from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,
MacTavish needs a No. 2 centre (something he undoubtedly knows), and before you say he would be dealing from a position of weakness now, Montreal GM Marc Bergevin managed to trade winger Rene Bourque for a useful defenceman Bryan Allen this week.after sending the inconsistent Bourque to the minors, first.
Whether that means MacTavish has to trade a winger, even with Benoit Pouliot busting his foot after a Marek Zidlicky shot slammed into him Friday, so be it. While rookie Leon Draisaitl was markedly better against the Devils, driving the net, distributing the puck, playing 16 minutes, the Oilers need an older second-line centre who’s played 400, 500, 750 games.
Draisaitl, who was robbed by Cory Schneider in the dying seconds on his doorstep, could move back to the third hole and Mark Arcobello could be the 13th forward.
Does MacTavish have to dangle David Perron, a greasy guy with hands who had 28 goals last year but can’t get untracked (one goal in 48 shots)? Does he consider trading Jordan Eberle in a bigger package as some have suggested? Who knows, but the GM, before he starts looking at the coach, has to make a deal. And, no, Detroit’s oft-injured but former No. 1 centre in Florida, Stephen Weiss, is probably not the answer.
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