Sean Maloughney: Thoughts After Day 1 of Free Agency

Id expect the team to be better this year. Still dont view them as top contenders. Holland is taking more long term risk than I think is wise.

I worry that Holland is being stubborn with using a first to bring in a legitimate goaltender. I get that he would want to hold onto it for the trade deadline, but come on, you need a good goalie to make it to be buyers at the deadline.
I don't hate the moves he made....that defence is kinda ugh on paper but could be ok if Keith clicks and does what he used to do. Ceci....he gave too much, could have gotten the same for less with other guys that we're out there. Overall a mostly solid day. Now get a goalie please, Ken.

Now that Kuemper and Grubauer are gone , what is the next best option that we can really improve on ?
Korpisalo - Merzlikins via trade ? How much to get Gibson out of Anaheim?

Now that Kuemper and Grubauer are gone , what is the next best option that we can really improve on ?
Korpisalo - Merzlikins via trade ? How much to get Gibson out of Anaheim?
- oilpatch

Rittich... Reunite him with Smith...

Honestly the options are few. And what do the Oil have to give up for a tendie? Are there any goalie prospects in the system that would entice a trading partner?

Rittich... Reunite him with Smith...

Honestly the options are few. And what do the Oil have to give up for a tendie? Are there any goalie prospects in the system that would entice a trading partner?
- geta02it

Big Save already signed in Smashville. While I am glad Holland didn't do something stupid like bring in Anderson or Holtby, there are very little viable tender options left. Maybe Dubnyk would sign a one year show-me type deal to try and raise his stock. He's struggled pretty bad the last couple years though, so would he be much better than Koskinen?

Rittich... Reunite him with Smith...

Honestly the options are few. And what do the Oil have to give up for a tendie? Are there any goalie prospects in the system that would entice a trading partner?
- geta02it

A cap-dump goalie (Koskinen) and picks/prospects.

The top 6 is better set now, but the bottom 6 isn't really and deeper. Lost JJ and Kahun (so far) and added Ryan and Foegele. Ryan won't hurt you, but he is closer to a 4th liner now than a 3rd. Foegele is a good add, but cap is going to be tight with both him and Yammer needing deals. Foegele has arbitration rights, so he will be looking for $3m on a new deal.

The defense is a horror show. Keith either has to babysit Bouchard or try to make up for Barrie being deep in the O-zone. Or worse with him and Ceci being the shutdown pair.

I can understand passing on a potential franchise goalie in the draft, when you can get a good scoring forward from the Q. Scoring is exactly the problem the Oils had last season and in the playoffs. The good thing is that the Oilers can always make a trade of the 1st and a good player for a lesser option from a team with a surplus. If Foegele opts for arbitration, you can easily buy out Koskinen.

A cap-dump goalie (Koskinen) and picks/prospects.
- RonPielep

You would need to use the 1st just to get a team to take Koskinen's salary. ARI got a better deal than that already.

Big Save already signed in Smashville. While I am glad Holland didn't do something stupid like bring in Anderson or Holtby, there are very little viable tender options left. Maybe Dubnyk would sign a one year show-me type deal to try and raise his stock. He's struggled pretty bad the last couple years though, so would he be much better than Koskinen?
- Beergu

I missed him signing. I would have thought Anderson would have been an upgrade, cost dependent. Dubnyk, maybe but I'd agree with you maybe better to go with the devil you know?

We have an AHL back up with tons of promise but not a lot of experience. If Markstrom struggles,

I missed him signing. I would have thought Anderson would have been an upgrade, cost dependent. Dubnyk, maybe but I'd agree with you maybe better to go with the devil you know?

We have an AHL back up with tons of promise but not a lot of experience. If Markstrom struggles,
- geta02it

Wonder where Kari Ramo is these days?

You would need to use the 1st just to get a team to take Koskinen's salary. ARI got a better deal than that already.
- Traveldude

Yeah adding Koskinen makes acquiring a goalie more expensive but seems necessary to make the cap work.

Heinen to Pit for 1.1, sneaky good deal.

You would need to use the 1st just to get a team to take Koskinen's salary. ARI got a better deal than that already.
- Traveldude

ARI got a ton from COL for 1 year of Keumper. No way in hell would I have been happy with Holland trading and 1st and a 3rd, along with a really decent young RHD, for him. I was just hoping our 1st tucked in Koskinen's glove hand would have done it.

Holland is brutal

- Got raped on the Keith deal.
- Took a poop kicking on the Ceci contract.
- Bear for Foegele I'm conflicted on.

Essentially Keith and Ceci in and Larsson, Bear and Jones out. Thats a big step backwards. He is going to end up riding the same goalie tandem as last year

Now he did improve the forwards but my god they'll need to score a boat load of goals to make up for their d-men getting caved in every night.

Holland is brutal

- Got raped on the Keith deal.
- Took a poop kicking on the Ceci contract.
- Bear for Foegele I'm conflicted on.

Essentially Keith and Ceci in and Larsson, Bear and Jones out. Thats a big step backwards. He is going to end up riding the same goalie tandem as last year

Now he did improve the forwards but my god they'll need to score a boat load of goals to make up for their d-men getting caved in every night.
- Reveen

I honestly think fans will be better about the Keith trade as the season goes.
I like the bear trade. I’m in the “size does matter on the D” club
Jones wasn’t anything special IMO
Can’t blame Holland about Larson. The guy didn’t want to be here. That sucks.
Foegele is a good young power forward with a chance to develop into a top 6 guy.
Not a fan of the Ceci contract either
If he is in the win now mode, his goalie tandem doesn’t cut it.
The D will be fine IMO
Oil bottom 6 sucked last year, now they don’t. Top 6 is better as well.

Playoff team that won’t go far due to goalies. Those are my thoughts.

I honestly think fans will be better about the Keith trade as the season goes.
I like the bear trade. I’m in the “size does matter on the D” club
Jones wasn’t anything special IMO
Can’t blame Holland about Larson. The guy didn’t want to be here. That sucks.
Foegele is a good young power forward with a chance to develop into a top 6 guy.
Not a fan of the Ceci contract either
If he is in the win now mode, his goalie tandem doesn’t cut it.
The D will be fine IMO
Oil bottom 6 sucked last year, now they don’t. Top 6 is better as well.

Playoff team that won’t go far due to goalies. Those are my thoughts.
- doon

And you through getting Keith was your biggest problem. Current D would be ok with a great goalie...

Cody Ceci better pan out to more than a bottom pairing D-Man for the money, term and NTC thrown his way. I am also concerned about just gifting Bouchard a second pairing slot. I think a better approach is sheltered third pairing minutes until he pushes Ceci down the lineup. If Nurse goes down this D is in huge trouble.

I honestly think fans will be better about the Keith trade as the season goes.
I like the bear trade. I’m in the “size does matter on the D” club
Jones wasn’t anything special IMO
Can’t blame Holland about Larson. The guy didn’t want to be here. That sucks.
Foegele is a good young power forward with a chance to develop into a top 6 guy.
Not a fan of the Ceci contract either
If he is in the win now mode, his goalie tandem doesn’t cut it.
The D will be fine IMO
Oil bottom 6 sucked last year, now they don’t. Top 6 is better as well.

Playoff team that won’t go far due to goalies. Those are my thoughts.
- doon

From an outsider perspective, I expect the team to have better scoring depth and maybe the same caliber defense and goaltending. Wouldn't put the team in the contender group, but playoffs should be reasonable. My concern would be Holland is making risky best case scenario bets on Bouchard, Keith, Barrie, and Ceci. Keith and Ceci I predict will be cap burdens immediately.

Holland sure saw something he liked out of the '19/20 Leafs team. That's Barrie, Ceci, and Hyman brought in to save the day, now!

I gotta say . . . while I think Hyman is a great addition, seeing their southern rivals pick up Coleman for a year less commitment and $600 less, it gives one serious pause. I think they are VERY comparable players. If Hyman had played anywhere other than Toronto, not sure he gets paid as well as he did.

Now that Kuemper and Grubauer are gone , what is the next best option that we can really improve on ?
Korpisalo - Merzlikins via trade ? How much to get Gibson out of Anaheim?
- oilpatch

That is a damn good quesiton...

Broberg / 2022 2nd and one of Puljujarvi or Yamamoto would be my ask... esp for trading in division.

That is a damn good quesiton...

Broberg / 2022 2nd and one of Puljujarvi or Yamamoto would be my ask... esp for trading in division.

- dozerD10

Yeah I’d let Gibson continue to rack up a couple more seasons of sub .910 save% at 6.4M AAV in Anaheim before I’d pay that ransom.

That is a damn good quesiton...

Broberg / 2022 2nd and one of Puljujarvi or Yamamoto would be my ask... esp for trading in division.

- dozerD10

You can have Broberg, a 2023 1st, one of Benson/Marody, Koskinen, whichever 2022 2/3 isn't lost in the idiotic Keith trade for Gibson half retained, Mahura, and a 3rd.

You can have Broberg, a 2023 1st, one of Benson/Marody, Koskinen, whichever 2022 2/3 isn't lost in the idiotic Keith trade for Gibson half retained, Mahura, and a 3rd.
- wreckage

Getting closer - I could see something along these lines …

Columbus has a Goalie available.

I wouldn't be surprised if they gave you Joonas Korpisalo for your overpriced backup Mikko Koskinen and a 1st round pick next year. You get a good goalie and cap relief, the CBJ get a good pick in next year's draft.