Saturday, June 21, 2008

Day Two at the Draft

Leading up to the draft there was a lot of talk about dealing prospects or struggling roster players in exchange for picks.

The players who might be heading out of town were covered here.

We also talked about what those picks might look like here.

So really what we probably have to look forward to today is another "Edmonton trades Jason Chimera for the pick that becomes Geoff Paukovich" kind of day. Right?

Jarret Stoll seems to be the lightning rod, but we've heard Pitkanen, Smid and Sugartits rumors this week too.

We also still have our list of Coke Machines:

  • C AJ Jenks (OHL) 6-1, 206
  • LW Luke Adam (OHL) 6-1, 210
  • RW Jared Staal (OHL) 6-3, 195
  • C Joel Champagne (QMJHL) 6-3, 210
  • LW Geordie Wudrick (WHL) 6-3, 204
  • RW Jimmy Hayes (USHL) 6-4, 210
Plus several quality prospects who weren't drafted today:

  • D Colby Robak
  • C Corey Trivino
  • C Zac Dalpe
  • G Harry Sateri
  • G Jacob Markstrom

Plus that Russian guy (Evgeny Grachev, another center) that Robin Brownlee has been telling us about (quoting him from his blog "As tricky as it is getting players here from Russia and despite having been burned by 2000 first-round bust Alexei Mikhnov, the Oilers scouting staff thinks very highly of Grachev.")

So when the draft starts later today I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that Jarret Stoll had been traded to Los Angeles for a second round pick that turns into the Russian powerforward. It's very similar to the Chimera for Paukovich deal four years ago, so similar the Oilers are still waiting for one of the Coke Machines to turn into an NHL player.

UPDATE: No trades from overnight and the Oilers may get shut out of the second round because there's so much talent still available. This does resemble 2003 in that there's so much still out there (the guy I wanted Edmonton to draft with their first round pick that year, Patrick O'Sullivan, didn't go until 56th overall) and teams may decide that a Jarret Stoll, Raffi Torres, Rob Schremp or Marc Pouliot will be available for other assets later in the summer.

Using Bob McKenzie's Top 60 list, the following players are still available:

  • #23: G Jacob Markstrom (.931SP in Swe Jr)
  • #25: C Nicolas Deschamps (#17 on RLR)
  • #28: D Colby Robak (nice range of skills)
  • #31: G Jake Allen (.948SP at World U-18's)
  • #32: C Zac Dalpe (terrific offensive prospect)
  • #34: LW Luke Adam (big man with hands)
  • #36: C Corey Trivino (skilled)
  • #37: C Maxime Sauve (fast and skilled)
  • #38: LW Mikael Stefanovich (big scorer from Q)
  • #39: RW Danny Kristo (quick and smart)
  • #40: D Aaron Ness (small skill D)
  • #55 : C Evgeny Grachev (Russian PF)
  • #57: G Harry Sateri (Finn goalie)

Edmonton once picked up two second round picks (for Jochen Hecht) that turned into Jarret Stoll and Jeff Deslauriers. The players most often mentioned yesterday (Stoll, Torres) are not at their highest level of value due to injuries and ineffectiveness (plus pricetag).

The Oilers may have to shop some roster players who have youth and upside in order to get a deal done. Names might include Ladislav Smid, Matt Greene, Marc Pouliot and Rob Schremp. Is trading Marc Pouliot for the pick that gets you a player from the list above good value?

Maybe. However, it would not be the worst possible outcome if the Oilers don't make a trade today. No sense giving up Pouliot if he's in the plans.

67 comments:

  1. I would like Oilers to take a shot at Omarks team mate Robin Olsson with one of their last picks today. He came to Luleå as an 17 year old and in 1½ season he made the jump from u18 squad to the SEL squad. In an under 19 tournament in April playing for Sweden he was voted best defenseman of the tournament. I know Rönnberg that coaches Luleå and been assistant in both WJC and WC absolutley loves this kid and his potential.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just to get some thoughts in before Smid is perhaps traded:

    - you won't find a bigger critic of the kid but I'd certainly keep him over Greene. I know it's all about weighing the value of the player to the team vs the value of a player in a deal but if all things were considered even, I'd keep Smid.

    - I can't see the Oil dealing off both Smid and Pitkanen so there's probably an either/or coming, though.

    - I'm a guy that's all about standing pat and rolling the Horc line plus 14-16-34 as the second toughest and then sheltering the kids again but if you're dealing Stoll for a pick, then I guess 51 or 78 gets the bump to play between 14-34 OR Cogs comes in to what could be his eventual role and you see Pitkanen out the door for a scorer to play with 12-89.

    - I want to see one more year of Pitkanen before I'm ready to give up on him.

    - I think I'd say the same about Stoll unless there's someone in the 2nd round you can grab in return for his rights.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dennis: Agreed. The one thing about Stoll and Greene that keeps coming at me is their age. Stoll is a UFA one season from now and who in their right mind would sign him multi-year?

    And next summer Greene is 26, an RFA and also one year away from UFA.

    So those would be the guys I'd trade. Smid turned 22 in February, that's a lot of years before UFA.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I hope the Oilers don't do much in the way of trades. The only one I would like to see is Torres for a couple of seconds and a third (maybe one of those in 2009) - followed by signing GlenX for 2 years at $1.3 M a year.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ducey: I'd like them to sign Glencross and keep Raffi (Ethan insurance) but they need to cull the herd sometimes this summer.

    Current "locks" for roster spots:

    1. Horcoff
    2. Penner
    3. Hemsky
    4. Gagner
    5. Cogliano
    6. Nilsson
    7. Stoll
    8. Torres
    9. Pisani
    10. Brodziak
    11. Stortini
    12. Moreau
    13. Pouliot
    14. Schremp
    15. Jacques
    16. Potulny

    plus there's Glencross, the coach wants Reasoner and they're shopping for a sniper.

    They can send out Schremp w/o waivers and risk losing Jacques but maybe a guy like Lerg surprises.

    No, they need to trade an F and maybe a D too. Question is should they do it today and imo the answer is probably "no" unless it's a really nice deal (say Jacques for a 3rd).

    ReplyDelete
  6. Florida picks G Markstrom with the 31st pick to begin the second round.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Picks are coming quickly now.

    32 LAK VJATESLAV VOINOV
    33 STL PHILIP MCRAE
    34 STL JAKE ALLEN
    35 ANA NICOLAS DESCHAMPS
    36 NYI COREY TRIVINO

    ReplyDelete
  8. Somebody should pick Burlon
    Woodlief mocked-drafted him at 24

    ReplyDelete
  9. Looks like Phoenix made a trade (with Nashville).

    ReplyDelete
  10. That's 3 defenders taken with LA's first three picks. All three should play in the NHL too. I like what they're doing.

    Well, there goes my Wheat King.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think I just heard Jarrett Stoll's name...

    ReplyDelete
  12. lol. In terms of value I don't think trading Stoll for a pick around 50 makes any sense. Oilers have a guy who (while overpaid) is certainly a roster player and could get good return in FEB at the deadline.

    I think we're in Rob Schremp territory though. Maybe Pouliot too although I would hope they keep him.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Grachev is still available so if they're going to do something one would think it would be now.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Grachev is still available so if they're going to do something one would think it would be now.

    Maybe they bank on him sliding to the third round?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jonathan: I think it's probably a case of other teams just liking what is available, so maybe. Jimmy Hayes is a pretty nice prospect at #60.

    ReplyDelete
  16. 4 hours for the 1st round
    50 minutes for the 2nd

    ReplyDelete
  17. After pick 60, I don't think the Oilers should really trade a roster player or prospect straight up for a pick.

    Save Jacques who is in a world of trouble in terms of staying off the waiver wire in the fall.

    ReplyDelete
  18. With his injury problems (at least the last prognosis) I'm not so sure Jacques wouldn't clear waivers. But I agree, I'd probably take a third for him at this point.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Does anyone know if day 2 is available to watch online?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yep no roster players for low level lotto tickets please. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Holy smokes! Just flipped on the radio and realized round two is already over.

    Every year I forget how quick the rounds go after the first, and every year I miss the second round.

    Oh well, sounds like the Oil did nothing. At this point I am not sure if trading a roster player is worth it for just one second or a couple thirds.

    I think teams were hesitant to trade their seconds because there were still some quality players available. Calgary got a decent one with Mitch Wahl.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Islanders with some nice gambles in the 3rd round.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Islanders with some nice gambles in the 3rd round.

    Yeah, and they can afford to gamble a bith with Snow's first round yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Evidently the Rangers had eyes on Grachev too.

    ReplyDelete
  25. With all of the P. Bergeron comparisons Anaheim picking Deschamps scares me a bit.

    Hoorah for Rangers taking Traktor Boy 2.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Apropos of nthing, if anyone here wants hairclub for men, it's delivered discretely in a "plain brown envelope".

    ReplyDelete
  27. Intersting interview with Don Meehan there- 'we've already been approached by Russian teams regarding players coming out of their entry level contract'. Sounds like it isn't just "inflationary offer sheets" driving up the price on these guys.

    On a related note, if I'm Kevin Lowe, I'm not sure how confident I am that Denis Grebeshkov signs a contract next season.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Intersting interview with Don Meehan there- 'we've already been approached by Russian teams regarding players coming out of their entry level contract'

    Well of course Meehan is going to say that! He's an Agent!

    ReplyDelete
  29. McKenzie just listed Stefanovich and Arniel as guys who are surprising to still see there. Any support for grabbing one of those guys?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Nevermind. Evidently NHL scouting staffs agree with McKenzie.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Stefanovich has 1st round skills and a bucket load of issues - but in the 4th round what the hell - the goalie Satteri is still there too.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I think theres just as much bad stuff written about Stefanovich as there is good. Too slow for the Oilers it looks like.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Stefanovich? Why not. In the fourth round to possibly get a player that is either a 'boom or bust' is not bad.

    First round talent, sure sounds like he is the BPA.

    From Minsk as well. Wonder if he ever traveled from Milan with a girl named Rochelle?

    ReplyDelete
  34. A.J. Jenks is gone now too. I didn't catch it- did Roman Josi get taken in round 2?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Arniel may be okay if he isn't a dumbass.

    Andre Petersson still out there though! c'mon Oilers! heh...whatever.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Jonathan, Nashville took him at 38.

    I think DG mentioned it yesterday, but Nashville is consistently one of the best teams in terms of how they handle their players & picks.

    Honestly, Toronto might be smart to offer the Nashville ownership a couple of million for Poile.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Johan Motin to the Oilers. FWIW, THN had him ranked 51st.

    ReplyDelete
  38. "Motin moves the puck reasonably well and is good in his own end, but doesn't excel in any one area"

    Projected as a defensive defenseman, as per THN.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Nooooo
    What a waste, he's been passed by so many young defensive prospect in Sweden it's scary.
    No physical upside, no offensive upside, just nothing.

    Real disapointment.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Whoopeee, another defensive defensemen. I wonder who's responsible for this one.

    It's annoying, but I guess I can't be bothered too much... it's getting further and further into the draft.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Illegal Curve likes him.

    This pick comes from Nilsson territory, but he sure sounds like the kind of player the Oilers traditionally have success with.

    Also from THN:
    "Even though Motin played with Hedman, the consensus was his play dropped off as the tournament (WJC) went on and most scouts have had him on a downward spiral since."

    ReplyDelete
  42. From Hockey's Future on Motin: He should be considered a project and although playing against early against men, will likely need quite a few seasons of development before being possibly ready for the NHL.

    ReplyDelete
  43. He was so bad this year he got demoted to Tier III.
    I don't understand this pick at all, when Kristoffer Berglund who had an excellent WJC and is a great skater with a good first pass is still available.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love the way Craig Button can spout paragraphs about Kelsey Tessier without mentioning his lack of foot speed.

    ReplyDelete
  45. SJS ended up scooping up Sateri right after the Oilers pick - and those guys clearly know their goalies - which leads me to believe that we left the BPA (#2 Euro goalie) on the table. Not that a 4th round pick deserves any angst - but aside from sitting there and hoping that Eberle fell into their lap - seems like the Oil mgmt team took the weekend off. Biggest job of the weekend seems to have been deciding who was up for the next poutine run at the draft table. Kenta or Bucky?

    ReplyDelete
  46. Cornet was Rimouski's second leading scorer. Aside from Frolik, it looks like Rimouski didn't have much in the way of scorers all season.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Cornet.....yawn.....well that's it for me. Almost midnight in Bangkok on Saturday night - and needless to say I could have been up to something more interesting than watching this. Very underwhelming performance by the mgmt team this weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I like the Swede (although Asia makes a great point about the goalie) but this pick looks a little different.

    The Oilers do pretty well in the Q, though.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Jared Spurgeon goes to NYI @ 156th overall. I kind of thought he might be the Oilers pick at 163.

    ReplyDelete
  50. With all of the P. Bergeron comparisons Anaheim picking Deschamps scares me a bit.

    Well, considering every player so far has been compared to a hall of famer or a current all star, I wouldn't be quaking just yet.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Teemu Hartikainen @ 163. A Finn! He's projected as a possible 3rd/4th line player, with his biggest weakness being foot speed.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Hockey's Future says he's a gritty leader. Good sized kid (6'1, 198lbs) and a May 1990 birthday, which I'm a big fan of.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Interesting "off the board" pick by L.A. Roe had 45 points and 55PIM in 39 games for St. Cloud State- he's 5'8 and 160lbs, as well as a 1988 birthday.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Bourret traded to PHX by NYR for the 90th overall pick. He's a 21-year old AHL player who was once a can't miss and I'd say his value was in the range with Jacques.

    I'd have been happy with the 90th pick for Jacques.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Well they got a nice first rounder and a player on day 2 who might have a career (the Swede).

    I don't think it's ever a bad idea to draft a Finn and they have had success in drafting Q kids.

    Having said that, Eberle and Motin are the only two players who have a hope in hell of being on my top 20 next week.

    UNLESS there's a terrific story about some secondary skill we're not currently aware of about one of these guys.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Blah. I like the Eberle pick and pretty much indifferent on the others.

    Would loved to have seen a Stoll and Pitkanen trade for Oli J and Torres for a couple 2nd rounders.

    If Lowe had the opportunity on the former and didn't take it he better come up with something awe inspiring to clear the log jam or I give it a failing grade.

    ReplyDelete
  57. It's not to say that something won't happen between now and July 2nd or now and camp, but I'm still pleased that we didn't give up on Pitkanen or Torres.

    I guess you could argue that Stoll's more important than either of them because he could play second line tough min but I want to see one more year of Pitkanen and I'd still rather pay and play Raffi then Glencross.

    ReplyDelete