Could the Edmonton Oilers make a deal for Ryan Getzlaf?
By Zach Laing
3 years agoThere’s one very interesting name that’s beginning to surface in trade rumours: Ryan Getzlaf.
Jason Gregor and Frank Seravalli spoke on the DFO Rundown about the soon to be free agent about what his future looks like, and why the Anaheim Ducks may look to move on:
Gregor: What are you hearing on Getzlaf? Do you think he would accept a mid-season trade? Or is this a guy who wants to wait it out and go in the off-season?Seravalli: There’s no question that he’s going to be in demand. Whether it’s before the [trade] deadline whether it’s in the summer. This is a big man who has a skillset that’s unique and he’s a leader who’s well respected.Does he want to uproot his family in the middle of the year? Is he able to get by for a few weeks on his own somewhere else in order to take a run at another Stanley Cup?I can tell you this… I’m in the process of working on the first TSN Trade Bait Board of the season. It’s going to be launched on Monday. If Ryan Getzlaf is available, he would be right near the top of that list.
The Ducks have struggled out of the gate with a 6-6-3 record scoring the fourth-least goals in the league with 30. Despite this, Getzlaf has scored one goal and six points through 13 games to start the year, all the while posting strong underlying numbers.
At 5×5, he’s posted a 51.45 CF%, a 50.62 xGF% and a low PDO of 94.4. According to hockeyviz.com, he’s providing offence at a nine percent rate higher than league average, and defence at a one percent rate worse than league average.
The Oilers should be definite suitors if Getzlaf was indeed to hit the market. While he’s not the Getzlaf he used to be, he’s a well-respected veteran player who has won at every level and would be a tremendous center in the Oilers bottom-six.
He does, however, hold a no-move clause being able to determine where he goes and his $8.25-million salary could cause some issues. At 35 years old, he’s undoubtedly going to be chasing a Stanley Cup and would have to decide if he feels the Oilers could get there.
While Edmonton has turned their season around after a slow start, it’s far too soon to call the team a legitimate Cup contender at this point in the season. While odds on the Oilers winning the cup are currently floating around the +1600 to +3000 range depending on the book, a player like Getzlaf joining the team would beyond question push them in the right direction.
You can catch more of the DFO Rundown here:
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Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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