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Centre Of Attention

Nashville signs two players in Derek Roy and Mike Ribiero for a million each. Surely, the Oilers are just waiting for the right moment to pounce.

By Jeff Chapman
Derek Roy joins the Predators on a one year, one million dollar deal
Derek Roy joins the Predators on a one year, one million dollar deal
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Ribeiro and Derek Roy have agreed to become Nashville Predators for the 2014-15 season.

Both players signed a one year deal, and cost a million bucks a piece (Ribeiro AAV is 1.05M), and both will help Nashville become a better hockey club in the process.  Either one would have made the Oilers a better team, and would've offered a significant upgrade in centre depth.

We'll never know if the Oilers made contact with either one of these players, but as Ryan suggested, they could've afforded to play either Roy or Ribiero a million times two, which would likely have given some thought to either camp.

The Oilers have to add a centre. Failing to add one puts an absolutely enormous gamble on whether or not Mark Arcobello can handle the top six.   It also guarantees Leon Draisaitl will spend a full season with the Oilers.  And if that works out, great.  It's just pretty dumb to assume it'll work out in the best possible scenario for the Oilers.

Andrei Loktionov remains a possible UFA candidate for the Oilers.  Pick him up, take him out, grovel if you have to.

Doing nothing is not a viable option.

UPDATE

*bangs head on wall*