David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: Bob Stauffer on his radio show listed a few things the Oilers should do to help fix the team.
“Regardless of how GM situation plays out. Oilers need to:
#1. Prioritize adding skill and speed to forward units
#2. Transition D bringing in more offensive-minded puck movers.
#3. Target really good back-up (1.5-2.5M range)
#4. “Over-percolate” top prospects in Bakersfield.”
Staples adds that it’s not easy to acquire skilled forwards or puck-moving defensemen that would play on your top lines or top pairings. It might mean you would have to trade something like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, Adam Larsson or their top pick this year.
Jesse Puljujari’s trade value is low so it doesn’t make sense to move him.
Staples thinks it does make some sense to trade Nugent-Hopkins for a young top-pairing puck-moving defenseman. It doesn’t make sense for them to move him for a winger.
Other options could be packing one of Nurse, Larsson or maybe Oscar Klefbom if they can get a better puck-moving defenseman.
The Oilers have salary cap constraints and they don’t have a lot of tradeable assets.
Jim Matheson: “Trading Nuge? There are lots of teams looking for centres but I agree you don’t trade a C for a winger. You trade a C for a top pairing D which is why an RNH for Buffalo’s Ristolainen scenario is out there.”
Jim Matheson: Goaltender Mikko Koskinen is still not proven. They don’t have anyone in the organization ready to step in as a backup, so they may need to turn to the free agent market for someone like Petr Mrazek.
Jim Matheson: The Oilers should look at Winnipeg Jets winger Nik Ehlers. The Jets have to extend Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor. “But at what cost?”
Joe Dibiase of WGR 550: Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen could be an interesting trade candidate this offseason and notes on Matheson’s Nugent-Hopkins – Ristolainen tweet.
The Sabres could use a No. 2 center as Casey Mittelstadt isn’t ready yet. When he is, Nugent-Hopkins could move to the wing or be a third line center.
Trading a second line center for a solid second pairing defenseman does seem fair, but it may not be a slam dunk move.