Edmonton’s shopping list set out by team insider, as Oilers demote Holloway, Gagner

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Game Day 61: Oilers vs CBJ

This in from Bob Stauffer of the Oilers radio network, Edmonton’s shopping list on the final days of the NHL’s deadline day frenzy.

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On Oilers Now on Wednesday, Stauffer listed various depth d-men that Edmonton still might acquire, starting with Joel Edmundson of Washington, noting that the price was too high, a third-round pick. On Thursday morning, the Toronto Maple Leafs moved on Edmundson.

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Stauffer also mentioned big, tough right shot Josh Brown of Arizona at $1.3 million. “The word is Arizona does not want to retain because they’re already retaining on one contract and they have to retain on Matt Dumba and Jason Zucker when they move those guys.”

Another possibility is Jaycob Megna of the Chicago Blackhawks, who is at $762,000 this year. Brendan Smith of New Jersey has also been mentioned. He makes $1.1 million.

At the same time as Ken Holland shops, he’s sent down Dylan Holloway and Sam Gagner to the AHL.

Stauffer speculated on Holloway move before it was made, saying the idea might be send him down, get him playing heavy minutes to prepare him for the NHL playoffs and call him up when his salary would no longer count against the cap. This would open up a bit more cap space.

Based on Edmonton’s line-up this morning in Columbus, it looks like Connor Brown will be sitting out tonight’s game.

Mark Spector of Sportsnet reported:

RNH-McDavid-Hyman

Henrique-Draisaitl-Kane

Foegele-McLeod-Perry 

Janmark-Carrick-Ryan

Brown

Calvin Pickard is starting the game in net.

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My take

1. Holloway is a fine prospect and he’s flashed his impressive skill at the NHL level, but on merit he’s not an obviously lock to play every night for the Oilers, let alone play on a top line. Commentator Rob Brown suggested on the Got Yer Back podcast that he’d like to see Holloway play on Edmonton’s second line in the playoffs. Many people are bullish on the player. But the need for cap space is critical right now and he’s the only Oilers forward who can be sent down without having to clear waivers just now.

2. On merit, when you look at their ability to help create Grade A shots and to defend them, the three lowest performing Oilers forwards this year have been Holloway, Connor Brown and Corey Perry. I suspect both Brown and Perry would have been grabbed up if they were placed on waivers. It make sense Brown is out of the line-up tonight, as Sam Carrick and Adam Henrique are both penalty killers, so Brown’s main reason for being in the line-up is moot.

3. I know some fans and pundits have little time for Brown, but his game hasn’t been that bad, just his scoring output has been abysmal. No regular NHL forward has fewer points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 than Brown over the past two years. But the fact remains Brown is a solid defender, a good penalty killer, his hustle is there, and he’s getting chance to score. He’s been mediocre, but not terrible, or even bad.

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4. Sam Gagner? On merit, he should be playing with the Oilers. He’s outperformed most other wingers. He adds offence and he’s become a sharp defensive player.

5. As for Edmonton’s lines today, we’ll see if Draisaitl can get it going with Adam Henrique and Evander Kane. I suspect this line will lack speed. Kane and Drai are also prone to defensive lapses, at least when Drai is tasked with the difficult job of covering off the defensive slot. Draisaitl works best with fast players like McDavid, RNH, Ryan McLeod and Warren Foegele. Their speed opens up space for Drai to operate. I suspect we’re going to see Edmonton often go back to the line of McDavid, Draisaitl and Zach Hyman down the stretch and in the playoffs.

6. My own preference would be to see the Oilers use Henrique at centre on a line with RNH and Kane. I’d like to see if Henrique can still get the job done defensively in the crucial centre position. But there are 22 games left, plenty of games to see what works and what doesn’t work. We’ll see many more combinations before the regular season is over.

7. Finally, back to Holloway for a moment, it’s no easy thing to be a prospect player on a Cup-contending team, as both Holloway and Philip Broberg have found out. They’re both ready for the NHL, but they can’t stick in Edmonton. Next season, however, after this summer’s major cap crunch impacts the roster, it’s hard to imagine that Broberg and Holloway won’t have full-time jobs.

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