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Canadiens and Oilers Possible Trade Partners?



From Hendrick's Hockey comes this latest trade rumor:

...the Edmonton Oilers are looking at Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn, and Kyle Chipchura. While its believed the Canadiens seem to like Tom Gilbert, Denis Grebeshkov, & J.F. Jacques. Which combinations of players or an exact trade package is unknown.

This isn't exactly a surprise, and the writer may be massaging some information that came out last week to make something out of nothing.

Star-divide

We know that Kevin Prendergast has been kicking the tires in Montreal, based on this report by Brian Wilde, of CTV Montreal Sports

...I mention all of this because Prendergast has spent the last three games watching the Habs home stand. A week in the same city is a long time for a scout like Prendergast.

So a couple of sources are now onto the same story, and given the Oilers woeful lack of #6 - #11 forwards, it's not a stretch to see a hint of truth to them.  The Oilers need guys that can swim.  Right now, they have five of them - the rest drown.  Fernando Pisani may make six, but he's been beat up over the last few years and though his sainthood is not in question, the body may fail him.

As I mentioned the other day, if Denis Grebeshkov is being included because the team feels Taylor Chorney is having success, that's a bit of a concern, however Ladislav Smid is growing up before our eyes (he's at the Peter Brady voice-cracking stage) and may be ready for a top four role.  Remember, Grebeshkov is due another contract in the offseason, and the market loves defensemen that can pass and score points.  His fast start in the traditional stats is masking his inability to handle the toughs, but if another general manager is willing to pay, he's a guy that can go.

Poll
Which defenseman, if any, would you prefer to trade to Montreal?
Tom Gilbert
42 votes
Denis Grebeshkov
63 votes
Neither
34 votes

139 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 10 comments |

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I'd prefer trading Gilbert

However I think until Staios and/or Souray come back from injury, and who knows how long that will take, I think the Oilers’ hands are tied. They can’t afford to get rid of another top 4 d-man right now, even though neither of these 2 have been playing well over the past 4-5 games. Plus, I’m not a fan of any of the Canadiens’ listed above.

Smid, however, has shown over the past season and a half that he can easily jump into the top-4. He has been arguably our most consistently good defenceman this year, and has played extremely well with both Visnovsky and Souray (although only a couple games early in the year).

by jonnybluejay on Oct 28, 2009 11:11 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Seeing “Gilbert” on that list sent me into paroxyms of screaming fear.

Seriously. Gilbert for anything or everything on that list? Horrible trade. Jacques+ for Chipchura? Sure. But this seems like a trade dance doomed to end in tears.

by Benjamin Massey on Oct 28, 2009 1:44 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Gilbert makes little sense to me at this point. And Jacques? I have no idea why he’s in the conversation, but if there is any return at all for him, be happy and do a dance.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Oct 28, 2009 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not liking the option of trading a blueliner just now. When we’re already running out a pairing of Strudwick and Chorney I’d call that trading from a position of weakness, not strength. Doesn’t help that G&G’s play has been the pits of late … last thing we want to do is sell low. I don’t mind the Montreal forwards named, but would prefer to see forwards going the other way.

by Bruce McCurdy on Oct 28, 2009 2:01 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

... or ...

If we do swap out a defender, there needs to be an NHL-calibre defender coming back. I like Gorges, wouldn’t mind him in the spot of either of our G’s, provided we were upgrading our forward ranks in the same deal.

by Bruce McCurdy on Oct 28, 2009 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

In the big picture, I would understand trading Grebeshkov, but not right now.

And I don’t know why Chipchura is in the picture. He’s Brule, but bigger.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Oct 28, 2009 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think we can agree that with Souray/Staios out, the Oilers can’t afford to trade a defenceman right now.

But – what if they’re adding another defenceman, via trade or the waiver wire (Randy Jones, for example)? Than it might make sense.

A posse ad esse.

The Copper & Blue|OilersNation|Hockey or Die!

Twitter: @JonathanWillis

by Jonathan Willis on Oct 28, 2009 2:11 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I agree on Jones, but then they’d have to send someone out to fit him. And we both know how management has been allergic to those types of decisions in recent years.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Oct 28, 2009 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

On the other side

Looking at the habs, this just doesn’t fly either. Outside the first line, they currently have one forward who can reliably tilt the ice the right way, eke out some points and play both special teams. One. And it’s Plekanec. Right now, Bob is looking for someone, anyone to fit alongside Pleks.

As for taking a big salary, well that means markov is out for the year. Otherwise, the habs are probably staying put for now.

This just doesn’t fly. Didn’t a week ago, doesn’t today. They don’t have trading chips.

by Olivier on Oct 28, 2009 3:22 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

No sense

This trade doesn’t make sense from either perspective as you other posters have noted. Habs don’t need another defenseman, especially not more error prone ones like the G men. Hamrlik and Gill provide enough of those for 5 teams combined. Oilers don’t need more talented but often ineffective forwards like the ones from the Habs on this list. I would love Plekanec actually, I’m still a fan even after a big off year for him last year. Even if he’s not scoring, he’s an excellent checking centre. I thought Kostitsyn was going to be a star in this league. He’s got tremendous skill and a great shot. I don’t see the ultimate desire to compete every night. Chipchura, although a hard worker, doesn’t contribute much.

I don’t see much happening with just those names mentioned, but when it comes to Mad Scientist Bob, you never know.

by ajcrocks on Oct 29, 2009 7:01 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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Northwest Standings

GP W L OTL PT
Vancouver 68 42 23 3 87
Colorado 67 38 23 6 82
Calgary 67 34 24 9 77
Minnesota 67 32 29 6 70
Edmonton 68 21 40 7 49

(updated 3.14.2010 at 6:01 AM PST)

21 - 40 - 7

Lost 3

Oilers Stats Leaders

Stat

Forwards

Defense

TOI/G:

Horcoff (19:31)

Gilbert (21:50)

ESTOI/G:

Horcoff (14:40)

Grebeshkov (17:16)

Points:

Penner (48)

Visnovsky (32)

Goals:

Penner (24)

Visnovsky (10)

Assists:

Penner (24)

Visnovsky (22)

EV+/- /15

Penner (.122)

Smid (.090)

Shots:

Penner (169)

Visnovsky (78)

Corsi/15:

Penner(.675)

Visnovsky (.460)

SCF/15:

Penner (5.017)

Visnovsky (4.517)

SCA/15:

Stortini (3.954)

Gilbert (4.260)

SCDiff/15:

Penner (.581)

Visnovsky (.122)

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