Just for fun, I thought I'd post my opinion on what I think some of the GM's should do to improve their team. I'll go team by team, adding when I've got some spare time.
Edmonton:
Draft and Prospects:
They have the 1st pick. The should draft centre Tyler Seguin. They have super speedy Magnus Pajaarvi-Svensson (10th overall in 2009) on LW. They do have clutch center Eberle, but he's a bit small. Seguin and Eberle are both right handed shots, so either could end up playing the wing.
They have signed LW Linus Omark (check out some youtube clips for this guy) and RW Toni Rajala. C Riley Nash still needs to bulk up, but could potentially be a decent #2 centre.
Current team:
Forwards:
Penner, Hemsky, Sam Gagner and Cogliano are players to build around. Cogliano had a setback year, hopefully they can help him get back on track. O'Sullivan, Robert Nilsson and Brule are on the bubble. Talented, but are they team players and can they bring it every night to compete in the NHL? Nilsson and O'Sullivan have expensive contracts too, so if they don't show signs of improvement, they could be on their way out very quickly. Moreau could still play on the 2nd, but would be more effective on the 3rd line.
Comrie and Pisani will not be resigned (UFA's). Souray wants to be traded, but not sure who would want his contract, plus he's been injury prone for the last few years. Another contract they have to move is Horcroff's, but will be difficult to do.
Defence: Ryan Whitney and Gilbert are young and talented enough to build around. Smid is a solid stay at home d-man, and was a +5 this year too. But after that, it drops quite a bit. Chorney, Plante and Petry could be decent NHLers, but need more experience. I'd sooner sign older UFAs (at age 27), than draft one, unless they are the next Doughty. Plus d-men take a little longer to develop.
Goaltending:
Khabibulin has been a bust. Injuries, age, and a 3.75mil for 3 more years make him immovable. Never understood the reasoning behind signing him. Oilers are rebuilding, why sign players as if you're hoping to win it all. A bit delusional on Lowe's part. Delauriers and Dubnyk were over their heads this year. Olivier Roy is talented, but raw. If the Oilers rush him, they may mess him up.
The Oilers are going to stink for another year (or 2), but with decent 1st round picks and prospects, the rebuilding process looks good. If they are able to trade Souray and Horcroff, that would take over $10mill off their cap. They could use that to sign 3 d-men to solidfy their defensive end. ie. Derek Morris, Hamhuis, Van Ryn, etc.
If they can move Khabibulin, that would be a bonus, but unlikely. If some GM is crazy enough to do it, look to try to pry a young goalie like Montoya from the Coyotes, or Harding from the Wild. If not, sign Raycroft cheap.
Lineups:
Top 3 lines:
Penner, Gagner, Hemsky
Moreau, Cogliano, O'Sullivan
Nilsson, Horcoff, Brule
Sortini, Pouliot, Ryan Jones
Omark, Rajala on call ups.
D:
Whitney, Gilbert
Chroney, Smid
?, ?
Petry, Plante on call ups.
Edmonton:
Draft and Prospects:
They have the 1st pick. The should draft centre Tyler Seguin. They have super speedy Magnus Pajaarvi-Svensson (10th overall in 2009) on LW. They do have clutch center Eberle, but he's a bit small. Seguin and Eberle are both right handed shots, so either could end up playing the wing.
They have signed LW Linus Omark (check out some youtube clips for this guy) and RW Toni Rajala. C Riley Nash still needs to bulk up, but could potentially be a decent #2 centre.
Current team:
Forwards:
Penner, Hemsky, Sam Gagner and Cogliano are players to build around. Cogliano had a setback year, hopefully they can help him get back on track. O'Sullivan, Robert Nilsson and Brule are on the bubble. Talented, but are they team players and can they bring it every night to compete in the NHL? Nilsson and O'Sullivan have expensive contracts too, so if they don't show signs of improvement, they could be on their way out very quickly. Moreau could still play on the 2nd, but would be more effective on the 3rd line.
Comrie and Pisani will not be resigned (UFA's). Souray wants to be traded, but not sure who would want his contract, plus he's been injury prone for the last few years. Another contract they have to move is Horcroff's, but will be difficult to do.
Defence: Ryan Whitney and Gilbert are young and talented enough to build around. Smid is a solid stay at home d-man, and was a +5 this year too. But after that, it drops quite a bit. Chorney, Plante and Petry could be decent NHLers, but need more experience. I'd sooner sign older UFAs (at age 27), than draft one, unless they are the next Doughty. Plus d-men take a little longer to develop.
Goaltending:
Khabibulin has been a bust. Injuries, age, and a 3.75mil for 3 more years make him immovable. Never understood the reasoning behind signing him. Oilers are rebuilding, why sign players as if you're hoping to win it all. A bit delusional on Lowe's part. Delauriers and Dubnyk were over their heads this year. Olivier Roy is talented, but raw. If the Oilers rush him, they may mess him up.
The Oilers are going to stink for another year (or 2), but with decent 1st round picks and prospects, the rebuilding process looks good. If they are able to trade Souray and Horcroff, that would take over $10mill off their cap. They could use that to sign 3 d-men to solidfy their defensive end. ie. Derek Morris, Hamhuis, Van Ryn, etc.
If they can move Khabibulin, that would be a bonus, but unlikely. If some GM is crazy enough to do it, look to try to pry a young goalie like Montoya from the Coyotes, or Harding from the Wild. If not, sign Raycroft cheap.
Lineups:
Top 3 lines:
Penner, Gagner, Hemsky
Moreau, Cogliano, O'Sullivan
Nilsson, Horcoff, Brule
Sortini, Pouliot, Ryan Jones
Omark, Rajala on call ups.
D:
Whitney, Gilbert
Chroney, Smid
?, ?
Petry, Plante on call ups.
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