This in from NHL insiders Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Johnston’s speculation that the Oilers should target for trade Anaheim goalie John Gibson and LeBrun’s notion that Montreal Canadiens d-man David Savard should be high on Edmonton’s radar.
Said Johnston of Gibson, 31, who has two years left on a deal that pays him $6.4 million per: “While Gibson may not be a priority addition, he could be a sensible one — especially in the scenario detailed above where he’s being acquired with a $3.2 million cap hit. Edmonton is all-in on chasing the Stanley Cup this season and the years beyond it when Gibson is under contract. The veteran is unquestionably an upgrade on what the Oilers currently have as a No. 2 to support Skinner.”
And LeBrun on Savard, 34, with a $3.5. million cap hit that ends this year: “There will be sexier trade targets on the market, to be sure, but I think as a sixth or seventh defenseman who can help kill penalties and who won a Cup with the Lightning — plus is a right-shot D — he’s a sensible idea for Edmonton. Especially considering I don’t think Savard would cost an arm and a leg. That will be appealing for an Oilers team without a first-round pick this year.”
My take
1. The Athletic is speculating here, just having some fun with trade talks, so no need to get too hopeful if you covet either of these players or too distraught if you’re dead-set against Edmonton picking up either one.
2. As always when it comes to outside players, I’m not one to comment on their true talent as I haven’t put in the hard work of closely studying all aspects of their play this season, along with their health and character. That’s what pro scouts are hired to do. We put in that kind of close and diligent observation to rate the on-ice performance of Edmonton Oilers players but not for opposing players.
3. I can say this, however. It’s too early to know what the Oilers will spend their draft and cap capital on just now. Will they need a winger, a centre, a d-man or a goalie? It’s too early to know for sure. We have no idea how injuries will play out between now and then the trade deadline. We have no idea which Oilers will see their play rise and fall.
Maybe a Top 4 d-man will suddenly and obviously be the top priority. Or maybe it’s be a goalie or a Top 6 winger. We just don’t know and we won’t know until late February. What we do know is that Edmonton does not have a lot of give up in trade or much cap space to work with this year. The Oilers will likely be able to pick up one top flight player, and one or two bottom-of-the-roster types, such as David Savard.
4. In a small sample size, Gibson has his best save percentage, .909 in 12 games, that he’s had in years. But we also see in 20 games that Ducks starter Lukas Dostal has a .915 save percentage. Dostal is much younger and cheaper so it’s hard to imagine there will be a high cost in trade value for Gibson, given his cap hit for the next two years.
As for Savard, he’s a bottom-pairing d-man in Montreal when it comes to time-on-ice, so he’d be fighting with right shot Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher for playing time. If Emberson keeps getting better, as he’s done all year, I’m not sure Savard is the answer, though he would likely be a solid insurance pick up in case of injury.
At the Cult of Hockey
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