Oilers Offseason Trade Targets

So far we’ve had a look at, what I feel, are realistic targets for the Oilers. This included UFA Defenders and Forwards, as well as, RFA Defenders and Forwards they could target. Now it’s time to take a look at a variety of different players the Oilers could target. As opposed to the last few pieces, this will have wide variety of all positions needed. Just because, unlike before, most fans have an idea about each of these players. They are more high profile players that could help out our team. So not as much of an explanation of why they would help our team. So let’s get started.

One thing that every Oilers fan will tell you, is something is wrong with out top nine forwards. Whether it’s attitude or same type of player, it’s definitely an issue. So let’s take a look at some players that could help us out up front.

Bryan Bickell is a left winger that most hockey fans know about now. Big, mean and good in the playoffs. He’s having a forgettable season after signing his extension in the summer. He has only 12 points in 50 games this year. Not very good for a guy making $4M a year. What Chicago has that we don’t is depth, so they can play Bickell on the third line. He is a player that clears room and can compliment skilled players. As he showed with Kane and Toews last playoffs. While a big gamble, he could easily be un upgrade to our top 9.

Scott Hartnell is another guy having a season to forget. While he has been better over the last month and a bit. He only has 16 goals and 41 points in 62 games this season. While not bad numbers, he is expected to produce more. He is a guy who brings a lot of what the Oilers are missing. He’s big, mean, crosses the line and a shift disturber in the worst type of way. he is a guy who takes it on himself to fire up his team, by any means necessary. To make this simple, He’s Hendricks who can score 25-30 goals a year. The Flyers are out of room, with most guys signed to long term deals, so moving a big contract could help them.

Now let’s jump to a younger shift disturber who stands 5’9″ tall. Brad Marchand plays a very similar game to Hartnell. He hit’s everything that moves, pisses everyone and their fans off and can score to rub salt in the wounds. While not the biggest guy, he plays like he’s 6’6″ tall. While all great aspects to his game, he is also very good in all zones and all situations. Another type of player the Oilers could very well use. It would take a bit more to get him, but very worth the high price tag.

Dustin Brown has had a disaster of a year. He is being paid $5.875M a year, and has only produced 22 points this year in 66 games. He brings to the table big hits and two way play. While having a down year, you can usually count him in for 25 goals a year. he’s the type of player that makes players play differently when he’s on the ice. It would probably take one of our “core” players to get him, but he is a different dimension to our top six, sorely needed.

Chris Stewart is a name most Oiler fans know. He’s big, has a mean streak and a natural goal scorer. With only 25 points in 60 games, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres before the deadline. With only 1 year left after this year on his contract, the Sabres could try and move him for multiple assets to help their rebuild. He’s another big winger that would add size to our top six.

Troy Brouwer is a guy that could very well find himself in our top six, but not for scoring. Even though he has produced 32 points in 67 games. He is usually a team leader in hits, he compliments skilled players, he brings size and stands up for teammates. He can play anywhere in the middle six, on either side of center. While a role player in the truest sense, he can be counted on to add in 15-20 goals a season.

Another Capital that would help is the journeyman winger Joel Ward. As it stands, he ups his game come playoff time. A guy who hits and plays every shift like it’s his last. he is currently third in scoring on the Washington Capitals right now, with 38 points in 68 games. While great numbers aren’t always going to come with him, an honest effort every game is. A perfect compliment to our top nine.

Artem Anisimov is a guy that leaves some wondering. He owns a huge frame and has the skill to put up big numbers. He just can’t seem to put it together. He does however play a sounds two way game while putting up 33 points in 66 games so far this year. He might never turn into a point per game player like some had hoped, but he is turning into an excellent two way solid all around guy. Maybe he would be a fit with Yakupov? We’ll call that the Russian factor. But he would add size and two way play to our team that is desperate for both.

While on the Columbus Blue Jackets, let’s take a look at Brandon Dubinsky. Another guy who plays a sound two way game, he likes to lay the body a lot. While not the most skilled guy, he’s usually good for 50 points a year, mainly due to hard work. He’s a great teammate, sticks up for his players and can get the team going with big hits. The perfect compliment to our top six we’ve been needing. He would take a bit more than Anisimov to pry him away.

Another King having a disappointing season would be former Flyers Captain, Mike Richards. He is getting $5.75M a year and has only put up 9 goals in 67 games. Not good. While he is having a down year, he is still playing top six minutes due to his checking ability. He is known for being a defensive specialist who can put up points. He is also a guy who competes and battles each shift. While it would take a fair amount to get him, it would completely be worth it. He’s a guy that could show our guys what it takes to win.

Martin Hanzal is a hulking guy standing 6’6″ tall. He’s a sound two way player that actually uses his size to his advantage. While he is having the best season of his career putting up 37 points in 55 games so far, he hasn’t hit expectations so far. He may never turn into that 60-70 point guy that the Coyotes thought they were drafting. But he does bring a lot of intangibles that cannot be taught. He’s big, can play mean, can play every situation, win draws and is very good defensively. While not a big point producer, he would upgrade out top six in so many different ways.

Another guy who would make a difference in our top six would be Sean Couturier. It would take more to get him since he is still very young. But he would add size and grit to our second line. He current finds himself bouncing from the second to the third line in Philadelphia. He’s found himself playing a checking role and doing so very well, constantly getting under the skin of top players. Just look at how Malkin loses it every time they play the Flyers. He has worked on his defensive game, thus losing numbers in the process. But he is a player that has put up points. He is currently sitting at 34 points in 66 games. Which is not bad, but not the level expected from him. He finds himself on a team with other centers like Giroux, Lecavalier and Schenn, ahead in the depth. So moving hm could bring back a good return, which could shore up the team.

Cody Hodgson is player that went to Buffalo for Kassian a few years ago. Very well looking like Buffalo won that trade in a big way. But he hasn’t put up numbers like expected. While he turning into a good two way guy, even though not looking like it with a -20 on the season. He would very well be a guy who could help our top six at a reasonable price. Only thing is, he is acting as the Sabres number two center behind Tyler Ennis, so a center would have to go back to Buffalo. Gagner for Hodgson anybody? You never know.

A guy who’s name has been rumored on the move for a few years now is Jason Spezza. I don’t have to say why Spezza would be a welcomed edition to our top six. Pure point producer that has improved his defensive game, if you don’t count this year. Spezza can win faceoffs, points and has a big body. While he might not be physical, he does use his size to his advantage. While not the two way center any of the guys mentioned before is, he would upgrade our top six to new heights. While unlikely and with a huge price tag, Spezza would be a welcomed addition in Edmonton.

Now, onto the position that almost 99% of Oilers fan feel is our biggest weakness. Defense. This team has lacked a top three guy since Souray left town. Say what you want about him, he’s the best we had since Pronger. But a big change on the back end is needed.

Luca Sbisa has had a rough go of it this year. He’s only played 19 games due to injury. Also due to the Ducks having 8 NHL defenders signed past this season. He has found himself out of the top six more often than not this year. This is very surprising since he was a major part of the Pronger to Philly trade that occurred. He’s a big boy that plays a very well rounded game. He can defend and likes to throw his weight around. He also likes to join in the rush and makes a good first pass out. He would be a definite upgrade to our defence if we could pry him away from a deep Ducks team.

Marc Staal hasn’t just had a rough year, he’s had a rough couple of years. Concussions have kept him out of the majority of last year and the year before. he hasn’t been able to reach the same level of play he has shown in the past. This year he has 11 points in 66 games, but owns a -8 rating. Another aspect is he’s not the shot blocking machine he was before. This year he only has 72 shot blocks and only 70 hits. Definitely not the dominant shutdown guy the Rangers had hoped would be back after his injury. Either it’s a mental issue due to not wanting to be hurt again, or just a loss of confidence, a change of scenery could do him good. Even though having an off year, Staal still would command a very good return.

Jack Johnson, while not the ideal candidate, would add a boost to our back end. He has a howitzer of a shot, likes to lay the body, can skate for miles and plays a very mean game. The biggest knock is his mindset in the defensive zone. He has never been the most reliable guy in his own zone. But he clears the front of the net, and even though prone to bad decision, is an upgrade on our back end.

Ryan Wilson is a guy who hasn’t found himself a regular in Colorado this year. While being a top four guy the last few years. Due to injury, has fought an uphill battle. He is starting to fight for minutes, but still finds himself with on 16 minutes a night. Mostly due to the chemistry of the players ahead of him in the pecking order. He’ll never be mistaken with a point producer, but plays a solid, physical game on the back end. While not a top pairing guy, he brings play sorely missing on the Oilers defense.

Paul Martin is a guy that hasn’t lived up to his $5M a year contract, since joining the Penguins. He hasn’t put up the numbers like he did with the Devils. What he has done is play over 24 minutes a night, while producing 12 points in only 33 games due to injuries. He will never be the offensive guy he was in New Jersey. What he does do is bring a calming presence to the back end. he’s a guy that doesn’t panic with the puck. Just a solid guy all around that can eat big minutes. He finds himself injured currently and only has one year left on his contract. So the Penguins might move him, with guys like Matta, Niskanen and Despres knocking for more ice time.

Jamie Oleksiak cannot find a way to stick in the NHL. He’s a big body who plays a mean game, has a laser of a shot and displays a good all around game. The reason he hasn’t cracked Dallas on a full time basis is his foot speed, it needs to be worked on. Only thing is, he is smart enough to position himself to break up plays and not be beat wide. But with guys like Dillon, Golagoski and Benn playing well. Plus signing Gonchar in the off season, found himself on the outside. He has all the tools to become a top four defender, if not a number two guy. He just might need a change of scenery to do so.

Erik Gudbranson is a guy who hasn’t found the next level in the NHL. He plays good in his own zone. Plays a very physical game and is what you want from a defender in your own zone. He just hasn’t been able to bring his offensive game up to par to be the two way threat many thought he would be. He is however, a strong, physical shutdown kind of guy. He is built in the exact same mould as a Jason Smith. We have been missing a guy like that for a few years now.

Another guy having a year to forget is Zach Bogosian. In the second year of his $5.143M contract extension. He’s having a rough go of it. He only has 10 points in 52 games and is only a +1. Injuries have also been an issue with him this year. Not the only defender having a down season, the Jet’s were expected to make the playoffs this year. But even after a hot streak when Paul Maurice took the reins, hasn’t been enough. They are currently sitting 4 points out of a wildcard sport. With many saying a change in personnel is needed. Why not try and make a hockey trade with a team that has an abundance of defensive talent? They currently are 14th in the league in Goals For. Just some food for thought.

Next up I’m going to try and put this all together. See if I can figure out what the Oilers are going to do in the summer. Remember everyone, this is all in fun. So take it you will. Thank you so much for reading! Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @shawn_kelemen. Have a great day!