Monday Mailbag – Trouba?

Once again, the weekend has left us yearning for retirement but we’re all years away from getting there. Not that the Mailbag will kill off the last 10-30 years of your working career, but it will help you get a few minutes closer to that magical day where you’re able to hang up your work pants and do nothing. As always, I need questions for next week’s mailbag so please send them to me through email or on Twitter. Until then, it’s time to check out this week’s edition of the mailbag and learn something. 

It’s not worth it if part of the package is Darnell Nurse, but the Jets are going to want a D-man back and the conversation from their end likely starts there. 

I think the cost would be more than what it took to land Hamilton and less than Larsson. I would be surprised if they can come up with something the Jets are willing to accept. I think the Oilers will start the season and see how things go. If Jets struggle their demands likely go down. 

I don’t think the package would be worth the price. In my opinion, the Jets would want a more established player than Darnell Nurse, and they appear to want a LHD. That leaves Oscar Klefbom and I don’t think that represents a good trade for Edmonton.

Darnell Nurse, probably plus a little bit but perhaps not. There’s little doubt in my mind that such a trade would be worthwhile; they’re virtually the same age and Trouba is the more accomplished NHL player. More importantly, Trouba is a righty and Nurse is a lefty, and bringing Trouba in does a lot to balance the top-four. Such a trade would instantly improve the Oilers’ chances at making the postseason this year and probably for the next half-decade. Losing Nurse would stink, but at some point a left-shot will need to leave to bring in a right-shot player.

I really like Trouba. He is skilled and nasty, two skills that are hard to come by in the same player. I expect the trade would be expensive. If I were the Jets I would ask for Oscar K back. I believe that Trouba is using the two right D ahead of him to mask the fact he doesn’t want to play in Winnipeg anymore. Would he want to play in Edmonton? Maybe with 97 here it could help.

The only thing I’ve read about the ask is that they want a comparable young left handed defender in return. The only player who fits the bill on the Oilers is Nurse. Trouba is better and only one year his senior. If the idea is that they want to “keep their powder dry” for a better Dman than Trouba, I doubt another will be available. I think it’s funny that some would rather wait for a fictional future where the team might get a shot at a better defender instead of acting today to get better.

If Darnell Nurse for Jacob Trouba were an option, I would do it. Tough to say as they’re both young guys. It all depends on how much you like Darnell Nurse. Right-hand defensemen are hard to come by so it’s hard to say no to much.

This is how I feel this negotiation would go… 

Cheveldayoff: We want Nurse

Chiarelli: How about Reinhart?

Cheveldayoff: Nah. Darryl.

Chiarelli: Davidson?

Cheveldayoff: Dar-ryl.

Chiarelli: Taylor Ha… dammit

I’m not concerned with his attitude. If Trouba feels buried in WInnipeg and wants to move, he has the right to make that request. As for the “culture change” buzz phrase, the culture will change when the organization starts winning instead of losing and finishing at or near the bottom of the standings. That’s the greatest culture change of all.

I don’t see it being an attitude problem. Many players play better in their natural position. I don’t see it as a “give it to me” stance. He played 22 minutes last year, so he has was given ice time. I think there is more to it than just playing left or right. I think he wants out of Winnipeg not just due to playing RD or LD.

I feel agents frame the issue for their client and that may or may not be the problem. Whatever the reason, a very good defender is available—all teams would be wise to investigate acquiring him. 

No, I’m not concerned at all. Trouba was playing 22 minutes per game last season, and the fact he was moved over to the left side probably should be seen as a sign of the coach’s confidence, rather than a lack thereof, given that you don’t play a struggling guy on his off-side. Playing well won’t get him back to his strong side; it will just reinforce the coach’s decision to keep him on the left. The Jets have three good right-shot defenders signed long-term; the math here isn’t difficult. Additionally, studies have shown that players on their offside generally see a decline in performance; if you’re Trouba at the start of your career its important to be on the correct side to maximize your earnings.

I don’t believe he wants to be in Winnipeg anymore. It isn’t the opportunity to play. And yes I would take him in a flash if the trade made sense.

I want the guy on my team who thinks he can do more. If we start worrying about character instead of talent the Oilers will be out of the playoffs for another decade. “Character” is just code for “winning” anyway.

You may make a good point but at the same time I will try not read too much into one line from a player’s interview. Even if it was a clear sign of bad behaviour, I would look past it in order to snag Trouba. 

The kid wants to play and doesn’t think there’s a spot for him to do that in Winnipeg. I get it. Does it look kinda shitty? Yeah, of course, but let’s not pretend that we’ve never quit jobs because we weren’t amped on our employer.

People worried about chemistry (right after the Vancouver game) are prone to worrying, period. It’s obviously very important that the Oilers get off to a good start, and much of that will depend on McDavid and Lucic meshing, but that’s a matter of learning on-ice tendencies. That’s what “chemistry” is. It takes more than one practice and a game or two to achieve that.

You need time to adjust and expecting fireworks in one game is delusional in my eyes. I haven’t see one person talk about Caggiula having great chemistry with Maroon due to his two goal game. Caggiula finished off a pass, where Lucic misfired a few passes from McDavid in game one. Does that mean they have no chemistry? Not for me. If he scores once do they magically have chemistry? There is way more to it than just points. It is about reading off one another and knowing how they play. That will take some time. By the time you read this the line will have scored a goal versus LA and those who overreacted will be calm. 

I think it is a win-win. Benoit Pouliot and Patrick Maroon both have chemistry with McDavid, so if Lucic doesn’t find it the club can run the big man with Nuge or Leon. I would give it 20 games, suspect the Oilers will find a way to make this work—and I agree it is too early for sweeping statements.

I wouldn’t worry too much about a lack of chemistry at this juncture because it’s so early. The preseason is also a sharply limited tool; I don’t remember the chemistry between Patrick O’Sullivan and Mike Comrie carrying over to the regular season.

I believe it was my good friend Mariah Carey who said ‘ Love takes time…’  It is rare for two people to fall in love on the first date although it is beautiful when it happens. Way too early to get concerned. That being said I would like to see Lucic and Draisaitl play together. A big heavy line that would be a nice contrast of styles to the pure speed of 67/97/14.

The Lucic-McDavid combination started off looking disjointed and I wrote about that, but there are legitimate reasons for that. McDavid played in the WCoH and was at 100% game speed. They barely even had time to practice with each other and Lucic didn’t look like he was close to game speed. McDavid will get his points. His wingers will benefit.

They literally played less than 20 minutes together in one game, so the lack of chemistry between the two of them is the last thing on my mind. With that said, if someone is lighting it up in the preseason and showing a tonne of chemistry with someone that’s great! However, if they are slow/not showing good chemistry I wouldn’t lose sleep over it.

Let’s pump the breaks here, guy. You can pretty much count the number of times that these two guys have skated with each other on one hand. Let’s give it a minute before throwing the duo under the bus.

Sure, it could, but Ralph is busy enough and makes enough money with the irons he’s got in the fire now that he can pick and choose what he does.

I’m sure he will have offers when his soccer contract is up. But, I read an article where he said he thought the World Cup would be his last hockey gig, so maybe he is happy being involved in soccer.

It may, but he would have to take a helluva pay cut. Also, I like Ralph but his teams play a very defensive style and one hopes the fans of Las Vegas (that city gets mentioned a lot with Ralph) receive a more exciting brand of hockey.

Krueger’s got a pretty good job already, but he certainly helped himself at the World Cup. I think the jury is still out on him as an NHL coach — we need to see what he would do with more games — but he’s highly personable and he impressed a lot of people. 

Yes. I really liked him as an assistant coach. He had great drills that were unique. It was fun to be challenged in that way. I do think we will see him back in the NHL.

The only reason Ralph isn’t coaching right now is because he wanted to honor his soccer commitments. If he wanted a job in the NHL he would have it. The WCoH only helped his cause. It’s funny how we look on guys like Krueger versus an NHL employed coach like Tortorella after that tournament.

I would hope so. He didn’t get a real fair shot with Edmonton, he deserves another kick at the can.

The World Cup was funny because Kreuger’s success was like a kick to the balls for a lot of Oilers fans. You see this guy that is well spoken, well respected, obviously well versed in coaching, and then you remember that he was fired over Skype for the donut fun police. What a world!

More of the same. His offensive instincts and versatility make him a solid candidate to at least start the season here.

He needs to keep playing well as the games get harder and he sees more NHL regulars. Putting up points is great, but as he plays more NHL teams his play in his own zone will be the deciding factor if he stays. He has looked good so far, but it is still early.

He has to keep doing what he is going, deep into camp and through the regular season. The lineups get more difficult as the pre-season continues, and that will be the test.

I wonder a little bit whether the battle is between Jesse Puljujarvi and Drake Caggiula. I’d be surprised if Kris Versteeg didn’t make the team, and that really only leaves one spot for those two players inside the top-nine. From a development perspective, if they aren’t playing top-nine minutes neither of them should be in the NHL.

Be consistent. Every game in the exhibition gets a little tougher with more every day NHLers in the lineup. Let’s see how he looks towards the end of it.

He needs to show he can be effective in his own zone, play with Edmonton’s third tier of wingers, hope Draisaitl looks better on the wing than down the middle AND the Oilers want Puljujarvi in the AHL. Then there is nothing else for him to do.

Honestly I don’t think there’s much more he can do, besides maintain it. He’s shown everyone that he is capable of playing with the team and producing, now he just has to keep it up, and prove that it wasn’t beginners luck. 

I’m loving the Drake. This kid has been slippery on the ice, producing on the scoresheet, and doesn’t seem to be afraid to get in the mix. If Caggiula was about four inches taller the entire league would be in love with this kid. I think, if he wants to make the team, that he has to keep doing what he’s doing. If he does, it will be nearly impossible for Todd McLellan to cut him.