How about Athanasiou? What would you want for him?
- Ihatebrianburke

Same as Mantha. Scores as much and is a center to boot.

I would love to get Pirri. He deserves a shot at being a full time NHLer. Mid round pick to get his rights?
- Ihatebrianburke

Should be enough. That guy fascinates me. He’s really good at offense but always gets sent down or benched. Always thought he was a great middle sixer.

Agreed on Nurse vs Klefbom. Klef has shown what he is capable of in longer stretches. Nurse is just entering that and might not have the upside Klef does. Not to mention Klefs contract vs what Nurse will likely ask for after next season if he continues at his progress. Optimally Nurse, Klef and Larsson are all held onto unless it brings a high upside winger.

As a low cost option I have suggested a few like Pirri, but would anyone consider Burakovsky from Washington if they dont qualify him? Formerly a 1st round pick, that hasnt really worked out in Washington to get a top 6 spot. One of the nerds can look up his advanced stats for us, but he seems by eye to be a better 2 way fw that could probably make a nice compliment on the 2nd line to Nuge and Pirri if we could get both of those guys at a tolerable cost.
- wreckage

Burakovsky would be a solid addition, but in no way would he and Pirri be good enough for a 2nd line. He's among the top players in the league on possession zone entries iirc but his other stats don't really stand out. Likely tops out around Pouliot.

Same as Mantha. Scores as much and is a center to boot.
- RafiDRW

Your choice of Athanasiou/Mantha for Puljujarvi + 2019 2nd rounder + your choice of Bear/ Benning

Great blog Sean. Exactly what I was looking for! I barely knew the guy existed and now I'm super stoked. Keep em coming

Your choice of Athanasiou/Mantha for Puljujarvi + 2019 2nd rounder + your choice of Bear/ Benning
- Ihatebrianburke

Girlander 👎

- RafiDRW

Come on, Puljujarvi was a 4th overall pick.

Come on, Puljujarvi was a 4th overall pick.
- Ihatebrianburke

We have had our fill of failed first rounders. Tom McCollum, Riley Sheahan, Evgeni Svechnikov.

- RafiDRW

Better than those dumb(frank)s on the link you posted suggesting Nuge + #8 for Mantha Only slightly better, mind you, but better nonetheless.

Better than those dumb(frank)s on the link you posted suggesting Nuge + #8 for Mantha Only slightly better, mind you, but better nonetheless.
- MaximumBone

Nuge for Mantha doesnt really make sense for the Oilers. That article is the classic our old GM is now with a new team and will send us a great player for nothing for no reason pipe dream that fanboys imagine up.

Nuge for Mantha doesnt really make sense for the Oilers. That article is the classic our old GM is now with a new team and will send us a great player for nothing for no reason pipe dream that fanboys imagine up.
- Lemmewinks

In fairness, Mantha isn't "nothing"; he's a quality young top-6 forward. However, the fans commenting on that post were of the mind that it would require the #8 pick along with Nuge to get Mantha.

Better than those dumb(frank)s on the link you posted suggesting Nuge + #8 for Mantha Only slightly better, mind you, but better nonetheless.
- MaximumBone

Yeah.. that article was dumb. Was more interested if there was anything else behind it. Mantha would be an even swap situation if we needed a center. But PJ, a 2nd and Bear? Ehhhh.. I’d rather not trade Mantha or AA unless for the two defender shot I mentioned. They might change depending on if Svechnikov and/or Zadina pan out as wingers for us.

All I see our two teams doing is swapping poopty dmen or bottom six forwards.

Nuge for Mantha doesnt really make sense for the Oilers. That article is the classic our old GM is now with a new team and will send us a great player for nothing for no reason pipe dream that fanboys imagine up.
- Lemmewinks

You’re giving me a facial tick thinking Mantha is “nothing.” Far from it.

Yeah.. that article was dumb. Was more interested if there was anything else behind it. Mantha would be an even swap situation if we needed a center. But PJ, a 2nd and Bear? Ehhhh.. I’d rather not trade Mantha or AA unless for the two defender shot I mentioned. They might change depending on if Svechnikov and/or Zadina pan out as wingers for us.

All I see our two teams doing is swapping poopty dmen or bottom six forwards.
- RafiDRW

Eh, I don't think it'd be an even swap. Nuge still has 2 years so the UFA argument hardly works and Nuge is the better player that plays at a more valuable position.

Eh, I don't think it'd be an even swap. Nuge still has 2 years so the UFA argument hardly works and Nuge is the better player that plays at a more valuable position.
- MaximumBone

Not far off then. Not too concerned about contracts, but I’d say it’s close. Especially if Holland seems that need to be great, which it is for you guys. You definitely need wingers. I really think Holland will go after Nyquist for you guys and trade for another, younger winger. He’ll find a way to drop a couple contracts this off season, hopefully. Russell, Gagner, Lucic.

Not far off then. Not too concerned about contracts, but I’d say it’s close. Especially if Holland seems that need to be great, which it is for you guys. You definitely need wingers. I really think Holland will go after Nyquist for you guys and trade for another, younger winger. He’ll find a way to drop a couple contracts this off season, hopefully. Russell, Gagner, Lucic.
- RafiDRW

My thing with that trade is that it actually downgrades our wings. By moving Nuge, we require Draisaitl to play at C rather than a W where he's dominant and replace him with Mantha. A rare situation where acquiring a winger makes us worse on the wings.

Agreed on Nyquist. Easy to see the appeal for him (GM familiarity, elite Cs, weak wing depth), but also easy to see why he'd decline (bad organization, fishbowl, far north).

My thing with trade is that it actually downgrades our wings. By moving Nuge, we require Draisaitl to play at C rather than a W where he's dominant and replace him with Mantha. A rare situation where acquiring a winger makes us worse on the wings.

Agreed on Nyquist. Easy to see the appeal for him (GM familiarity, elite Cs, weak wing depth), but also easy to see why he'd decline (bad organization, fishbowl, far north).
- MaximumBone

Didn’t think about the #2 C situation. Touché.

It’s going to be all about unloading those three contracts to make a big difference. Allows room for two wingers, raises and ELCs. Might be able to keep Gagner.

Nyquist will perform well, despite the organizational attitude. Holland is good at creating a well-run place. I think Alex Tuch, Brandon Pirri, Kevin Hayes or Marcus Johansson should be looked at getting in through trade or free agency.

If you want to look at the Wings in all seriousness, we really only have Tyler Bertuzzi.
21-26-47 on Larkin’s wing. Could probably be a 28-35-63 player on McDavid’s wing or the 20-25-45 on Nuge’s.

Prospect wise, we have Svechnikov which i’d be okay with dropping to you all for something cheap. Givani Smith, Jacob De La Rose, Matt Puempell, Darren Helm could also be looked at. Thoughts?

Didn’t think about the #2 C situation. Touché.

It’s going to be all about unloading those three contracts to make a big difference. Allows room for two wingers, raises and ELCs. Might be able to keep Gagner.

Nyquist will perform well, despite the organizational attitude. Holland is good at creating a well-run place. I think Alex Tuch, Brandon Pirri, Kevin Hayes or Marcus Johansson should be looked at getting in through trade or free agency.

If you want to look at the Wings in all seriousness, we really only have Tyler Bertuzzi.
21-26-47 on Larkin’s wing. Could probably be a 28-35-63 player on McDavid’s wing or the 20-25-45 on Nuge’s.

Prospect wise, we have Svechnikov which i’d be okay with dropping to you all for something cheap. Givani Smith, Jacob De La Rose, Matt Puempell, Darren Helm could also be looked at. Thoughts?
- RafiDRW

Gimme Helm for Russell.

Gimme Helm for Russell.
- MaximumBone

If we got a 3rd or 4th and Yzerman bought out Russell, sure.

If we got a 3rd and Yzerman bought out Russell, sure.
- RafiDRW

I'll give you a 5th.

I'll give you a 5th.
- MaximumBone

4th?

4th?
- RafiDRW

I guess we're trying to parse the difference between 4mil on a 4/5 Dman or 3.75mil on a 3/4 LW Splitting hairs at this point, but around that seems reasonable. Ours is a high 5th so I'd probably stick to my guns on the 5th; maybe add a long shot prospect like Kemp?

I guess we're trying to parse the difference between 4mil on a 4/5 Dman or 3.75mil on a 3/4 LW Splitting hairs at this point, but around that seems reasonable. Ours is a high 5th so I'd probably stick to my guns on the 5th; maybe add a long shot prospect like Kemp?
- MaximumBone

It’s like trying to choose between old diarrhea and new diarrhea.

Be perfectly fine with a fifth and Kemp. As long as he’s bought out. Franzen and Ouellet come off the books after this season and then Weiss and Zeke come off two years from now. Adding Russell won’t hurt really. Also opens up a bottom 9 spot for Svechnikov, Smith, Pope, Puempel or Kuffner.

It’s like trying to choose between old diarrhea and new diarrhea.

Be perfectly fine with a fifth and Kemp. As long as he’s bought out. Franzen and Ouellet come off the books after this season and then Weiss and Zeke come off two years from now. Adding Russell won’t hurt really. Also opens up a bottom 9 spot for Svechnikov, Smith, Pope, Puempel or Kuffner.
- RafiDRW

Same in reverse. Moving Russell opens a spot in the top-6 for either a prospect or a new addition (I'd kill for Gudas, but that's unlikely) and secures some bottom-6 speed. Trade Benning for Brown, do a couple of my other trades and maybe sign Nemeth and we'll be looking fresh.