Ian Esplen: Building The Luongo Deal- Edmonton Oilers Building The Luongo Deal- Edmonton Oilers

I think your deals are all a little rich. A bad contract and average prospect are about the best that is going to happen IMO.
I am not knocking Luo, he would help the Oil but bad contracts are hard to get rid of.

Ian....get some sleep brother! It's late. Must be busy tomorrow morning?

Ian....get some sleep brother! It's late. Must be busy tomorrow morning?
- LeftCoaster

What's sleep?

Ian Esplen: Building The Luongo Deal- Edmonton Oilers
Building The Luongo Deal- Edmonton Oilers
- IanEsplen

I'd be up for a Paajarvi, Horcoff, and Potter. Despite my Swedish heritage, I've never been all too high on Paajarvi so take this with a grain of salt. Others are far less willing to give him up at this point.

I like MPS and would rather not deal him, but if he is the cornerstoe of the deal, ok let's talk.

The bad contract to take back is an easy one to eat, it lasts a single season as long as he is not injured the whole year, Khabibulin. He may be good for 20 games, and is a well liked guy, AND MPS was boning his daughter for a while, maybe he still is.

Teubert and Peckham are basically the same guy but I feel Teubert has better hockey sense, so you can add Pecks to the trade.

So in the end: Louongo for MPS+Khabby+Pecks.
A top end goalie on a tough contract for a solid young prospect+easy contract to eat+tough guy low end Dman.

I may add a 3rd or 4th round pick, but only if you waffle.

I heard something last week that I have not heard before. Sean Simpson former goalie and Leaf executive said on the Team 1200 (Ottawa) that Luongo has lost his foot speed. He does not move very well across the net and his down low game is gone because he no longer has the leg reaction time of a top NHL goalie.

Has anybody heard anyone else say something along these lines?

Simpson suggested that any team looking for immediate help would be far wiser to invest in trying to get TimThomas for a year or so. Simpson was arguing that the Leafs would make an enormous mistake if they deal for Luongo. I assume that applies to other teams as well.

Just wondering how oilers fans feel about a MSP and Gagner deal?

Ian....get some sleep brother! It's late. Must be busy tomorrow morning?
- LeftCoaster

Pretty busy today, so I wanted to get the blog up early to relax a bit on Halloween

How about Luongo to Boston for Krejci straight up?

Just wondering how oilers fans feel about a MSP and Gagner deal?
- IanEsplen

The thing that scares me about trading gagner is we wouldn't be receiving a centre back in the deal. If a third team can be brought in then sure. I'd personally like paajarvi, horcoff, Peckham, and maybe a pick.

Just wondering how oilers fans feel about a MSP and Gagner deal?
- IanEsplen

As mentioned already there is a decided lack of center depth in Edm...and SG is the team's 2C. While I could see Horc return to 2C and move Belanger up to 3C I think Gagner is better offensively then Horc. If the trade was to be done and this was the demand i would probably do it becasue Horc is better defensively and on faceoffs.

I return the question...what is the plan to get Gagner? Sedin and Kesler are your top 2 and Sam is not a 3C, he is not defensively strong enough. Getting Belanger is your better piece, good on faceoffs, good defensively, poor on points.

All that said there has been the rumour of Hall being groomed to play center, which would make Gagner more expendable. the unfortunate side effect is that MPS becomes less expendable as he is a natural LW, as is Hall.

Just wondering how oilers fans feel about a MSP and Gagner deal?
- IanEsplen

That is the only one of your proposals that I would have to decline. People seem to forget just how young Gagner is it is definitely to early to give up on him.

As mentioned already there is a decided lack of center depth in Edm...and SG is the team's 2C. While I could see Horc return to 2C and move Belanger up to 3C I think Gagner is better offensively then Horc. If the trade was to be done and this was the demand i would probably do it becasue Horc is better defensively and on faceoffs.

I return the question...what is the plan to get Gagner? Sedin and Kesler are your top 2 and Sam is not a 3C, he is not defensively strong enough. Getting Belanger is your better piece, good on faceoffs, good defensively, poor on points.

All that said there has been the rumour of Hall being groomed to play center, which would make Gagner more expendable. the unfortunate side effect is that MPS becomes less expendable as he is a natural LW, as is Hall.
- OilHorse

I would likely have Gagner float back and forth between Kesler's wing and 3rd line centre time. Heck I may even try Kesler at wing with Gagner at centre. A MSP/Kesler/Gagner line would be pretty decent I think or a third line of Higgins/Gagner/Kassian, Raymond or Hansen

I was playing in CapGeek and i decline on giving my offer to you. Edm is set up to have a pile of guys looking for contracts after this and next season. They have decided on having the maximum amount of wiggle room to build the team.

If MPS is the cornerstone you have to take both Khabby AND Horc as salary balance. Nik's contract runs out this season (if there is one), Horc's is on for 2 more after this year. Lu's contract is too long (even if we get the wish and he retires early) while most of the guys you are looking at are cheap and young.

There is no way Edm should have to get pinched by carrying 3 goalies, and Van needs to take salary back.

So MPS, Khabby, Peckham and Horc for Lu and Ballard.

Besides a draft pick, Edmonton doesnt' really help the Canucks. With what they'd be willing to give up for Lu of course.

I would likely have Gagner float back and forth between Kesler's wing and 3rd line centre time. Heck I may even try Kesler at wing with Gagner at centre. A MSP/Kesler/Gagner line would be pretty decent I think or a third line of Higgins/Gagner/Kassian, Raymond or Hansen
- IanEsplen

Kesler is too good on the dot to waste on Gagner's wing...Gagner on the side would be better. Sam on the 3rd will not go well and is also a waste of talent. MPS might learn some grit playing with Kesler...good size and speed but seems timid to take the hits...if he learns to not be worried he can be a solid package.

You are better going for Belanger to line up on the 3rd, Higgins and Kassian to Crash/Bang and Belanger to win the draws.

Besides a draft pick, Edmonton doesnt' really help the Canucks. With what they'd be willing to give up for Lu of course.
- LeftCoaster

It is as much as what they can take as what they give up...as in taking that contract out of the goalie area....as I posted I would take Ballard's contract also.

You said Theo Peckhem may be hard to get. He is exactly the type of player Vancouver should be trying for. Oilers may be a threat in a few years because of their young talent. They need goaltending to speed up the process. You don't knock yourself off the top of the pile by handing your division rivals the pieces to the puzzle they need to speed up the process.

Trade Lu to Tor unless the return is very significant.Don't even bother thinking Hemskey or Horcoff

You said Theo Peckhem may be hard to get. He is exactly the type of player Vancouver should be trying for. Oilers may be a threat in a few years because of their young talent. They need goaltending to speed up the process. You don't knock yourself off the top of the pile by handing your division rivals the pieces to the puzzle they need to speed up the process.

Trade Lu to Tor unless the return is very significant.Don't even bother thinking Hemskey or Horcoff
- VANTEL

No Thanks.Edm would be a far better idea.

No Thanks.Edm would be a far better idea.
- walshyleafsfan1

Well with Tor rich playoff history over the last decade ,Edm would be easier to sell to Lu for him and his NTC.

We shouldn't trade for any of them they will become our biggest rival when Katz moves them to Seattle. They will never get a deal done for an arena let alone a decent goalie.

He's going to Boston, I tell ya, it's Boston.

Ok maybe not.

Well with Tor rich playoff history over the last decade ,Edm would be easier to sell to Lu for him and his NTC.
- VANTEL

Exactly. That's the way to go. Luongo to Edm it is then.