Earlier this week, Frank Seravalli updated his trade targets list , and while the names on the list stayed the same, their order switched up as he had Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman David Jiricek rocket up to the top of his board.
Earlier today, I talked with Frank about whether or not Jiricek is a fit for the Oilers, and we both kind of arrived at the point that it doesn’t make sense for the Oilers to be going after him, and there are a few reasons why.
First off, I don’t think the Oilers have what the Blue Jackets want. Columbus apparently wants a young forward in return and the Oilers simply don’t have any available. Matt Savoie is the only player who fits that description and the Oilers wouldn’t part with him just months after acquiring him.
Also, the Blue Jackets apparently rejected a Pittsburgh Penguins offer of Rutger McGroarty in a one-for-one swap. If Columbus GM Don Waddell wouldn’t do that, I don’t think he’d do a one-for-one deal for Savoie.
Now, I know there has been some talk that the Blue Jackets may be willing to settle for a deal that involves a first-round pick and a depth defenceman. The Oilers only have one first-round pick in the next two drafts, and if they’re going to move it, it needs to be something that immediately improves their chances of winning a Stanley Cup this year.
On Oilersnation Everyday today, my co-host Liam and I were talking about some of the worst trades in the NHL over the last decade, inspired by Mikhail Sergachev scoring the OT winner against the Montreal Canadiens last night.
It was interesting to see how many Oilers fans were quick to throw the Griffin Reinhart trade into that conversation, and understandably so. Giving up quality assets for a young, unproven defenceman, regardless of where they were drafted is not always a slam dunk good move.
For the Lightning, it worked out when they traded for Sergachev. For the Oilers, it blew up in their face when they acquired Reinhart.
Jiricek has played 45 more games in the NHL than Reinhart had when the Oilers acquired him and I do think he will turn into a very good NHL defenceman, but there are no guarantees.
I’m not against taking stabs at young players who might need a change of scenery. They did it this summer with Vasily Podkolzin but he only cost a fourth-round pick to acquire.
If Stan Bowman wanted to take a flyer on a young defenceman who might benefit from a change of scenery, he should have claimed Dante Fabbro off waivers. Trading a valuable first-round pick for David Jircek could work out, but it wouldn’t truly pay off for a year or two and the Oilers can’t afford to be patient.
Players like Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, and Ivan Provorov are the names that the Oilers should consider. Using a first-round pick to take a gamble on a relatively inexperienced player is just not something that they’re in a position to do right now.
Also, going after a more established player with term could benefit them for multiple years. They don’t need to be in the rental market.
Matheson has one more year with a cap hit of $4.875 million and this Canadiens front office does have a track record of being willing to retain on players with term. They did it last year with Jake Allen at the deadline and before that, they did it with Jeff Petry.
If I’m the Oilers, I’d probably be willing to give up an extra pick if the Canadiens would keep somewhere close to $2m of Matheson’s cap hit.
Matheson is big, can move the puck, and skates well. He would be an excellent fit either with Darnell Nurse on the second pair or on the Oilers third pair (allowing them to play Brett Kulak with Nurse).
Carrier is another interesting name with term. He has two more years on his current deal with a cap hit of $3.75m. I doubt Nashville would be willing to retain a significant amount on a deal with two more years on it but at $3.75m the Oilers could still find a way to make it work.
Carrier doesn’t bring the size that Matheson does but he’s an excellent puck mover and that’s the number one asset the Oilers should be looking at.
The market is starting to develop but I do think the Oilers need to be patient.
They need to accrue as much cap space as possible and they also would benefit from a little bit more clarity on Evander Kane, whose return date is still unknown.
Even though the trade market is starting to develop, I wouldn’t hold your breath hoping Stan Bowman to make a big trade anytime soon.
