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Forums :: Blog World :: Sean Maloughney: In No Particular Order: Athanasiou, Ekman-Larsson, Koivu
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Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers
Location: Edmonton
Joined: 09.26.2010

Sep 20 @ 12:59 PM ET
Sean Maloughney: In No Particular Order: Athanasiou, Ekman-Larsson, Koivu
EdmHockeyMan
Referee
Location: Lumbridge, AB
Joined: 06.24.2013

Sep 20 @ 1:28 PM ET
Yes to Koivu, resign AA if possible, and a maybe to OEL.

Koivu as our 3C, for the time being, would be perfect.

AA didn't really get a chance to mesh with the team and just letting him would be silly. Sure he can be a defensive liability, but on a line with a defensively responsible center (Koivu!!!) and a shooter (Pulj), he could potentially thrive. He needs to be given freedom to carry the puck and such a line might be worth a shot.

Ennis-McD-Kassian(?)
RNH-LD-Yamo
AA-Koivu-Pulj

As a top 9 would be interesting.
MaximumBone
Edmonton Oilers
Joined: 06.15.2012

Sep 20 @ 1:37 PM ET
Worth noting that OEL's statistical decline coincided with Tocchet's hiring/Tippett's firing. Alongside rumors out of Arizona that he and Tocchet don't see eye to eye, it gives me some pause on denying his value.

I agree it's a risk, but it's also the Oilers' best chance at getting a #1 Dman to help mentor our next wave. After all, Weber was also said to be "done" in the aftermath of the trade that sent him to MTL.
a1xfreakx13
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Oshawa, ON
Joined: 02.24.2016

Sep 20 @ 1:44 PM ET
if arizona is eating 3 mil of this contract you can bet your life that 3 quarters of the league are now in on OEL and your packacge offered wouldnt be good enough. i would certainly take the chance and hope it was the current coach's fault lol..
MaximumBone
Edmonton Oilers
Joined: 06.15.2012

Sep 20 @ 1:46 PM ET
Yes to Koivu, resign AA if possible, and a maybe to OEL.

Koivu as our 3C, for the time being, would be perfect.

AA didn't really get a chance to mesh with the team and just letting him would be silly. Sure he can be a defensive liability, but on a line with a defensively responsible center (Koivu!!!) and a shooter (Pulj), he could potentially thrive. He needs to be given freedom to carry the puck and such a line might be worth a shot.

Ennis-McD-Kassian(?)
RNH-LD-Yamo
AA-Koivu-Pulj

As a top 9 would be interesting.

- EdmHockeyMan

I think I'm getting on the "release AA" train. There's a whole host of possible RFAs that'll be in a similar situation that I'd rather keep that money available to explore that market. Hinostroza (Arizona is a theme lately) is the name that's of particular interest; strong numbers against top opposition, great skillset, looks like a strong fit for McDavid.

Agreed that Koivu would be a damn near perfect fit. Hard to imagine he'd want to come to Edmonton, but it would be nice.

If a fit can't be found with OEL, I'd love to see something around Russell + AA for Grabner + Hinostroza. If the plan is for both sides to walk their RFA (seems likely), then Edmonton can address some money problems for Arizona (saves them 2.25mil) and get the benefit of getting the chance to retain Hinostroza's rights or even get a deal done.
MaximumBone
Edmonton Oilers
Joined: 06.15.2012

Sep 20 @ 1:48 PM ET
if arizona is eating 3 mil of this contract you can bet your life that 3 quarters of the league are now in on OEL and your packacge offered wouldnt be good enough. i would certainly take the chance and hope it was the current coach's fault lol..
- a1xfreakx13

Yup. That suggestion is needlessly absurd.
Tee56
Joined: 10.02.2017

Sep 20 @ 1:48 PM ET

Let AA walk, let’s see his real worth. He played hard to get years ago in Detroit and still hasn’t panned out.
wingz4life
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Canada Sucks, MI
Joined: 01.31.2006

Sep 20 @ 2:01 PM ET
Let AA walk, let’s see his real worth. He played hard to get years ago in Detroit and still hasn’t panned out.
- Tee56

agree. AA isnt a player you win with. especially not in the playoffs.
he can skate fast....and plays no defense..
Sean Maloughney
Edmonton Oilers
Location: Edmonton
Joined: 09.26.2010

Sep 20 @ 2:02 PM ET
if arizona is eating 3 mil of this contract you can bet your life that 3 quarters of the league are now in on OEL and your packacge offered wouldnt be good enough. i would certainly take the chance and hope it was the current coach's fault lol..
- a1xfreakx13

It was meant to be absurd and as I pointed out in the blog I cant see why Arizona ever would. It's my belief that OEL at his current cap hit is far too great a risk for the Oilers long term.
Wildschwein
New York Islanders
Joined: 11.17.2012

Sep 20 @ 2:20 PM ET
Yes to Koivu, resign AA if possible, and a maybe to OEL.

Koivu as our 3C, for the time being, would be perfect.

AA didn't really get a chance to mesh with the team and just letting him would be silly. Sure he can be a defensive liability, but on a line with a defensively responsible center (Koivu!!!) and a shooter (Pulj), he could potentially thrive. He needs to be given freedom to carry the puck and such a line might be worth a shot.

Ennis-McD-Kassian(?)
RNH-LD-Yamo
AA-Koivu-Pulj

As a top 9 would be interesting.

- EdmHockeyMan


If OEL is a target, then I’d assume (perhaps wrongly) that the rights to Athanasiou would be part of the package going to Arizona.

I’d be willing to eat the entirety of OEL’s contract if Russell was going the other way. I’d also be cool with dishing a 1st, but not in 2020.

Perhaps something like OEL, Grabner (if we’re not on his NTC list) and Hinostroza for Russell, Larsson, (one of) Broberg/Bouchard, rights to Athanasiou and a 2022 1st?

Not sure if the above is affordable for the Oil or not. Just spitballing.

Yes to Koivu, provided it’s only on a 1 year deal.

@Bone: Hinostroza intrigues me as well.
MaximumBone
Edmonton Oilers
Joined: 06.15.2012

Sep 20 @ 2:22 PM ET
If OEL is a target, then I’d assume (perhaps wrongly) that the rights to Athanasiou would be part of the package going to Arizona.

I’d be willing to eat the entirety of OEL’s contract if Russell was going the other way. I’d also be cool with dishing a 1st, but not in 2020.

Perhaps something like OEL, Grabner (if we’re not on his NTC list) and Hinostroza for Russell, Larsson, (one of) Broberg/Bouchard, rights to Athanasiou and a 2022 1st?

Yes to Koivu, provided it’s only on a 1 year deal.

@Bone: Hinostroza intrigues me as well.

- Wildschwein

Non-starter for me. Part of the reason I'm comfortable with adding OEL's contract is knowing we have 3 cheap years of each of these guys in the barrel.

Worth noting, Hinostroza is also an RFA (because you didn't specify "rights to").
RonPielep
Location: "Welcome to HockeyBuzz. Come for the rumors. Stay for the idiots." - Feds91Stammer
Joined: 08.21.2014

Sep 20 @ 2:23 PM ET
Is there a forward the Oil could trade for a 2nd that would also free up enough space to qualify AA?
RonPielep
Location: "Welcome to HockeyBuzz. Come for the rumors. Stay for the idiots." - Feds91Stammer
Joined: 08.21.2014

Sep 20 @ 2:24 PM ET
Worth noting that OEL's statistical decline coincided with Tocchet's hiring/Tippett's firing. Alongside rumors out of Arizona that he and Tocchet don't see eye to eye, it gives me some pause on denying his value.

I agree it's a risk, but it's also the Oilers' best chance at getting a #1 Dman to help mentor our next wave. After all, Weber was also said to be "done" in the aftermath of the trade that sent him to MTL.

- MaximumBone


I’m also intrigued by OEL and think his decline is overstated.
MaximumBone
Edmonton Oilers
Joined: 06.15.2012

Sep 20 @ 2:26 PM ET
Is there a forward the Oil could trade for a 2nd that would also free up enough space to qualify AA?
- RonPielep

Trade Puljujarvi (get a 2nd and a 4th) and buyout Neal (3.8mil)

There's technically enough cap space to resign him, but he just isn't a good fit as he is now. He needs to carry the puck to succeed and our team is currently set-up to deploy their 3rd line as a shutdown line that he doesn't fit on. Could his game evolve? Sure. Do we have the time or cap space to wait right now? I don't think so.
RonPielep
Location: "Welcome to HockeyBuzz. Come for the rumors. Stay for the idiots." - Feds91Stammer
Joined: 08.21.2014

Sep 20 @ 2:26 PM ET
If OEL is a target, then I’d assume (perhaps wrongly) that the rights to Athanasiou would be part of the package going to Arizona.

I’d be willing to eat the entirety of OEL’s contract if Russell was going the other way. I’d also be cool with dishing a 1st, but not in 2020.

Perhaps something like OEL, Grabner (if we’re not on his NTC list) and Hinostroza for Russell, Larsson, (one of) Broberg/Bouchard, rights to Athanasiou and a 2022 1st?

Not sure if the above is affordable for the Oil or not. Just spitballing.

Yes to Koivu, provided it’s only on a 1 year deal.

@Bone: Hinostroza intrigues me as well.

- Wildschwein


Also think offering Broberg/Bouchard is too much of OEL is full salary.
RonPielep
Location: "Welcome to HockeyBuzz. Come for the rumors. Stay for the idiots." - Feds91Stammer
Joined: 08.21.2014

Sep 20 @ 2:31 PM ET
Trade Puljujarvi (get a 2nd and a 4th) and buyout Neal (3.8mil)

There's technically enough cap space to resign him, but he just isn't a good fit as he is now. He needs to carry the puck to succeed and our team is currently set-up to deploy their 3rd line as a shutdown line that he doesn't fit on. Could his game evolve? Sure. Do we have the time or cap space to wait right now? I don't think so.

- MaximumBone


Ugh buyouts nauseate me. So much dead cap from past mistakes.
MaximumBone
Edmonton Oilers
Joined: 06.15.2012

Sep 20 @ 2:36 PM ET
Ugh buyouts nauseate me. So much dead cap from past mistakes.
- RonPielep

I don't disagree, but as far as I'm concerned, it's dead cap whether he's bought out or not. In essence, I see it as:

5.75mil in effectively dead cap space for three years alongside the existing dead cap
VS
1.9mil in dead cap space for three years alongside the existing dead cap then the extra three years of 1.9 that kicks in after all other dead cap is gone

Given the extremely unique market conditions that are playing out this offseason, I lean HARD towards the latter. However, Holland has all but confirmed that there'll be no buyout.
Glak18
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: "It's pretty big loogie on my face, so I was pretty psssted".", PA
Joined: 06.26.2007

Sep 20 @ 3:13 PM ET
What's the word on Puljujarvi, staying overseas for good or waiting to be traded?
MaximumBone
Edmonton Oilers
Joined: 06.15.2012

Sep 20 @ 3:15 PM ET
What's the word on Puljujarvi, staying overseas for good or waiting to be traded?
- Glak18

He softened his public stance recently. Maybe it's just to help Holland get value or maybe he's matured and is ready to give it another shot.
Aerchon
Joined: 10.14.2011

Sep 20 @ 3:50 PM ET
Good blog.

Oilers going after OEL is my nightmare so all but certain.

Koivu Puljujarvi on the third line a dream come true. With Puljujarvi sometimes on McDrai wings.

Holland can still qualify AA if he skimps on goaltending. A league minimum backup is risky but such is life in a flat cap. It's too bad management isn't giving Koskinen the credit he deserves. He had a solid year and having him start 60 games while not great is also not so bad.

I suppose there is something to say about Holland think about the AA acquisition while the cap was going up considerably but even then a rather big gamble.
Aerchon
Joined: 10.14.2011

Sep 20 @ 3:54 PM ET
I don't disagree, but as far as I'm concerned, it's dead cap whether he's bought out or not. In essence, I see it as:

5.75mil in effectively dead cap space for three years alongside the existing dead cap
VS
1.9mil in dead cap space for three years alongside the existing dead cap then the extra three years of 1.9 that kicks in after all other dead cap is gone

Given the extremely unique market conditions that are playing out this offseason, I lean HARD towards the latter. However, Holland has all but confirmed that there'll be no buyout.

- MaximumBone


I hope you are right about buyouts. The Sekera buyout is a real head scratcher still.
MaximumBone
Edmonton Oilers
Joined: 06.15.2012

Sep 20 @ 4:25 PM ET
I hope you are right about buyouts. The Sekera buyout is a real head scratcher still.
- Aerchon

I don't think the reasoning for the Sekera buyout was bad. He had CLEARLY fallen off hard and was coming off a major injury and Holland put the money towards pursuing Connolly. What he did after losing out on Connolly (Chiasson 2.15x2) is the part that I take issue with.

I'm glad he's found a role in Dallas and is enjoying some team success (lord knows he's earned it), but it's not like he's back to being a top-4 D. He has 1 assist in 22 games on a team in the Cup finals. He wouldn't have made a difference on this team this year and the team wouldn't have had Chiasson and would've likely been unable to maneuver like they did at the deadline (for better or for worse).
EdmHockeyMan
Referee
Location: Lumbridge, AB
Joined: 06.24.2013

Sep 20 @ 5:35 PM ET
I think I'm getting on the "release AA" train. There's a whole host of possible RFAs that'll be in a similar situation that I'd rather keep that money available to explore that market. Hinostroza (Arizona is a theme lately) is the name that's of particular interest; strong numbers against top opposition, great skillset, looks like a strong fit for McDavid.

Agreed that Koivu would be a damn near perfect fit. Hard to imagine he'd want to come to Edmonton, but it would be nice.

If a fit can't be found with OEL, I'd love to see something around Russell + AA for Grabner + Hinostroza. If the plan is for both sides to walk their RFA (seems likely), then Edmonton can address some money problems for Arizona (saves them 2.25mil) and get the benefit of getting the chance to retain Hinostroza's rights or even get a deal done.

- MaximumBone


That'd be a nice deal for us.
EdmHockeyMan
Referee
Location: Lumbridge, AB
Joined: 06.24.2013

Sep 20 @ 5:41 PM ET
If OEL is a target, then I’d assume (perhaps wrongly) that the rights to Athanasiou would be part of the package going to Arizona.

I’d be willing to eat the entirety of OEL’s contract if Russell was going the other way. I’d also be cool with dishing a 1st, but not in 2020.

Perhaps something like OEL, Grabner (if we’re not on his NTC list) and Hinostroza for Russell, Larsson, (one of) Broberg/Bouchard, rights to Athanasiou and a 2022 1st?

Not sure if the above is affordable for the Oil or not. Just spitballing.

Yes to Koivu, provided it’s only on a 1 year deal.

@Bone: Hinostroza intrigues me as well.

- Wildschwein


Yeah, AA would probably be involved. Definitely wouldn't want 2020's 1st being sent back.

Also gonna say no to including Broberg/Bouchard. No way do they get mentioned at all in any trade talks involving OEL.

2021 first, Jones, Russell, and AA for OEL, Grabner, and Hinostroza.
Would also be okay with buying out Neal if needed in order to resign Hinostroza and pursue a few select FA's (Koivu).
Woowy
Location: SK
Joined: 01.01.2013

Sep 20 @ 10:39 PM ET
Letting AA walk after playing 13 games in an Oiler jersey with some games that he didn't even play 10 minutes would be absolutely ridiculous. With the background that Ken Holland should have had on him, would mean that Holland was just grasping at straws when the Oilers traded for him and the cap staying flat is only a poor excuse.
Its looking like the Oilers might have another idiot GM giving away assets. When you look back to the trade deadline acquisitions, its not rare at all for a player to not play well for the first 13 games after being traded. As far as AA went, the best game that he played was in game three against the Blackhawks where he actually looked like a player that could be a real difference maker.
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