Should the Edmonton Oilers swing for the fences or take a more cautious approach before the deadline?
In an interview with Jay Onrait on SportsCenter, TSN Hockey Analyst Martin Biron talked about the Edmonton Oilers’ trade deadline strategy and was questioned about the best course of action for the team. Opt for safety, go with Jordan Eberle, or swing for Jake Guentzel.
Jay Onrait: “Marty, let’s discuss the top five items on the Trade Bait List.” Jake Guentzel of the Pittsburgh Penguins is ranked number four. You hold the Edmonton Oilers’ 2024 first-round selection at number five. There also appears to be a Valentine’s Day fit.
Marty, if you were the Oilers, would you try to target Guentzel with the Penguins with that first-round pick and perhaps another prospect, Philip Broberg? Play it a little safer, perhaps. Much discussion has centered on the possibility of Jordan Eberle returning to Edmonton. Would you consider taking it a little safer and adding Eberle back to the squad where he was selected?
Martin Biron: “All right, I hear you. We can all be sentimental and say, “Hey, the Oilers would be fun with Eberle,” but we can’t. The Oilers, if I decide to move, I’ll give Jake Guentzel a call.
His age is 29. This year, he is up more than a point per game. Given that Jake Guentzel will cost more than simply a first-round pick, the Edmonton Oilers could potentially add this and say, “Hey, we can throw a first-round pick and more.” However, it places you on par with the Colorado Rockies, Vancouver Canucks, and Winnipeg Jets. If you’re the Edmonton Oilers, you now likely have a better chance of winning a Stanley Cup, so I can understand that.
Look, selling number one with the cap hit correctly is going to be difficult. Pittsburgh is unable to hold onto Jake Guentzel’s salary. It may be necessary for you to hire a broker or other third party to assist with the transaction, but doing so will come at a hefty cost because Jake Guentzel is now renting at a premium price.
Hey, if you’re the Oilers and you want to swing for the fence for me, you go with Jake Guentzel and nobody else.
A brief notice is that Jake Guentzel is currently out for up to four weeks due to an injury. Does that alter how the Oilers handle the deadline then?
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