LET’S MAKE A DEAL: TRADER PETE
7 years ago
Peter Chiarelli was among the busiest GMs during his first go-round with the Edmonton Oilers at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and there’s absolutely no reason to believe that will change at the 2016 edition of the draft in Buffalo.
Every indication (not to mention need) tells us Chiarelli, who worked four deals at the draft a year ago – he landed Cam Talbot, Eric Gryba and Griffin Reinhart and unloaded Martin Marincin and Brad Ross for a fourth-round pick – and also had a swing and a miss trying to acquire Dougie Hamilton, will be busy again.
Everybody with a functioning brain stem knows Chiarelli wants and needs at least one right-handed, top-pairing defenseman plus another proven guy who can play in his top six. We also know he has the assets, including the fourth overall pick and a glut of $6-million core forwards, as tradeable assets to get what he wants.
It’s no surprise, then, that four Oiler players plus that fourth pick, occupy spots on a Top-30 Trade Bait list compiled by TSN’s Frank Seravalli heading into the draft. There’s also four or five players who’d help Chiarelli fill holes on his blue line on that list, so it adds up to a busy couple of days for the Oiler GM.
ART OF THE DEAL
Topping Seravalli’s list of Chiarelli bargaining chips is the fourth overall pick, which Seravalli has in his four-spot. He’s got Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ranked seventh, Jordan Eberle 15th, Nail Yakupov 22nd and Taylor Hall 25th. At the very least, four of the five get the conversation started in a deal for a top-pairing D-man. Yakupov would be a throw-in or involved in a lesser deal for a draft pick.
Potential Chiarelli targets on the list include Kevin Shattenkirk, Tyson Barrie, Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Matt Dumba and Damon Severson. There’s no mention of Travis Hamomic or Justin Faulk on the list, but I imagine New York Islanders GM Garth Snow and Carolina boss Ron Francis will be getting calls on both and that Chiarelli will be one of those inquiring.
Writes Seravalli: “No one is quite sure what Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli will do to reshape his core, but the odds still lie on the jettisoning of one of Edmonton’s $6-million forwards: Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle. All three made the Trade Bait list, along with 2012 No. overall 1 pick Nail Yakupov.”
We’ve already heard Snow and Colorado GM Joe Sakic say that Hamonic and Barrie aren’t available, but I can’t imagine Chiarelli won’t make another call to find out if that’s actually the case or if there’s a deal to be done. GMs tend to circle back after making initial inquires and Chiarelli made overtures about Hamonic before he withdrew his trade request.
MY BEST GUESS
My experience is it’s difficult enough to get an accurate read on what conversations are taking place between GMs even when you’re at the draft working the scrums and nagging contacts – I’m not attending this draft – because those working deals simply don’t show their cards. We also don’t know what conversations take place but don’t result in trades.
Lists like Seravalli’s Top-30 are informed takes, but they’re still highly speculative. That said, I think every Oiler on that list is in play, and that includes Hall. I’m firmly in the camp that trading Hall demands a significant return – Faulk, Hamonic, Barrie. A lot of you would want more for Hall.
The reality is the Oilers won’t improve significantly unless they address the holes on the blue line, most importantly in the top pairing. Chiarelli knows that, and he’ll have plenty of competition from other GMs who want and need the same players he does. He will likely have to over-pay to make the big splash he needs. If push comes to shove, my sense is that’s a price Chiarelli is willing to pay. We’ll know soon enough.
WHILE I’M AT IT
- Long term, I don’t have any doubt Connor McDavid will prove to be the cream of the 2015-16 rookie crop, but I don’t think that translates to him winning the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in Las Vegas tonight. I think Artemi Panarin of Chicago wins the vote with McDavid finishing second and Philadelphia’s Shane Gostisbehere third.
- A fun item from The OilersRig with their 2016 Blogger Awards today. You can find it here. Most of the writers here at Oilersnation garnered mentions or nominations and a couple of us even won some silverware. It turns out I won the Anger Management Award. Not sure what the hell they’re talking about, @%$&@%@% nerds! BLOCK.
THE DRAFT PARTY
There are few certainties in life – we can always count on the sun coming up in the morning, Edmonton winters being dreadful, and the Oilers missing the playoffs. As such, we present the annual OilersNation Draft Party! It’s time to honour the the anniversary of drafting our beloved Connor, celebrate the rewards of another failed season, and raise some money for charity.
Here’s what you need to know…
The party is happening at the Pint Downtown on Friday, June 24th. The goal is to raise as much money as possible for the Red Cross and their efforts to bring normalcy back to Fort McMurray, and have a little bit of fun while we’re at it. For $30 you get a Draft Party t-shirt, a $10 Pint GC, a $10 Oodle Noodle GC, a draft party collectors cup, and a chance for prizes and eternal glory.
All proceeds from tickets sold will be donated directly to the Red Cross so bring your friends, get involved, and help us support a community in need. Tickets are still available here.
One day, the Oilers will be a good hockey team and we’ll all be able to laugh about this. Until then, we party.
Listen to Robin Brownlee Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Jason Gregor Show on TEAM 1260.
RECENTLY BY ROBIN BROWNLEE
Recent articles from Robin Brownlee
