The Edmonton Oilers, under GM Peter Chiarelli, have begun to change the mix up front and add functional toughness in the top nine. The team acquired Zack Kassian back in December, who has emerged as a solid player, then traded for Patrick Maroon on deadline day.
Kassian has enough skill to play in the top nine, is hard to play against, and plays a physical style. He’s not a dominating offensive player, but his totals of 3-3-6 in 19 games represent the production of a third line forward. He can play AND he is a hard player to go against. A rare item in Edmonton but a welcomed one.
Maroon is a player that fits the same bill. He’s a heavy player who plays physical and is a pain in the side for the other team. Another hard to play against big man who also has some skill. He’s struggled this season offensively, but in years past he has produced quite well. Judging by his run with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry last year, we are looking at a guy who CAN function with skill a bit. That’s a new and welcomed player type in Edmonton.
Apparently, the Oilers aren’t done adding this kind of guy either. Bob Stauffer, the host of Oilers Now, had the following to say on the matter during his show on Tuesday.
“I don’t think Peter Chiarelli is done. I think he is gonna add ANOTHER big body that’s hard to play against into their top-9” – Stauffer
— TyggR (@akaRCN) March 1, 2016
This makes a lot of sense if you ask me. I’ll have a full post up after the season, but based on the verbal from Chiarelli we can see the way he’ll build the team for next season. Goalie appears set while the blue line is due for a few additions. Up front, it appears he wants three centers, three hard wingers and three skilled wingers in his group. Balance? Whoa….
So, who could fill this role? There are a few options that I’d look at, mostly free agents. I think trading assets for a player like this could be a risky move. Edmonton needs to address the blue line and there are minimal free agent options in that area. Spending assets on a heavy forward doesn’t seem like a worthwhile decision.
Unless you can get a Patrick Maroon-like deal from a desperate team, it’s better to look towards the open market. Luckily for the Oilers, there are some strong options in this area.
Milan Lucic likely will not re-sign in LA due to cap reasons, and he was a favorite of Peter Chiarelli’s in Boston. I like Lucic, but he’s likely looking for a long-term deal that comes in at an AAV which starts with the number six. I watched Lucic in Boston and I would not give him that contract. He’s too inconsistent offensively and doesn’t play a heavy game every night anymore. The erosion in his game is very apparent to me.
He’s having a better season in LA, but I can’t see him succeeding long-term anywhere, his body just doesn’t have enough left in the tank. He’d be a great get for a year or two, but at his ask this could be an anchor contract. I’d hope Chiarelli stays far away.
Troy Brouwer is another pending UFA who fits the bill. At 6’3” and 213 pounds, he fits as a bigger player and he does in fact play a heavy style. He’s not crazy old, only 30 years old, and he’ll likely sign for a reasonable figure as he makes $3.666 M per season. In 66 games this season, he has 12-13-25, low level production for a second line forward.
Jamie McGinn (14-13-27 in 63 games, 6’1” and 205 lbs), Andrew Ladd (likely costs too much), Kyle Okposo (see Ladd) and David Backes also make a lot of sense in this role.
Personally, I like Brouwer the best for a number of reasons. He’s a right winger, meaning he can replace a Yakupov/Eberle in the top nine or even top six. He’s got enough skill to roll with the big boys, and he’s likely to come in at a better price than a Lucic/Backes would.
Who Peter Chiarelli tabs to fill his forward group out is anyone’s guess, but’s it’s fair to suggest that we could be looking at a more balanced group than recent years in Edmonton. I envision the group looking like this in some way.
Taylor Hall – Leon Draisaitl – Zack Kassian
Benoit Pouliot – Connor McDavid – Jordan Eberle/Nail Yakupov
Patrick Maroon – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Troy Brouwer/TBA
Regardless of who gets added, Stauffer’s comment hints that the shopping list will include another hard to play against forward. Food for thought as we ponder what might be the next move for Peter Chiarelli.
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