Monday Mailbag – Slepyshev on the block

Greetings, Nation compadres! It’s Mailbag time again and that means that I’ve taken your questions and sent them off to our panel of geniuses to assess and pass along some wisdom that you’ll be able to carry forward with you for the rest of your days. As always, I need your questions for next week, so open up your internet machines and send any question you may have to me through email or on Twitter. Until then, it’s time to learn something.

A realistic return? Slepyshev is a late third-rounder who has not worked out. I’m not sure there’s any value there beyond a similar player — maybe somebody in a different position. It looks like there’s the tools of a player there, size, good skater etc., but no toolbox. Something is missing. You move on.

Realistic return? A third or fourth round pick at the high end maybe. Someone equally as unproductive and with questionable draft pedigree. At this point, I think you just want a free contract spot if you can get it. The Oilers made a lot of choices and set a lot of expectations based on a few weeks in the playoffs and they are starting to recognize the folly in that.

Like, a mid-round pick or a similar middling player? Maybe an autographed jersey and a package of coupons to Wendy’s?

Slepyshev has 14 points in 70 career games, so maybe a mid-round draft pick or lesser prospect seems. They probably expected more out of him because of a few playoff goals and thought he could replace some of Jordan Eberle’s production. Slepyshev hasn’t done that and the Oilers sound like they’ve seen enough. I’m surprised they haven’t given him more opportunity given the situation at right wing.

I think there are a couple layers to this. First of all, Slepyshev’s not having the greatest season, but no one is. That doesn’t really warrant a trade but If he’s still looking to upgrade his forward depth then I understand that.

BUT the thing is that absolutely nobody in Edmonton has any trust in Chiarelli right now due to his recent track record. When we hear that ANY player is on the trading block you immediately get worried cause you just know we’re going to get fleeced on another deal.

I find it odd that Slepyshev was getting so much love after the playoffs were over and now he’s on the trade block a few months later. I mean, the guy missed training camp and the pre-season with an injury, so I’m not sure why people are exactly surprised by the slow start. But if I’m guessing at the return, it would be a third or fourth rounder. With that in mind, does it make sense to depleat the depth at the RW position even further? I don’t know.

There is strength down the middle and in goal. Need another finisher, preferably on right wing. Can never have too much depth on defence.

Strengths are down the middle of the ice. I like the centres and the blueline has a good number of solid options. I think Talbot will bounce back next season too. They are weak on the wings. Replace Caggiula, Cammalleri, and Slepyshev with quality NHLers and you’re cooking with gas.

The strength is Connor McDavid and depth down the middle. Another strength is mobile defencemen capable of playing in their own zone and a good starting goalie. The biggest weakness is clearly depth and skill on the wings. Also, the blueline lacks a true offensive play driver and power play quarterback.

Their strength is at center with Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Leon Draisaitl, and their weakness is basically everywhere else. They need major improvement on the wing and more puck-moving capabilties on defence. Cam Talbot should bounce back enough to make goaltending respectable. I’m not sure Al Montoya is the depth they need behind Talbot.

Strengths: Connor McDavid, goaltending, running three centres, and when they’re playing at the top of their game, I don’t mind our defensive depth (hides under rock).

Weaknesses: Having no #1 defenceman who can fire home a clapper every powerplay chance he gets, right winger depth, forward depth in general, penalty kill players, having no Matt Hendricks, etc.

The Oilers have three of the best centre options in the league and Chiarelli needs to do everything he can to maintain that. The weaknesses are mostly on the wing, but they also need a point producing defenceman. Unless, of course, Darnell Nurse can turn into that guy. Fingers crossed.

Bit early to say the Oilers will have a top-five pick. It always makes sense to look at trading an unknown (draft pick) for a proven player (high-scoring winger), but you need a trade partner who can get the player they want with the pick you are giving up and who are willing to give up the established player you want. Easy to say, more difficult to do.

If someone offers a legit winger who is signed long term you can consider it, but if they are a bottom five team at the trade deadline that pick won’t get moved until after the lottery and you know exactly what we’re dealing with. What if they win and you can add Rasmus Dahlin? You can trade other LHD for wingers at that point.

No. This draft is really deep and as we saw last year with Philly, New Jersey, and Dallas all jumping up due to the lottery, anything can happen. I would rather have Brady Tkachuk or Filip Zadina for seven years than whatever grunt Peter Chiarelli is going to get in a return for the first round pick.

That’d be tough. It’d have to be someone young enough with multiple years of control. Is that player even available? And what kind of team would make that sort of move? Max Pacioretty isn’t the right age, and needs to be paid soon. Mike Hoffman is good, but not good enough to return a pick that high.

Tough to say at this moment cause it’s still early as far as prospect scouting goes. It’s looking to be a stronger draft this year so with that said I would recommend not trading the pick. And like I said before, do we really trust Chiarelli to successfully trade a pick for a high scoring winger?

I wouldn’t trade the pick this year because you never know what’s going to happen with the lottery. The Oilers could have a chance at a pretty skilled prospect, and that’s something need in the cupboards right now.

Connor McDavid is 21 years old.

Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse are doing great. Other than that,Twitter is fun.

The days are getting longer and the nights are getting shorter.

Connor McDavid. As tough as this season is, McDavid is still McDavid, and he’s signed long term. There should be at least a couple years before any trade request rumours, right?

Win or lose, we will always have Connor McDavid highlights to watch on a nightly basis.

Connor Mcdavid makes every game worth watching. It’s also fun to see the emergence of Darnell NUrse from the back end.

Same things I would if they were going to make the playoffs. What’s their structure, what’s their process? Results aside, are they playing the game the right way? That matters whether they’re in or out.

I’ll be watching for evidence of a plan from the coaching staff and general manager. There wasn’t one in the summer, from what I can tell. Maybe they figured it out.

I’m interested to see how the media covers the team and how the fans on Twitter direct their blame. The front office is getting more and more heat, and if/when the team is mathematically eliminated in early March, it’ll be an interesting soap opera to watch.

Who plays more minutes when the deadline passes? Will McDavid and Draisiatl play together? If so, why? Does RNH get some time on the wing? Does Draisaitl play centre for the remainder of the year?

I’m curious to watch the ebbs and flows of the Oilers media and fan base. Right now I feel like we’re at a season-low. Will this attitude remain if the losing continues? Or will people begin to lighten up and start mocking the Oilers? Or will the attitudes completely reverse if the Oilers win a few games in a row?

I want to see who can play out the stretch like they actually care. Who quits on this team when they’re out? Who plays through?

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