It's tough to project trades because we don't know who might be selling yet.
1. To be done this year:
Ceci has been brutal. I think we need an upgrade there although others might not feel the same way. I think Tanev would be great, but I don't see a Calgary-Edmonton trade happening, and he is a UFA at the end of the year, so probably not what Edmonton wants right now (pure rental).
Janmark also hasn't been great recently. I don't think he is bringing much to the team, and with his cap hit it's kind of frustrating. The same could be said for Brown of course, but I don't think there is any world where we could get rid of him, Janmark we can. And if you watched the game against Chicago on the 25th, our bottom line was just getting outworked by them. To me, it's ok if you don't score, but you can't be outworked when you get ice time, especially not by the Blackhawks. So you could add any of those hard-workers and I think it is an upgrade.
So I think Murphy could be a move for the Oilers. He's solid, three-year term left and I think for sure an upgrade on Ceci. Minimal retention for Chicago would probably be needed then it is money in, money out. I tried to look at this trade kind of like the McCabe trade last year, so let me know what you think. Obviously, it's pretty subjective, but I'd like to hear what Chicago fans think.
2. To be done this off-season:
Of course, they are gonna make moves (buy-out Campbell) or trades that I'm not sure about but I've been thinking about a Broberg deal. With the way he has been playing, I think you could get a Sandin-like or Romanov-like return for him at the draft. I'm not saying he is comparable to those guys because they are both better, but his game is trending up, and so is interest. So I look at teams with multiple firsts, and holes on the left side for young guys and wonder if they could take a chance. I'm talking about a 20+ pick which will be a guy who's 4+ years away versus one of the best young dmen in the AHL right now.
SJS seems like it would be a great place for him, I could see him playing in place of any of the guys they got ahead of him. And with Pittsburgh's pick, they could look to deal for guys in the NHL now given the prospects and capital they have back. This is also likely assuming Pitt is a wildcard team at worst (which they might not be rn but I think they will). 3rd back I think is fair. The alternative to this would be dealing Broberg for a 2nd and 3rd or maybe 2 2nds, but I just prefer this option (although I am quite indifferent). The thing is we shouldn't deal him now to win, hold him for when his value is the highest at the draft.
Signing college free agents:
We have to sign some college guys to try and replenish our farm system given the fact we have no draft capital. Some guys I'm looking at (outside LaChance and Mazura our guys):
- Matt Barbolini (basically the same as Berglund who we signed last year, but better offensively)
- TJ Hughes (high point totals this year and Canadian)
- Luke Grainger (older guy but Canadian again and really skilled winger)
Holy overpay for a 4th liner at max and Connor Murphy who's a sidegrade/slight downgrade from Ceci. You're pretty much swapping Ceci and Murphy and trading a 1st, 2nd, Janmark, and Lavoie for Boris freaking Katchouk lol. That trade would piss off everyone in Edmonton.
Lol these trades are so bad for the Oilers. Are you watching the games?
Murphy isn’t an upgrade on Ceci. Ceci is completely solid in his own end. The “problem” with Ceci is he doesn’t bring enough offence. But Murphy isn’t much better in that regard and Murphy is NOT solid on defence.
While the value is fair for Broberg it really makes no sense to turn Broberg who’s one Injury on the main roster away from being an NHL regular into a magic bean that is a 1st round pick. If anything Broberg is the perfect 7D just in case of injury. Oilers wouldn’t touch that deal.