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Lowetide
Jun 13, 2014, 22:52 EDTUpdated:
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mact holmgren
There’s a big trade Oilers fans can see coming from a mile away. It may not happen, but the genesis of the deal came at the NHL draft one year ago. Will we see this deal go down one year later?
I’m not going to spend too much time discussing last season’s rumors (Edmonton and Philadelphia were clearly talking up to and through the draft), but there’s plenty to talk about this summer. First, the draft itself is in Philadelphia, and teams traditionally make a splash to excite the hometown fanbase.
Second, these teams match up so bloody well it’s crazy.
  • Example: The Flyers, who have almost no cap space, signed Kimmo Timonen today. Why? Because they had to, there was very little choice. Despite being 900 years old, Timonen can play the game. 
coburn sledge
Timonen is still facing tough competition deep into his 30’s and his blue bubble in the Vollman Sledgehammer tells us good things are happening. Also notice Braydon Coburn: lighter (less effective) blue bubble, tougher zone starts and the toughest opposition available. That’s a nice season, and a strong recovery from one year ago (Coburn struggled last season). Flyers had to make today’s move.
  • Example: In that article, Tim Panaccio says “the Flyers are light years behind a number of NHL Stanley Cup
    contenders in terms of young, agile defensemen, and they desperately
    need to get faster on the back end.”
Hmm. Braydon Coburn makes $4.5M this coming season and 2015-16 before entering free agency. The Oilers have loads of young agile defensemen, and can take on cap dollars.
Is there a deal there? I think there is. Which defenseman heads out of town? You tell me.

THAT’S NOT ALL…

Let’s say the Oilers trade a young defenseman for Braydon Coburn. That’s not the only match. Among the things Edmonton would find attractive on the Flyers roster:
  • Braydon Coburn
  • young center like Sean Couturier or Brayden Schenn
  • Luke Schenn (for the shutdown role)
  • Wayne Simmonds
  • Scott Hartnell
That’s a lot. And if you look the other way, there’s another impressive list of Oilers the Flyers might see as options:
  • Martin Marincin
  • Oscar Klefbom
  • 3rd overall selection
  • Jordan Eberle
  • David Perron

IS THERE A DEAL?

No one wants to trade Marincin, and no one wants to trade No. 3 overall, but the Oilers and Flyers match up. Agile defensemen, cap dollars and a draft day splash could mean Edmonton does some one-stop shopping in Philadelphia later this month.
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