Sharks absolutely would do that deal

I’m not sure he will go back to the sharks after that I assume his contract will just be off the cap like the compliance buyouts

Not from what I've read. Sharks could if they wanted retain the player and try to salvage assets. IMO best case scenario for Oilers.

I would honestly look to trade Bouchard over Barrie. Barrie is considerably better than Bouchard right now and the Oilers should be looking to ice the best possible team next year. I don't think Bouchard will ever gain that extra step he needs and he isn't at his best when thinking and playing quickly. Barrie still looks good as on the powerplay and has done a decent job at even strength. Bouchard would also get the Oilers a nice return in a trade and could be a nice piece to land a good player. I think including Bouchard in a deal to get someone like Gibson and keeping Barrie would be better for the Oilers.

Edmonton shouldn’t trade Bouchard for Gibson so they can keep Tyson Barrie.

I wouldn't trade Bouchard in order to keep Barrie, I would trade Bouchard because I already have Barrie. Gibson helps the team way, way more than either of them.

Doesn’t work cap wise and makes their defense way worse. Hard pass from Edmonton imo.

Soucys worth a lot more than Barrie

It works if Keith retires, but otherwise probably not. I don't think Bouchard actually makes the team better, losing him wouldn't hurt them on the ice too much. It would hurt because he's a cheap RHD, but that's off ice.

Bouchard is a way better player than Barrie and has size. He can become a passable defender.

Bouchard is way better than Ceci and Barrie imo. Like thanks to Edmonton for taking him over Dobson but still.

Canes would take Kane with no retention. Small piece going back.

I don’t think so necessarily. Seattle has depth at LD with oleksiak signed long term and Dunn being an rfa and could use more RD. Plus he provides offense, something Seattle needs desperately

Ok you don’t think more teams come looking at Soucy you think they take an overpaid D man who’s probably worth a 3rd-4th for Soucy who they can easily get a 2nd + for on an open market? They can just pay a 3rd for Barrie and trade Soucy for a 2nd and a pick (I wouldn’t even trade a 3rd for Barrie imo) I think Barrie might even be looked at as a cap dump by some teams

Soucy would fetch a first at the deadline but I’m willing to bet Seattle extends him in the off season.

But Soucy is good and Barrie is not good

I should be clear, I don't think Barrie or Ceci are very good either. I wouldn't want either of them in my defense if I was trying to win a Cup. But I Bouchard is comparable to them right now and I don't think he'll progress to his ceiling, which is/was a John Carlson type. The biggest difference between the three is trade value, which is why Bouchard is the one I would move. The piece(s) coming back in a Bouchard trade would probably help the Oilers more.

His ceiling is somewhere between John Manson and maybe Mackenzie Weegar? His floor is Cody Ceci. But I just wouldn’t keep Barrie if I’m moving Bouchard lol. In fact I’d trade Bouchard for Gibson, but only if Anaheim took Ceci and Barrie with him 😂😂😂

I didn’t mean to insinuate it would be a 1 for 1 deal, I was just mentioning that it seems like there could be a fit there. I think Barrie to Seattle was mentioned in 32 thoughts as well

Maybe he could be a second pair guy on the right team but idk. He’s overpaid for sure.

Both those guys you listed as comparable can skate, Bouchard can't. Weegar especially builds his game on skating the puck. I don't think those comparable are accurate at all.

McDavid and 50% Draisaitl just carried the team to the WCF. If they have an above average goalie they suddenly look a lot different. Bring in some defensemen slowly over the next 2-3 years and the team is very scary. They don't have anything until they have a real goalie.

Bouchard is a middling skater, but he’s not hopeless either. Manson is probably the better comp anyway. I only suggested Weegar cause of his play against Washington lol.

I'm closer to saying hopeless.

He’s a young defenseman. Usually have to give those guys time.

Reavo is a hard goodbye for sure, I don't see a situation where we don't move him especially with how our payroll is projected to look. Sad but whoever gets him will love him, great locker room presence.