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This in from NHL insider Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff talking to Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now, Seravalli’s take that top prospect d-man Philip Broberg could well be a key to Edmonton’s future at the trade deadline.
“I have a feeling he could be a big part of the Oilers deadline and them moving forward,” Servalli said.
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At first I took this to mean the Oilers might be trading Broberg, but on social media Seravalli later clarified to state his exact point: “Just FYI, I said big part of the Oilers deadline plans – and that should be taken as he is ready to play in the NHL now, which allows them flexibility to move out others. He’s been that good in AHL.”
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Later on the show, Bakersfield coach Colin Chaulk gave an update on Broberg’s health. The young d-man left his AHL game on Saturday night after taking a few hard hits, Chaulk said, but there’s no fracture in his lower body, just some heavy bruising and swelling. The team hopes he will be back to the Bake line-up in seven-to-ten days.
“He’s been exceptional. He’s been close to 30 minutes a night,” Chaulk said of Broberg.
It’s not always about finding the sexy name, Seravalli said in a trade, but it’s about finding a player who can make an impact, as Vegas found with winger Ivan Barbashev last trade deadline. “I think the Oilers are going to being to get a little bit of that with Corey Perry, it’s just going to take him some time to get there.”
“The Oilers could use someone at some point that can distribute pucks and do a little dirty work for Leon Draisaitl,” Seravalli said.
Seravalli suggested one big name player, Jake Guentzel, might come available from Pittsburgh. “If there on the outside looking in, I don’t envision a world in which they are keeping him to roll the dice. I think they have to move him.”
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Pittsburgh will get a first round pick-plus-plus for Guentzel.
Seravalli and Stauffer both mentioned other names, Seravalli focusing on Minnesota winger Brandon Duhaime, a fast-skating and aggressive bottom line penalty killer, with Stauffer talking up Anaheim Ducks bottom line centre Sam Carrick, also a penalty killer. Both commentators liked fourth line centre Nic Dowd from Washington who might cost a first-round pick.
Duhaime is available and cap-wise he fits with the Oilers, Seravalli said. “I think you start to get into this space where you make some curated selections instead of trying to reel the biggest fish into the boat.”
The Oilers might well be in need of another player, as former coach and GM Craig MacTavish told Stauffer that Edmonton is still just one of the four top contenders in the Western conference, and not the top one.
Depth is not a strong point on the Oilers. “It’s unlikely that given the current structure and make-up of our team that we can win. Maybe but unlikely. I would say we’re maybe tied for fourth best team in the conference.”
MacTavish put Vegas and Colorado ahead of Edmonton, with Vancouver the best team so far in the conference. “We need some improvement to amp up our chances to win the Cup.”
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Stauffer himself mention a lack of secondary scoring, which facilitated the need to bring Sam Gagner back into the line-up.
Both Stauffer and MacTavish agreed another Top 6 winger is needed.
My take
1. If Broberg makes the Oilers in a month, which job does he take? Who moves out? Who moves in?
It’s evident the Oilers are going to make a move or two at the trade deadline and maybe a major move. But, as you will recall, no one was talking about Edmonton picking up Mattias Ekholm at the deadline last season. The players being mentioned now could well go elsewhere or not being traded at all and Edmonton could pick up some other player not in the news just now.
2. Broberg, 22, is now in the over ripe category, a player who has excelled at every level and is ready to grab an NH job. He’d likely have one by now in Edmonton but the Oilers have been freakishly healthy on the blueline the last two years, with the only opening coming up on the right side, not Broberg’s left side. This is part of the reason that Vincent Desharnais grabbed a job on the Oil blueline over Broberg last year, though Desharnais’ aggression, size and PK ability was also a huge factor.
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3. Another reason not to move Broberg is that he’ll be relatively inexpensive for the next few season and the Oilers are going to need all the cap space they can muster to keep hold of top players like Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard. It’s hard to imagine that next season the Oilers will be able to afford more than one of Desharnais (who will need a new contract), Brett Kulak or Cody Ceci. Edmonton will be forced to choose and there will be an opening or two.
4. If Broberg is a critical player as of March 2024, what does that means for the rest of the Oilers blueline. Seravalli’s Daily Faceoff has long had Oilers d-man Brett Kulak listed as a top trade target. Could the Oilers be looking at moving out Kulak and replacing him with Broberg in the bottom pairing? That could well be the case.
5. Just now the Daily Faceoff has Kulak listed 14th on its trade targets board and reports: “The Oilers like Kulak. The Stony Plain, Alta., native likes playing in Edmonton. Full stop. It’s just that if the Oilers are going to manufacture salary cap space to make a big trade deadline acquisition, Kulak might have to be the casualty. Warren Foegele and Ryan McLeod have played well. Kulak does not have any trade protection. And swapping 22-year-old Philip Broberg with Kulak represents an immediate $2 million in savings on the cap.”
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