Sometimes trade rumors raise an eyebrow. Other times they make you wonder if the person who suggests them feels the nhl squeeze in the summer months, where there is little to talk about and a lack of things between NHL General managers. The last by Heavy.com Probably falls in both categories.
The suggestion? Edmonton sends Mattias Ekholm-a top-four, 200-foot defender, proven playoff artist and changing room leader-to-go to Detroit. In exchange, the Oilers Justin Holl, a depth blueliner whose contract is said to want to unload the red wings, and Sebastian Cossa, a 22-year-old goalkeeper perspective who has not proven herself as a full-time NHL starter.
In other words, the oilers not only send a valuable blueler and two choices, they do it for a large downgrade on defense and a potential starter, who may not be a starter, but if he is, two or three seasons can be an impactful starter.
Let’s break this down.
You don’t only dump Ekholm when you’re the oilers
Ekholm was demonstrably the best pick -up from Edmonton in the past decade. He is a steady, veteran presence that registers tough minutes against top competition. He is defensive solid, but also contributes attacking (33 points in 65 games last year). He helped stabilizing the now high-faded D-core of the oilers, in particular an important part of the progression of Evan Bouchard as an NHL defender of the top flight.
Acting away for a keeper who at best competes for a back-up in a non-Playoff team? That is not ‘intriguing’. That is paralyzing for the oilers.
Ironically, the oilers are linked to Detroit and their goalkeepers. Cam Robinson from Elite unveiled prospects On the Seeres and Price Show: “I believe that the first person they asked was Trey Augustinus.” He added: “I think that was just a non-starter. Steve Yzerman and the company really love that child.”
So not only would the Oilers Ekholm and two picks give up for Cossa, but he is not their top objective of Detroit?
Cossa does have strong AHL numbers, and he is progressing slowly, but the words “slow” and “progress” are essential to notice here. He is not NHL Starter today.
Cossa may be a franchise goalkeeper one day, but at the moment he is not the “certain” that the oilers need, especially if they move one of their better D-people.
Suppose the oilers really want to tackle their references. In that case, adding a proven Net-caliber is just like that comes back when this type of assets are moved. The only reason that changes would be if Ekholm told the team that he was not signing again after the season.
Next: a trade – no exemptions – is the only way for oilers to land Bruins goalkeeper
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