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Oilers and the Trade Bait Board

Today I will go through TSN's Trade Bait Board and state the players that I think the Oilers should go after before the trade deadline and why. (Numbering based off the player's number on the board).

2. Wayne Simmonds

The acquisition of Simmonds will depend on the asking price of the Flyers. According to the Boston Globe, the flyers will ask for a first round pick and maybe even a prospect. That is simply too much for the Oilers for a UFA. However, I'd be shocked if the Flyers got that much for Simmonds. That, and the fact the Oilers need top 6 wingers so it may not hurt to call up Chuck Fletcher

3. Michael Ferland

Like Simmonds, this depends on the price. He is turning 27 so he's in his prime years, and his time with Carolina was with playing with Aho. So he could definitely slot in with McDavid or Nuge on either side. The only worrisome thing is he will likely be looking to sign a big ticket this summer. This is reminiscent of Matt Beleskey, who also was 27 when he signed a 5 year deal with the Bruins in 2015. Beleskey never had a good of a season since, and is now playing in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack. Additionally, it's rumoured he's asking for 7 million which is too much for the Oilers.

4. Mats Zuccarello

A little preface, I'm a smaller guy and was always a huge fan of him. But he's 31, declining production and a UFA. But from listening to interviews with Rangers players, he's a great guy. So if the price isn't too much I wouldn't be too upset with adding him. A quick RW to go with McDavid, and he's been on fire (when this article was written) with this beauty of an assist. Additionally, he could be a mentor for Yamamoto as a small winger in the NHL.

8. Gustav Nyquist

Good winger, only 29, playing on a bad Detroit team. But the Red Wings are asking for a first round pick. If you could get a sign and trade or make it a conditional first round pick then maybe. But Nyquist is not my first choice

13. Charlie Coyle, 14. Kevin Hayes & 19 Nick Bjugstad

I think these would be good pickups for the Oil. Both are 26, both are centres but have played on the wind. Coyle RW, and Hayes LW respectively. Both are big bodies. How much are they looking for next season though? Both would be expensive 3rd line centers, more research would need to be done to how effective they are as wingers.

18. Colton Parayko

He's a young RD on a good contract for 3 more years. He's from St.Albert, but he's having a down year in points. It could be the slow start of the Blues. I've only seen three blues games this year (plus currently watching them play the Bruins.) He was great, mediocre, and bad in the respective games So he is normally inconsistent? or is it just due to my small sample size. Regardless, I think it would be silly not to try to acquire a top 4 RD. He's also not currently on the PP, I'm not sure if that was the case all season, but could also explain why he hasn't put up the points as he has in previous seasons.

21. Brett Pesce

I admit I don't know much about Pesce, but he is a top 4 D on Carolina, only 24 on a 4 million contract for the next 5 years. Seems like he would be a wise target for Edmonton. Ron Francis said "he plays a smart defensive game and has a good ability to move the puck and contribute offensively. Also, he's a RD.

22. Ryan Dzingel

Pretty good offensively, fairly cheap, winger. (Do I need to say more?)

23. & 24. Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson

Young wingers, decent offensively, with more ice-time and more opportunity on the Oilers would do much better. Additionally, with the leafs cap room, might be able to leverage a discount deal for one of these players

25. Chris Kreider

My top player for the Oilers to target. He's big, he hits and can score lots. He's also quite fast, I've watched a few Rangers games, and he looks like the fastest player out there. You can see the effort and drive he has out there. Match him up with McDavid or Nuge and I believe a Richard trophy isn't out of the question.

27. Nino Niederreiter

Unfortunately already traded to Carolina, would've been a good pickup for the oil, especially for the price of Victor Rask. Not that I trust Chiarelli in one for one trades.

29. Justin Faulk

A solid D, one more year on a 4.83M contact. Also, he's a RD

31. Jay Bouwmeester

Here me out. He's an Edmonton boy (I know that hasn't worked out before), and he's been healthy scratched by the Blues who are lower in the standings than us. But, if there's salary is made available for the Oilers why not take him on for a year, have him mentor our young D, and maybe he'd sign for a cheaper contract next season. This is the last resort, and I wouldn't advise the Oilers give blues much at all to acquire him. There have also been rumours that blues would send him down on waivers. Honestly, as we've seen the last two seasons, another injury to klefbom and/or Sekera and we're screwed. Maybe in a 7th D role, Bouwmeester would stay fresh.

33. Patrick Maroon

Pretty cheap contract, showed that he could play for McDavid, sure he's slow but why not?

35. Andre Burakovsky

He's only 23, not having the greatest year, but has shown in the past that he can score. He's pretty good in the playoffs (knock on wood, please not another decade of darkness). Also, he's quick but I don't want another Spooner. I also believe he played on McDavid's wing in Erie.

43. Jeff Skinner

He's been doing great with Buffalo, he is a great player. However, since he's a UFA he is gonna get PAID. If the right deal is there, I'm for it. I just don't know where the cap will come and if Buffalo will want to take it.

44. Artemi Panarin

He's a great player, and will be getting paid. I would be surprised if he wants to stay in Columbus, and I doubt he would want to come to Edmonton. But maybe the LW with McDavid would entice him. But like Skinner, he will want a big contract that the Oilers don't have the cap space for.

45. Mark Stone

I'd imagine he'll get a pay raise, but just like Skinner and Panarin, he's a great talent and a winger.

The players the Oilers should not go for:

1. Matt Duchene We already have Connor, Nuge, and Drai

6. Sergei Bobrovsky Goalies are unpredictable, and are usually never worth a big contract.

7. Dougie Hamilton Haven't seen him but statistically not having a good offensive season. There must be some issue that is causing him to be on his third NHL team before he's 26 when he's that good.

8. Jimmy Howard Too expensive, would rather call up Montoya or Starrett if Talbot is traded. Not worth a first round pick.

10. Brayden Schenn We already have Connor, Nuge, and Drai

11. Jakub Silfverberg I don't know what the asking price is but that past two seasons have been disappointing

12. Derick Brassard Contract is too much for this year. 31 years old

17. Jake Muzzin While a good top 4 option, the asking price is a first round pick and a player, and he's a LD we need RD despite his good contract for one more year.

20. Alex Edler Would likely be a big contact, and would prefer to keep spots for younger players as he's turning 33

26. Jeff Carter. Older side, big contract

28. Cody Ceci, I've only heard bad things, maybe for a low price?

30. Alex Steen 34, 2 more years on a 5.75M contact for 2 more years

32. Alec Martinez 31, 4M for 2 more years

36. Marcus Johansson Hasn't done much offensively for NJD.

37. Jamie Oleksiak & Bogdan Kiselvich Have enough of this calibre of D

38. Niklas Kronwall 38 and a LD

39. Carl Hagelin 30 and has done nothing offensively

40. Vlad Namestnikov Too expensive for the numbers

41. Chris Tanev He is a RD, but I'd prefer other D than him

42. Nathan Beaulieu Can't make Buffalo, why do we keep taking other teams scraps

My Top 5 Players, I hope the Oilers acquire

I won't include Skinner, Panarin nor Stone simply due to the likely large trade value and the contracts they will receive.

1. Chris Kreider

2. Mats Zuccarello

3. Charlie Coyle/Kevin Hayes

4. Colton Parayko

5. Andre Burakovsky/Kapanen/Johnsson

As I was finishing this, Koskinen was signed to his new contract. It seems to me that Talbot will be traded now. The Oilers really don't have much to sell, and Chiarelli will be looking to save his job (which scares me). But an acquisition of at least one these players will help the Oilers make a push for the playoffs (we are only 3 points out), in addition to the return of Klefbom, and Sekera. But, I'm not expecting much from Sekera. With Chiarelli's trade past I'd rather just sit tight and not make any trades, but a man can dream.

Please, Please, Please don't trade Puljujarvi or Nuge though.

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