Handzus to be an Oiler?

[PDO]

http://phillyboard.orangeandblack.net/phillyboard/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13113

Apparently the guy is reliable.

My proposal..

Handzus for Moreau and Staios.

Staios gives them some depth on D, and Moreau helps out their LW that is extremly hurting.

Smyth - Handzus - Hemsky
York - Horcoff - Dvorak
Torres - Reasoner - Pisani
Isbister/Rita/Winchester - Stoll - Harvey/Laraque

Smith - Brewer
Semenov - UFA
Bergeron - Lynch/Woywitka/Greene

Conkanenn.

I could defiently live with that as our lineup. Handzus, while not amazing, is still a #1 C.. definetly better than say Morrison (glorified Horcoff) in Vancouver. Gives us 2 solid scoring lines and we have a ton of money left over to spend on a defensive upgrade.. maybe Foote or Aucoin? This ends up being a salary dump, so it also allows for us to do something along the lines of signing 2 players.. maybe even a Glen Murray type?

[Newfie John]

Handzus as a #1 center? Good luck with that.

[Madferret]

Handzus as a #1 center? Good luck with that.

John what gives with all the trolling lately man?

[Newfie John]

John what gives with all the trolling lately man?

:laughing: Quiet you.

That wasn't trolling though, that was fact. Handzus as a #1 center in this league is laughable. He's finished with over 50 points all but twice in his NHL career. Given, he'd be a good second line center and an awesome third line center(his role in Philly). He is just a tower of strength, if he could get that little bit more aggressive on the boards he'd be unstoppable down in the corners. You're not going to knock this guy down and is awesome defensively, but as far as his offensive capabilities go, he's not top line material. I think the Oilers could do far better by going after someone else to fill in for that role.

[PDO]

Handzus was 15th in scoring amoung centers while playing on a Hitchcock coached team in which he was the "go to" guy on the defensive side of the puck. He scored more points than any other Flyer Center, and was second in team scoring.

How exactly is he the third line center, John? Surely you're not suggesting that Keith Primeau was higher than him on the depth chart. JR (when healthy) was, and was slightly more effective while playing with better players. I guess a breakout year is a hard concept to understand when you're from Toronto. You know, having never seen one.

Finally, who are the 30 centers clearly offensively better than 'Zeus? Obviously there must be 30 of them, otherwise he's a top 30 offensive center. Add in that he's physical (albeit not overly) and can play defense.

[Newfie John]

Handzus was 15th in scoring amoung centers while playing on a Hitchcock coached team in which he was the "go to" guy on the defensive side of the puck. He scored more points than any other Flyer Center, and was second in team scoring.

How exactly is he the third line center, John? Surely you're not suggesting that Keith Primeau was higher than him on the depth chart. JR (when healthy) was, and was slightly more effective while playing with better players. I guess a breakout year is a hard concept to understand when you're from Toronto. You know, having never seen one.

Finally, who are the 30 centers clearly offensively better than 'Zeus? Obviously there must be 30 of them, otherwise he's a top 30 offensive center. Add in that he's physical (albeit not overly) and can play defense.

I just think the Oilers could do much better. They're in great shape in the cap world and they can afford to go after someone much better at the center position. Handzus had a decent year last year(53 points IIRC). Just because he lead the Flyers in scoring for center's means squat. JR was injured, and the Flyers didn't have that one go to guy throughout the year. Recchi lead the team in scoring with 58 points, IIRC. Like I said, he's only hit over 50 points twice in his career. A top line guy IMO is a guy who will get at least 60 points, but preferably a guy who will take 70- 80 for you. Thats what I thought the Oilers wanted. If they're going to go after Handzus, they might as well just keep going with York.

[TimmyTabasco]

Handzus, while not amazing, is still a #1 C.. definetly better than say Morrison (glorified Horcoff) in Vancouver.

I disagree

Handzus is like a 2nd line/3rd line center. He is alright, but nothing special.

Glorified Horcoff? Horcoff has one good season in europe, and now Morrison is a glorifed Horcoff? :nod: :thumb:

[Newfie John]

I disagree

Handzus is like a 2nd line/3rd line center. He is alright, but nothing special.

Glorified Horcoff? Horcoff has one good season in europe, and now Morrison is a glorifed Horcoff? :nod: :thumb:

I'm no fan of Morrison, but I agree with you completely.

[PDO]

I just think the Oilers could do much better. They're in great shape in the cap world and they can afford to go after someone much better at the center position. Handzus had a decent year last year(53 points IIRC). Just because he lead the Flyers in scoring for center's means squat. JR was injured, and the Flyers didn't have that one go to guy throughout the year. Recchi lead the team in scoring with 58 points, IIRC. Like I said, he's only hit over 50 points twice in his career. A top line guy IMO is a guy who will get at least 60 points, but preferably a guy who will take 70- 80 for you. Thats what I thought the Oilers wanted. If they're going to go after Handzus, they might as well just keep going with York.

Rechhi had 75 points, but it was over a year ago so I'll cut you some slack ;).

Anyway, I agree, but not hugely.. Handzus would still be a servicable #1 center. As I said, the only way something like that doesn't blow up in Lowe's face is that he acquires another player as well. Just to throw some names out, these are teh difference we'd be seeing with my proposed trade in there (offense only.. I'll assume this doesn't effect D).

Smyth - Handzus - Murray
York - Horcoff - Hemsky
Torres - Reasoner - Dvorak (that's a helluva third line.. a second line on several teams)
Rita/Isbister - Stoll - Harvery/Laraque/Pisani

Opposed to...

Smyth - Demitra - Hemsky
York - Horcoff - Dvorak
Torres - Reasoner - Pisani
Rita/Isbister - Stoll - Harvey/Laraque

I don't know about you, but I prefer that first combination a lot more!

edit: As for Morrison vs Horcoff..

Horcoff is more physical, slightly worse offensively and slightly better defensively. They're both primarily setup men.

Morrison has played with Bert and Naslund, Horcoff with Smyth and Pisani. While I believe Smyth/Naslund are comparable as overall value to a team, there's no way Pisani and Bert are.. thus Morrison puts up numbers much better than he should be. Put him on the Oilers and he's quite possibly behind Horcoff on the depth chart, espeacilly on a MacT team.

[MadDevil]

As for Morrison vs Horcoff..

Horcoff is more physical, slightly worse offensively and slightly better defensively. They're both primarily setup men.

Morrison has played with Bert and Naslund, Horcoff with Smyth and Pisani. While I believe Smyth/Naslund are comparable as overall value to a team, there's no way Pisani and Bert are.. thus Morrison puts up numbers much better than he should be. Put him on the Oilers and he's quite possibly behind Horcoff on the depth chart, espeacilly on a MacT team.

I have to disagree with you slightly about Morrison. I agree that on many teams, he probably wouldn't be a #1 center, but I'd take him over Horcoff any day. Yes, Morrison has put up better offensive numbers because he plays with two of the league's best, but I'd still take him as a #2 center. In fact, I wouldn't mind if the Devils tried to acquire Morrison.:D

[PDO]

I have to disagree with you slightly about Morrison. I agree that on many teams, he probably wouldn't be a #1 center, but I'd take him over Horcoff any day. Yes, Morrison has put up better offensive numbers because he plays with two of the league's best, but I'd still take him as a #2 center. In fact, I wouldn't mind if the Devils tried to acquire Morrison.:D

Reacquire* ;)

Horcoff played against better opposition with offensive sniper Fernando Pisani to his side. Any time I watch a Canuck game, Morrison is just kinda "there". It's the Bert & Nazzy show, with Morrison picking up second assists out of the wazoo.

If Horc played with Palffy and Smyth and played the soft minutes that Morrison see's, I guarenetee he'd put up 60 points.

[swflyers25]

From one of our rumor hounds in Philly:

Handzus to Edmonton for a d-man is being discussed. I would think that it is Smith over Brewer, but I do not know the specific target.

[PDO]

From one of our rumor hounds in Philly:

Handzus to Edmonton for a d-man is being discussed. I would think that it is Smith over Brewer, but I do not know the specific target.

I'd rather deal Brewer than Smith, personally. Brewer will be a UFA in 3 years, and Smith is under contract for another 3, so as far as scoring points by youth, Brewer doens't. I think 3 years of Smith at this point (at a reduced salary) is worth more to the Oilers than 3 years of Brewer.

However, if Brewer is the target, more than Handzus has to be coming back. At the very least I'd expect a first rounder (Assuming it's not an amazing one).

Trading Brewer for a #1 C does make a lot of sense.. I'm just not sure that Handzus = Brewer. Handzus + a first.. maybe. Regarldess, Brewr and Handzus are almost a wash salary wise; which means we'd still have a lot of moeny to throw around, and obviously some of that would be spent on an upper echelon defenseman.

Brewer + 2nd for Handzus + First + Umberger?

[Newfie John]

Trading Brewer for Handzus doesn't really make the team better IMO. It gives you Handzus who's going to be on the top line, not the best guy you want for the job either. At the same time, the defence takes a huge hit and instead of looking for a center you'll be in the same situation only for a defencemen.

[PDO]

Trading Brewer for Handzus doesn't really make the team better IMO. It gives you Handzus who's going to be on the top line, not the best guy you want for the job either. At the same time, the defence takes a huge hit and instead of looking for a center you'll be in the same situation only for a defencemen.

We're already adding a defenseman. Hence if we sign a UFA to a $3,000,000 contract; someone with more offensive upside than Brewer, we're ahead of the game. We've spent say $750k total more than we would've, and we've upgraded our top pairing and our top line.

Curious John, if the deal was the same but replace Handzus with Jokinen, what do you think of it?