His name had been in the rumor mill for a few weeks now, and today the domino finally fell, as the Edmonton Oilers moved F David Perron to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for F Rob Klinkhammer and a first round pick in the upcoming 2015 NHL entry draft, one considered extremely deep.
The move makes some sense in one area, as David Perron seemed very unhappy in Edmonton, and there are rumblings that he wanted out. Perron was clearly frustrated, and showed it back in November following a 2-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils when talking to the media. There have been multiple rumors that Perron had asked to be moved by the Oilers.
The return is actually decent value too. A first round pick in a deep draft and a decent bottom-six forward with some size, physical ability and two-way ability isn’t bad. It gives Edmonton a guy to potentially play with Matt Hendricks and Boyd Gordon on the defensive-zone heavy fourth line, and gives the Oil another bullet in June’s entry draft.
That all said, this deal just is not what Edmonton needs, and it is another massive strike against GM Craig MacTavish. Perron was tied for the team lead in goals just one season ago, and provided Edmonton with a gritty and offensive style that was lacking in the lineup. His sandpaper style was what Edmonton badly needed, and today it was given away for magic beans.
Perron being moved makes a bad hockey team in Edmonton worse, if you can imagine that for a second. The Oilers have moved a proven NHL asset for nothing more than hope and promise, something Edmonton has basically lived off of for nine seasons now.
At best, the first round pick will make the NHL in two or three seasons, meaning that the best part of the Perron trade won’t have an impact until the fall of 2018 or the fall of 2019, which is just baffling. As for Klinkhammer, he’s a good fourth, borderline third, line player and has an expiring contract. He’s not an impact guy, and he might be gone come July. Splendid.
The only ways MacT can make this trade worth it? Either trade the Penguins pick in a package for a legit asset, one that makes the team immediately better in a position of need, or draft a good player in that spot. Problem is, Edmonton has proven they can’t draft well outside of the top ten, and MacT has lost about 75% of his trades since taking over.
Edmonton clearly wants one thing, a crack at Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. The team is tanking, and I don’t think we can debate that. Has Perron been tearing it up this season? No, he hasn’t, but he’s a legit top-six forward and was just dealt for a pick and a fourth line player. To me, it’s a clear sign that winning really doesn’t matter in Edmonton right now.
From a Penguins point of view, this trade is a steal. Perron will go play with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin and likely score 10-15 more goals this season. He’ll provide some toughness and girt to a lineup that needs it, and will likely be a factor come post-season time. Post-season? Yeah, THAT thing.
Today, the 30th place team in the NHL got worse, and traded a top-six forward for a hope and a dream. Value? Sure. Smart? No chance. The Oilers, after nine years of no playoffs this April, are still trading players for picks. It’s the never ending rebuild.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Craig’s on it, we should be worried.
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