLellan in San Jose at the end of the 2000’s.
Health is a concern, as Ehrhoff missed some time with a concussion last year, but he is said to be 100% and will be ready for camp.
Johnny Oduya:
The next tier of free agents brings us to Johnny Oduya, the veteran rearguard from the Blackhawks. Still a UFA, Oduya isn’t nearly as good of a fit as the top two options. He played heavy minutes last year, but he showed some real signs of slowing down. Added to that, he’s a left shot defender, which Edmonton has plenty of.
Oduya has some puck-moving abilities, can play a solid shut-down game, and is a real leader. He’s still a top-four defender, but he’s more of a number four now than he’s ever been. He can’t carry a pairing anymore.
If Edmonton wants to start both Darnell Nurse and Griffin Reinhart in the AHL next season, then adding Oduya for a season is a solid move. That said, I think Oduya goes back to Chicago or signs in Buffalo.
Curtis Glencross:
The trade for Lauri Korpikoski probably kills this, but I’d love to see Glencross and the Oilers makeup and have a reunion. Glencross was a sensational player during the stretch run in 2008-09 for the Oilers, and produced quite well for the Flames for a long stretch after that.
As Glencross proved this year in Washington, he still has it. He’s a fast player, does all the little things right, and has an offensive touch to his game. He’s a player the perfectly compliments Edmonton’s forward group. Not to mention, he’s a tough guy and is willing to stand up when called on.
If Edmonton wants to let Leon Draisaitl develop in Bakersfield for a season, Glencross could be a great short-term fill in option. I profiled him this past spring as well.
Eric Fehr:
Another Capitals forward sitting on the market is Eric Fehr. He’s not a sexy name, but he’s a really good player who can make somethings happen. Fehr scored 19 goals this past season, proving he can provide offense, while also playing a physical style.
He’s a 6’4” 212 pounder who also can play center. Tell me that isn’t a valuable package. Oh, and to add to that, he is a pretty decent defensive forward as well. I’m pretty surprised that Fehr is still on the market, and I’d love to see Edmonton give him a contract.
He could provide the play Matt Hendricks did but with more offense and speed. I like Hendricks, but this could be a spot where Edmonton upgrades before the season.
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