Bold Moves -Part One

Bold Moves -Part One

     Since taking the helm as both the General Manager and President of Hockey Ops of the Edmonton Oilers since April of last year, I think it would be safe to say Peter Chiarelli has made some "Bold Moves." (-as a former Oiler GM would put it..) Some seen to be good asset management and helping to improve the team. While other trades have been the subject of some controversy. In todays post, we will look at the trades Chiarelli has made in his time with the Oilers and grade them:

Trade: 2015 1st round pick, 2nd round pick for Griffin Reinhart
Grade: Loss
Comment: Yep, this was Chiarelli's first move with the the Oilers and results have been pretty underwhelming thus far. Giving up two tops picks in a deep draft for another left shot dman who has yet to assert himself as part of the team. Could Reinhart still turn into a legit NHL defensemen? Yes, dmen, like goalies take longer to develop and I recommend to stay patient with him. But regardless of Griffin panning out, this was an overpay and the Islanders got two really good players in the deal. (They flipped the second in a deal to acquire another first.) Interesting to note, Some believe this was the original package for Dougie Hamilton until the Bruins sent him to the Flames. Others say this trade has has the fingerprints of Lowe and MacT all over it; either way bad trade.

Trade: 2015 1st round pick, 3rd round pick, 7th round pick for Cam Talbot, 2015 7th round pick
 Grade: Win

Comment: This is more like it! Cam Talbot has finally been the answer to the Oilers long goaltending woes. Compared to other deals involving goalies at the time, Talbot was had for relatively cheap. Needless to say this is one of Chiarelli's best moves to date.

Trade: Martin Marincin, Brad Ross for 2015 4th round pick
Grade: Neutral

Comment: A fairly unremarkable deal that sent Marincin to Toronto for the pick that Chiarelli would flip for Gryba. It's a trade that hasn't been that altering to either team. Marincin has found himself a bottom paring role in Toronto, but would he have in Edmonton? Hard to say, but I would say no.

Trade: Travis Ewanyk, 2015 4th round pick for Eric Gryba
Grade: Win
Comment: Gryba has been a solid 6/7th guy on the Oilers back end, and has played well with Nurse and helping him develop. Gryba is also the ever so rare right shot defencemen on the Oilers blueline. Ewanyk was nothing special, a minor win for Chiarelli.


Trade: Boyd Gordon for Lauri Korpikoski
Grade: Loss
Comment: A misfire by Chiarelli here, trying to get some depth scoring in Korpikoski? It's not like Boyd Gordon was a big irreplaceable piece. Oilers ended up buying out Korpikoski while Boyd Gordon's deal expired. Add this to the loss pile.


Trade: Liam Coughlin for Andres Neilson
Grade: Win
Comment: While Neilson didn't end up working out and being later traded again, the Oilers didn't give much- or anything at all really for him in the first place. He had one good run in December last season and for that alone this will be considered a win.


Trade: Ben Scrivens for Zack Kassian
Grade: Win
Comment: While Ben Scrivens isn't even in the NHL anymore, Kassian has found himself a 4th line role with the Oilers and has contributed to the Oilers becoming a "bigger team" like Chiarelli envisioned. I believe both the management and coaching staff like this player, and he fits a niche role nicely.


-Continued in Part Two





Matt Chartrand 
Writer - OILERS INSIDERS