Edmonton Oilers: Getting Positioned for an Early Season Trade?
By Pelle
By bringing in forwards Alex Chiasson and Scottie Upshall on PTOs, are the Edmonton Oilers getting ready to make a minor trade involving one of their bottom-6 wingers?
Edmonton Oilers: If you listen to the Oilers Now radio show or podcast, you’re probably aware that for nearly the entire summer host Bob Stauffer has been foreshadowing a trade involving a player in the bottom-6 of their forward group who might be making a bit more money than is comfortable for the team.
For me, there are only two options as to who Stauffer is talking about. Drake Caggiula and Zack Kassian.
Caggiula just signed a 2-year deal that pays him $1.5 per season and Kassian has two years left on the 3-year contract worth $1.95M per year.
If I had to guess, I’d say that Kassian is the player most likely to be moved out because the majority of fans and pundits who follow hockey would probably agree that his contract is too high for the role that he plays on the team, and Caggiula just signed his deal.
To add to Kassian’s contract as reasons he’d be the likeliest candidate to get traded, Alex Chiasson will most likely be at least $1M cheaper than Kassian, he’s got the same sort of size, and historically, they’ve put up similar stats.
Chiasson/Kassian
Age: 27/27
Height: 6’4″/6’3″
Weight: 208lbs/209lbs
NHL GP: 381/387
Average TOI: 13:33/12:21
Goals: 59/52
Assists: 65/65
Points: 124/117
But there are a few things that set the two players apart not financially related.
Hits: 412/753
Blocked Shots: 118/45
Takeaway-Giveaway Ration: 1.55/.69
Corsi%: 49%
(source)
Why Adding Chiasson and Upshall over Kassian is Good for the Oilers
In my opinion, the Oilers are trying to relieve some pressure on their salary cap, creating some competition for training camp, and looking to change the chemistry of the team up a bit.
Dealing out Zack Kassian wouldn’t hurt the Oilers on-ice product over the long-term as much. Especially if they signed Upshall and the Stanley Cup winning Chiasson, and it might improve the overall product if we’re honest.
Peter Chiarelli is attempting to repair his penalty kill as well. A penalty kill that included Zack Kassian last season. With both Upshall and Chiasson being quite adept on the penalty kill, that would also be a plus to the Oilers. The less time the other team is capitalizing on their power play, the better it is for the Oilers.
Adding more veterans who know what it takes to win to a young team like the Oilers is never a bad thing. I remember the Pittsburgh Penguins adding players like Gary Roberts, John Leclair, Ziggy Palffy, and Bill Guerin when Sidney Crosby was starting out in the NHL, and I see Toronto adding players like Patrick Marleau to aide their young players. The Oilers under Chiarelli have failed to take advantage of this tactic, and I believe it has cost them.
I know for a fact that a lot of fans will be upset if the Oilers move Zack Kassian. He’s pure emotion on blades. His style of play resonates with the Oilers fans in a way that harkens back to Buchberger years, the Laraque years, or even the Semenko years.
He’s built a strong relationship with the fanbase since he joined the club and should the Oilers chose to move on from him, I’ll be sad that he’s gone but happy that I got to see him in an Oilers uniform.
How do you feel about the Oilers bringing in these NHL vets on tryout agreements? Do you think they’ve got a chance at making the club and forcing a trade? Let us know in the comments!