Trade Bait - Lets Make a Deal

 

So as I alluded to in my last post, I want to go over some trade assets and see where the Oilers would be if they trimmed some of the fat off and focused on building a team rather than hoarding players (good players or not).

The first player on my list is Gilbert Brule.

 I like a lot of what Brule brings to the table but in the best league in the world there is one thing that matters more than anything and that is results. Brule had a great start to his Oiler career and it looked like there was a player buried in there somewhere but once the minutes got tougher and his outside life started getting in the way his results tailed off and he has slid down the depth chart to the point that there is little if any room on the roster for him over the next season or two. I don't think there is a bunch of value to Brule and I don't think they can get much for him, but moving on would be best for the team and for the player in this case. He might get a chance to be a shooter on a second line somewhere and that might be what ends up being needed to kick start his game again. I would have liked to see him as a shooter for Hemsky but I no longer believe that he will ever get that opportunity and if he isn't going to be in a scoring role I think his value to the Oilers will just get worse.

Second player on my list is Linus Omark.

Don't think for a second that I don't like this kid. I think he could be a great player and will have a decent career but after going over the lines time and again I don't see where he fits. There is simply too much size and depth in his position to see him sliding up in the lineup. He really isn't a fit on the third or fourth lines regardless of what anyone say's. He isn't a checker and in my opinion he isn't big enough to really ever learn to put some grit into his game. What he is, is a highly skilled winger that will excel on a top scoring line with cast mates that can take advantage of his slick hands. What the Oilers do not have right now is space on the top line(s) for a slick winger. So in my opinion the Oilers should be looking for a home and some good return for a player that has a promising career. 

 The next player on my list is actually a combo. Either Hemsky or Gagner.

My thoughts on this are as follows. There will be, in a very short time only room for one of these players. With the addition of Hopkins to the team there will be too many centers for the amount of positions available. Now you might ask "what does this have to do with Hemsky?" Well the way I see it, if the team is built properly there will be a playmaker, power foward and a shooter on every line. So if RNH is going to be the play making center then there is only room for one more on the top two lines. One of these two are going to go. The general direction the team is going leads me to believe that it will be Hemsky that gets the ticket out of town because the team is getting younger and Gagner has the ability to slide into a center position if there are injuries whereas Hemsky does not. 

There is something to be said about simply keeping the better play maker in Hemsky so I would not be surprised if the Oilers made the decision to keep him instead. 

But mark my words one or maybe even both of these players will be gone and it probably wont even take until next season before we see that move. 

So there you have it. I think that with the addition of a player like Owen Nolan and the removal of parts that aren't going to fit long term the Oilers have the chance to jump the curve a little and they can remove some doubt about the future and the build of the team.