IT WON’T BE LONG

STRONG ASSETS

• #7 overall pick: No matter how you construct your draft board, there’s going to be an outstanding player available. If the top 6 are Mackinnon, Jones, Drouin, Barkov, Nichuskin and Monahan, that leaves Lindholm, Nurse, Ristolainen and others still available. Exceptional value.
• Ales Hemsky: Despite injuries and a subpar season, Hemsky is an attractive option for a couple of reasons: he creates offense and his contract has only one year remaining. A team like Ottawa or Montreal would have good reason to be interested in him. If cap room is an issue, the Oilers could retain some of the contract in order to improve quality of asset returning.

SIGNIFICANT ASSETS

• Shawn Horcoff: A veteran 3rd line center in the NHL has value (Edmonton is actually going to be looking for one) and this fellow is the team captain. The contract situation can be improved by sharing (Edmonton takes on some of the money) the load, and there are teams that could surely use him. The question is: does Horc want to go to those teams?
• #37 overall pick: This is a very valuable item, the 2013 draft is deep enough for this selection to be reasonably considered first round quality. Huge potential value. 
• #56 overall pick: Still inside the second round where good value will remain in this draft.
• Nick Schultz: Veteran has one more year remaining on his contract, and the Oilers may decide to cash him if they’re attempting to upgrade the position. He has a fairly expensive cap hit, but veteran defensemen always have value.

ASSETS OF MEANDERING VALUE

• Corey Potter: With the emergence of Taylor Fedun (strong end of season), the signing of Anton Belov and the presence of youngster Oscar Klefbom, Potter may be available. Although he isn’t a strong top 4 option, NHL teams looking for depth would do well to look at him.
• AHL players: You never know. There may be a team that highly values a player like Martin Marincin and is willing to overpay for the player. Unlikely for a team still building (as Edmonton is doing) but if the price is right anyone is available.
• Linus Omark: Oilers retained his rights, and he might be a thrown in/addition for a team that would like to bring him in to see if he can help the offense.
• Theo Peckham: A hidden gem in my opinion, the Oilers are extremely likely to walk away from him based on last season, but he has the kind out toughness, aggressiveness and ability NHL teams value. He’s also young and inexpensive, all positives.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?