Oilers?

[RGM81]

When the 'Insiders' all announced on Friday that "Woodcroft would be the coach at least through Saturday" I figured the deal was done and he was a dead man walking Of course. The worst is during the presser and Holland talking about how the players couldn't be held accountable by the coach. The reality is that with how hamstrung they are with their roster because of cap issues, that is more a GM failing than the coach. Of course that leaves the new guy in the same leaky boat. Hopefully they come out of whatever funk they are in, but I'm thinking McDavid is hurt and is playing to try and make up for the rest of the team.

This is a fantastic point. The coach doesn't assemble the roster, he has to make the best use of what he's provided by the GM and the hockey ops department. Everybody who has watched a single hockey game in the past ten years knows this team has needed to be better between the pipes if they want to have a legitimate shot at contention. Not just one year let's go all in, but to be a consistent long-term Stanley Cup aspiring team. Other GM's watch the games too, and they are under no obligation to help the Oilers. Nobody is going to give them a life raft...not without paying through the nose. There's options out there that are potentially better, but the cap situation severely restricts their ability to actually execute a successful deal.

[30ranfordfan]

Woodcroft wasn't fired because it was his fault. He was fired because it's impossible to make any other significant change in November - and they had to make a change.

They've now won three in a row. If they can string together a 10-of-12 stretch - they'll be right back into the thick of things.

Campbell, timing was everything. The Oilers were desperate for a new goalie, and he was the best one on the market. The dollar figure wouldn't even be killing them right now in a salary dump situation, but the term will. Easy to get someone to eat $5m for a year. Maybe two. The bulk of this season, and three more? That's a very expensive pill to swallow.

I assume the Oilers are looking to make a trade. I see three goalies where there's a potential fit:

Markstrom, Saros, Hart.

Their cap hits ($6m, $5m, $4m) are close enough that you can make the dollars work, if Campbell is going back. All three teams look to be rebuilding, and can probably afford to spend $5m on a backup up for this & three more seasons (if they have to).

The question is: What would it cost Edmonton to do that?

I think you're looking at a 1st round pick, and one or two other "future" type assets as the value for any of those goalies.
I think you're looking at a 1st round pick, and one or two other "future" type assets as the cost to get someone to take Jack Campbell.

If they were dealing Campbell for anyone of those guys, it's going to cost a pair of first round picks, and a couple of names like Halloway, Broberg, McLeod, Bourgault.

Calgary might actually be the perfect team to trade with. lol

[creasecollector]

Saros and the Oilers would be amazing. Big fan of his.

[discomike]

At this point, I don't think it matters what they do, the season is lost already. They've already given up.

[30ranfordfan]

At this point, I don't think it matters what they do, the season is lost already. They've already given up.

I'm not in total disagreement with you.... though I don't think the players have given up.

I think the Oilers have to make a goaltending move, and they have to make it really soon - unless the plan has always been for Campbell to figure it out in the AHL, and then call him back up (Not that I think he's going to figure it out, and turn into a star.... but I think the team could very believe that's the best option).

I've seen rumors of something like Bourgault to Montreal for Montembeault. I think a trade like that is an awful idea. If I were the Habs, that's exactly the kind of thing I'd want - but I think the Oilers would be foolish to make that kind of deal. They wouldn't be getting a goalie that can move the needle. They'd be getting one that (hopefully) doesn't suck. I don't think a league average (or even slightly above) goalie fixes the mess that the OIlers are in. Trading a top prospect or high pick for a short term adhesive strip (not even a real Band-Aid, it's one of those off brand ones) - it's the kind of move I can see them making, but I think would be a terrible mistake.

Don't get me wrong. Players like Bourgault, Holloway, Broberg - they are all very expendable IMO, but the return has to be much better IMO (either in terms of the player(s) coming back, or the contract(s) they're getting rid of).

If MTL wanted a 4th round pick for Montembeault - yeah, you jump on that. Habs ain't doing a deal like that though... why would they? I'd rather see them sign Halak for the rest of the season than trade a high end prospect or high draft pick, for a guy who isn't going to solve anything.

It's pretty clear that McDavid has been playing hurt. Draisaitl might be too. IMO what's happened is that's limited them enough, that they're not able to mask this team's problems as well as they have the last couple of years (5 goals so far against WSH today... they are having at least one good game. I hope this lead is too big to blow).

I don't think they're far into the season enough that management can throw in the towel. They have the best player in the world (and another top 5). Their contracts don't last forever, and neither do their primes. Even if the outlook is bleak for this season - I think they have to run this team like they can still make the playoffs. If they're out of it at the deadline, sure you might try and move out a couple of assets - but for now, I think they still have to try and buy.

They're about to go to 6-12-1 (I really hope they don't make me look silly for saying that). 13 points. They're going to need 87 points in 63 games to hit 100 (which would pretty much make them a lock for the post season). That's a .700 points percentage.... is it likely? No. Is it insane to think that if they're healthy they could pull it off? Well, I do think McDavid is that good - so no, not insane.

I do really believe that their defense needs a change just as much (if not more) than their goaltending.... and making a trade where they upgrade both seems really hard to do.

[Devlin]

Nice turn around.

not a oilers fan

[RGM81]

What's wild is that since this post started, the Oilers have won something like 18 of 21 games. They are absolutely en fuego right now and looking much more like the team we expected to see this season.

They looked really good last night. They pumped over 40 shots on the Habs and if it wasn't for Montembeault playing a strong game, the score could have been much more reflective of the shot clock. At the same time, two really dumb-dumb penalties by the Habs veterans (Gallagher and Matheson) really handed the opportunity to the Oilers late in the 3rd and in OT. But that's what good teams do: they persevere and capitalize. That's how you end up on a 10-game heater.

[pwskelly]

A big part of their success has been the fact that their goaltending has been playing solid. Edmonton doesn't need out-of-this-world goaltending, they just need their goalies to stop the shots they're expected to stop and maybe a key save or two here and there. Both Skinner and Pickard have allowed 3 goals or less in all their starts during the current winning streak are playing solid hockey.

Of course it always helps when your team starts playing more responsible hockey in your own end. The Oil are winning many of their games 3-2 or 2-1, instead of trying to constantly outgun other teams. I feel that this style of play will definitely benefit them more if they hope to be successful in the postseason.

[30ranfordfan]

A big part of their success has been the fact that their goaltending has been playing solid. Edmonton doesn't need out-of-this-world goaltending, they just need their goalies to stop the shots they're expected to stop and maybe a key save or two here and there. Both Skinner and Pickard have allowed 3 goals or less in all their starts during the current winning streak are playing solid hockey.

Of course it always helps when your team starts playing more responsible hockey in your own end. The Oil are winning many of their games 3-2 or 2-1, instead of trying to constantly outgun other teams. I feel that this style of play will definitely benefit them more if they hope to be successful in the postseason.

Exactly!

an 8 game win streak, and now a 12 game win streak - that's a good way to fix the problem (they're 3rd in the Pacific, as of last night. Not even a Wild Card spot now!).

One has to think that they won't maintain the 20-3 pace they've been on..... but they look really good. Paul Coffey (I was VERY skeptical of that hire) has the defense playing much better, and the goaltending has looked much better as a result.

I still think a new goalie needs to come onboard (I don't trust Pickard) but Skinner has played well enough that "cheap vet backup" is more what you go after - and figure out what to do about Campbell in the summer.

[OscarsCards]

I start to feel pity to the team which will play Oilers in the 1st playoff round.