NO MONEY DOWN
By Lowetide
11 years ago
Once upon a time, Oilers GM Steve Tambellini told us things would be quiet, that he didn’t know if he’d be busy. Bright and early the next morning, hell was a poppin’.
June 30, 2011:"I don’t know if anything is going to happen. We already have some young players in some profile spots. If I can find a player or two who gives us some of that poise and experience or some grit we’ll do that. I don’t know if it’ll happen July 1 or July 20." Steve Tambellini.
OH YEAH? July 1, 2011
- He signed C Eric Belanger to replace C Colin Fraser.
- He signed L Ben Eager to replace L JF Jacques.
- He signed D Cam Barker to replace D Kurtis Foster.
- He traded for D Andy Sutton who replaced D Jim Vandermeer
- He signed L Darcy Hordichuk to replace R Steve MacIntyre.
- He signed D Corey Potter to a 2-way deal.
Steve Tambellini settled all family business by tea time, after saying he didn’t know if anything was going to happen the previous day. I don’t blame him, but a "we’re not sure if anything will happen" response to a question about trade deadlines or free agency isn’t going to go far with me.
WHAT COULD THEY DO AT THE DEADLINE?
There are all kinds of things the Oilers could do tomorrow. Add Mark Streit, add Travis Moen, add Ben Bishop. I think they could send away any of Ryan Whitney, Mark Fistric and Theo Peckham among defensemen; and forwards Ryan Jones and Ben Eager.
However, deadline deals usually involve draft picks, and for the Oilers that brings up a difficult decision: sacrifice some future for the present (and possibly future) or stay the course?
Here are the Oilers draft picks for this year’s edition:
- Oilers 1st rd pick (currently #14–Lazar territory)
- Oilers 2nd rd pick (currently #44–Tristan Jarry, Eric Comrie?)
- Ducks 2nd rd pick (currently #58)
- No 3rd rd pick (Fistric deal)
- Oilers 4th rd pick (currently #106)
- Oilers 5th rd pick (currently #136)
- Oilers 6th rd pick (currently #166)
- Oilers 7th rd pick (currently #196)
The diamond here is the first round pick, but the second rounders both have high value and appear to be the currency this deadline. Teams are mostly unwilling to deal a first round selection, but more willing to trade one or two second rounders.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
I’m just guessing, but if we wake up tomorrow and find out the Edmonton Oilers have acquired Mark Streit or Jamie McBain, I think one of those 2nd round picks will be part of the package.
Surely the leadup to this deadline tells us that much.
Do I think the Oilers add at the deadline? Yes. Yes I do. They owe it to the young, emerging talent and to those wonderful fans who laid out their hard earned coins and paid for last place hockey.
Surely that’s a good enough reason to get better tomorrow.
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