Edmonton retool proposal (longer read)

[luongomyhero1]

Edmonton is a talented team that needs a few key adjustments to change their culture and they should be able to compete next season. They need a couple solid d-men, a top-6 center, and a starting caliber goaltender. a couple in season trades along with some off-season moves as well.

In Season:

EDM: 3rd and 5th 2015

NYR: Gordon (20% retain)

Rangers lack depth down the middle and Gordon is a good PK man.

EDM: Roussel, Faksa, 3rd 2015

DAL: Schultz, Aulie, Gazdic, Lander

Dallas traded away a stud PP Qb in Gonchar. could use another young d-man to help stablalize the PP with Goligoski. Still has tons of potential but needs a change of scenery. Could flourish in the Stars system. Aulie and Lander provides depth (expiring contracts), while Gazdic replaces Roussels toughnesss. Roussell plays a great 2-way game and will help the PK in EDM. has some offensive upside as well. 30-points last year. Faksa is a player with raw potential. could be a good pick up in a couple years.

EDM: Richards, Nolan

LAK: Petry, Musil, 2nd 2016

LA is going to run into cap troubles next season with Pearson, Nolan, and Clifford deals to renew. plus muzzin and martinez deal jumps to 4mill each next season. Thus, trading their 4th liner C richards creates much needed cap space. he would bring playoff success and a winning mentality to EDM. Jordan Nolan is a young bottom 6 forward that can shut down opposing teams top 6 players (currently a healthy scratch for a deep LA team.) With teh uncertainty of Voynov and lack of defensive depth, petry would be a good insurence man as the 5-7th d-man whos contract expires (pure rental). Musil is a solid d-prospect and they get a 2nd round pick as a sweetener.

Odds are this team ends up in the MacEichal sweepstakes (lets say they draft one)

Draft/Off-season

EDM: Pavelec, Stuart, Cormier

WPG: Perron, fasth, 2016 3rd, 4th 2016

Pavelec was once considered to be one of the best goalie prospects a few years ago. but he hasn't been able to stay healthy or consistent. With the recent resurgence of rookie Michael Hutchison, Pavelec may be expendable. He would would be a upgrade in goal and may need a change in scenery.

WPG could use another top-6 forward like Perron. They are a one-line team right now and could use scoring depth along the wings. scored 28-goals last season and is a consistent 20+ goal scorer.

EDM: Josi, Ekholm, Sissons 1st 2015

NASH: Eberle, Fayne, Yakimov, 3rd 2015 (NYR), 3rd 2015

Other than Forsberg and Neal Nashville has no legit scoring threat. add a young elite goal scorer like Eberle to the mix and this team becomes a top contender almost immediately. Nashville has been a defensive hot bed the past decade and continue to develop studs. Even wiht trading JOsi and Ekholm they still have a lethal top 4 D. (Weber, Jones, Ellis, Volchenkov/Bartley). assuming they continue their stellar play this year they will probably end with a pick in the 20's. so not a crazy high pick but another 1st rounder for the Oilers to try and develop as they rebuild their rebuild.

Next Season starting Line-up without any UFA signings (Hire Dan Bylsma to Coach, was Crosby's coach/knows how to handle star prospects).

Hall-RNH-(MacEichal)

Pouliot-Richards-Yakupov

Purcell-Draisatl-Roussel

Hendricks-Nolan-Arcobello/Pakirainen/Sissons/Pitlick

Josi-Nikitin

Nurse-Stuart

Ference-Ekholm/Klefbaum/Marincin

Pavelec

Scrivens

[hatedkid666]

Actually not bad.

I especially like the Richards trade. I think he could re-find his career in a place that desperately needs a player like he was in Philly. Also it takes away some heavy cap off a kings team that needs cap room.

[D-Money]

With a stagnant or even falling cap, Edmonton may be one of the few teams in the UFA game with actual money to spend (has cap room, and willing to spend it). Players who normally wouldn't go there without overpayment may bite the bullet because no one else can give them fair value. Also they may be able to capitalize on teams needing to shed salaries, and get good players for a song (like we did a few years ago with Ehrhoff, or like Tampa did from us with Garrison).

If I were them, I would try to shed a couple salaries to be further prepared for that. Trade Schultz for a cheaper defender, as he's not worth the 3.675 mil it would take to qualify him. Trade Eberle for a package of solid 2nd line/pairing players and a pick. Trade Perron to the highest bidder. And buyout Nikitin. Then they'll have real money to throw around when practically no one else does.

Then they can target these teams:

LA - Desperately need room to re-sign Toffoli and Pearson, and nobody has a NTC. Will probably give away Dustin Brown for a bag of pucks just to make room (especially while his salary is higher than his cap hit, to lower recapture penalties later).

Boston - Will have to clear at least one major contract, and let one of Reilly Smith or Torey Krug go.

Philly - Will probably trade one or two Schenns and/or Matt Read to make some room.

Tampa - Need to make room, but most big contracts are untouchable or have NTCs. Might be able to pry Killorn out for a pick though.

Although the UFA class is fairly weak, there are still a few players that would be big improvements for the Oilers (Foligno, Boychuk, Glencross, Franson, Vermette, Williams, Green...). With the cap uncertainty, most of those players are probably not going to be re-signed by their current teams. And if the cap does fall, no doubt there will be some decent RFAs that won't be qualified as well - or at least, be available for very little in a trade.

Then, of course, add in McDavid or Eichel. If it's done right, Edmonton can be completely rebuilt in one offseason. But then again...what has Edmonton done right lately?

[Baer.]

You've done more in this thread than MacT has done in 2 years...

[c00kies]

You've done more in this thread than MacT has done in 2 years...

and Kevin Chevelyearoff during his Jets tenure.

[underrated]

Good well thought out post.

I think Nashville would reject that trade though. I'm big on Eberle and think he's great but Josi is a stud who they expect to have long term and a first rounder (even late) is very valuable. I think they would reject that.