The Edmonton Oilers desperately need top four defenders this off-season if they are to move forward in 2016-17. This, my friends, is not news. What also is not news is the fact that these defenders are very hard to come by and are rarely traded.
There was a very small list of options for Edmonton coming into the off-season, but that list appears to be getting smaller. The result? Panic among Oiler fans. I’ve seen a lot of tweets saying things like “What the hell is Chiarelli doing!” and “Great, another disappointing off-season is afoot.”
Normally, I’m one of those people who tends to be negative in this situation. This time around, however, I’m taking a different approach. Stay calm and, yes, stay patient. The NHL Entry Draft has yet to occur and free agency is still a little under two weeks away.
What Got Us Here?:
Back in November, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that New York Islanders defender Travis Hamonic had requested a trade to Western Canada for family reasons. Hamonic was the ideal target for the Oilers, a top pairing RHD. Shortly after the Islanders’ season concluded in May, Hamonic publicly rescinded that request.
Now, some believe (myself included) that Hamonic’s request still stands and that this was just a move to help GM Garth Snow get better bargaining position.
A little over a week ago, Bob Stauffer tweeted the following, taking two more options out of play.
Two right shot D I don’t see in the mix for the Oilers: Faulk-believe he is now no longer in play.
Shattenkirk-likely to end up in east— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) June 9, 2016
Faulk was my favorite option personally, while Shattenkirk would have represented a massive improvement for Edmonton. Alas, neither will be coming to Edmonton according to the insider. This wasn’t a huge shock, however, as Carolina values Faulk in a major way and Shattenkirk has made it known that he would like to return east if possible.
Regardless, three of the top options for the Edmonton Oilers were off the board before we even hit draft week.
The Latest:
Last week, Mike Chambers of the Denver Post shocked people with a tweet regarding the Colorado Avalanche’s stance on RFA D Tyson Barrie.
Avalanche NOT trading D Tyson Barrie, GM Joe Sakic tells me. LT deal preferred for RFA, or arbitration. “Either way, he’ll be here” – Sakic
— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers) June 16, 2016
Barrie was seemingly locked into being traded and was considered a huge target for the Oilers. Personally, I think Sakic is trying to drive up a bidding war here and that Barrie is still on the block, but publicly the GM stated his prized trading chip is staying put. Another shot through the heart of Oiler fans.
On Saturday, the Anaheim Ducks added to the issue. The team re-signed a pending RFA of their own that was a huge target for Oiler fans.
BREAKING: #NHLDucks sign defenseman Sami Vatanen to a four-year contract extension: https://t.co/xH3GdUVEOjpic.twitter.com/Y9k9NErbYn
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) June 18, 2016
Vatanen was seen as a top powerplay option and second pairing defender for the hockey club. Obviously, that will not be happening. That’s another option gone with the wind.
Why We Can Relax:
The NHL off-season is a very strange thing. While rumors are fun, they are not the be all and end all. In fact, I’d say we don’t hear about a vast majority of the trades that happen until they are in their final stages. Just because the Oilers aren’t close to anything in the rumor world doesn’t mean that something won’t get done.
Trades that involved players like Brent Burns, Dion Phaneuf (twice!) and Chris Pronger (well…two of three times) seemingly came out of the blue. The Oilers very well could be chasing a defender that we don’t even know is out on the trading block. Think outside of the box here, folks.
Last thing? I mentioned this last week, but don’t take everything you hear as gospel. Just because Joe Sakic says he won’t trade Tyson Barrie doesn’t mean that is going to be the case. I’d be shocked if Barrie was in Colorado in September, there is too much smoke there.
Same goes with the Travis Hamonic situation, public posturing is a real thing folks.
A Parting Word:
If Peter Chiarelli has not addressed the defensive group by, say, July 5th, then Oiler fans can begin to worry. Until then, however, I think we need to let things work themselves out. As of now, the only ACTUAL transaction that has happened is Vatanen signing back in Anaheim. Nothing else is truly done just yet.
Sit back and relax, Oiler fans. The moves will happen and some of them will involve the Oilers.
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