Allan Mitchell took a crack at finding a fit for an Oilers Merzlikins acquisition after he was dropped as a potential trade target in Elliotte Friedman's 31 Thoughts earlier this week:
https://theathletic.com/2446673/2021...-fit-and-cost/
I liked the angle here that the waiver claim of Stalock could create the window to trade Koskinen for an upgrade as he could play some games while the new acquisition goes through quarantine.
What I didn't like was the lack of acknowledgement for CBJ's expansion situation. The proposal was offering up Koskinen + one of Bear or C Jones for Merzlikins, but doesn't really help CBJ because their season is lost and they already have 3D they'll keep locked in with S Jones, Werenski and Gavrikov.
You could argue that Bear or Jones have youth, low salaries and years of team control that would appeal to CBJ perhaps above Gavrikov or in lieu of protecting 7F 3D and perhaps exposing a Jenner. But I'd argue that CBJ is better off just waiting until the summer to make a deal when there are more teams shopping for goaltending, no expansion draft considerations and potentially more dollars to be spent.
The deadline is astronomically harder this season because:
A) the Oilers are capped out so need matching salary offsets in any deal.
B) there's little desire to spend in a season where every team is losing money, so no one wants that offsetting money coming back.
C) the expansion draft is hanging over everything. Any player a rebuilder adds has to be expansion exempt or so much better than another guy they'd otherwise protect that it's worth becoming a 2-for-1.
D) the Oilers are short on draft capital to spend as it is with 2nd, 3rd and 5th rounders out the door.
If the Oilers are truly in on Merzlikins Bear/Jones aren't the assets to peddle. They probably lose one of those guys in expansion so I understand the urge to get something in return but it just doesn't make sense for CBJ. Instead it's got to be one of the few elite prospect pieces or the 1st round pick +. Bouchard, Holloway, Broberg, those names should have Holland hanging up the phone. So that leads you to a 1st plus a prospect in the Benson/Samorukov/Lavoie range, if they are lucky. I'm not sure how appetizing that is, but that's what we're looking at.
I'd probably rather have Kuemper at that price, or rather ride with the Smith bubble we know will burst.
*
BTW, anyone see the sick stats Stuart Skinner is rocking in the A? He is 7-2 with a 1.56 GAA and a .940 Sv%.