An Edmonton Oilers alternative history: Griffin Reinhart trade

This team reaches around the same success as the actual 2016–17 team, ending the Oilers decade-long playoff drought, defeating the San Jose Sharks in Round 1 and besting the Anaheim Ducks 2–1 in Game 6 to make the Conference Final before losing to Nashville in five games. (In this universe Ryan Kesler is called for goalie interference in Game 5.) Barzal and Carlo both seem poised to make a jump in the 2017–18 season, and expectations in Edmonton are high following their first Conference Final berth since 2006.

The 2017–18 season

As a result of their Conference Final appearance, Edmonton receives the 26th overall selection in the 2017 NHL Draft, rather than the 22nd pick like in real life.

The Oilers head up to the podium and I announce that we’re proud to select, from Boston University, goaltender Jake Oettinger. I went back-and-forth on picking Oettinger being an abuse of my hindsight rule, but given that he was taken at 26th overall in real life I decided to allow myself the selection.

This also means I won’t be taking Stuart Skinner in the third round like real life, but I will take actual Oilers pick Dmitri Samorukov at 84th overall. All other picks remain the same.

I don’t do much in free agency, but we do sign Mikko Koskinen and send Laurent Brossoit to the AHL. I make one offseason trade, sending a second rounder and minor prospect to the Chicago Blackhawks for Nick Schmaltz. Schmaltz was entering his age 22 season and Chicago was looking to take one more kick at the can before needing to rebuild.

How much different could things be?

In real life, Edmonton was a disappointment in 2017–18. McDavid and Leon Draisaitl had no help offensively and the holes at defence and goaltending weren’t able to masks any flaws. They crashed and burned out of the playoff picture with a dissapointing 12th place finish in the Western Conference.

In our alternate reality however, the Oilers falter but ultimately right the ship. Barzal emerges as a true talent alongside Hall’s continued presence and Schmaltz’s acquisition. Andrej Sekera’s injury is buoyed by a second pairing of Darnell Nurse and Brandon Carlo that provide more than they give up. Talbot is able to cede starts to Koskinen instead of being run into the ground. Edmonton doesn’t take a divisional spot, but they’re good enough to crack the wild card in a tough Western Conference.

The lines of this team look as such:

The Oilers face the President’s Trophy winning Nashville Predators in Round 1, but they don’t lie down. Edmonton gives Nashville the scare of their lives with a hard-fought seven-game series where the Preds just barely come out on top. The hockey world has been put on notice. Even though the Oilers might have taken a step back this year, it’s not a matter of if but when Edmonton plants themselves as a true contender.

The 2018–19 season

As a result of our playoff berth, the Oilers recieve the 20th overall selection in the 2018 Draft. This means we unfortunately lose the ability to take Evan Bouchard 10th overall. However, I still draft a defenceman, grabbing K’Andre Miller from the US National Development Program. We also still take Ryan McLeod with the 40th overall pick.

There’s not a need to take Olivier Rodrigue at #62 like in real life, so we’ll take Jack McBain who was selected one pick later at #63. Finally, I will also take real world Oilers pick Michael Kesselring at 164th overall.

Free agency brings some changes. I elect to let Perron walk after his two-year deal, and sign winger Joonas Donskoi to replace him. We also don’t re-sign Russell, electing to let prospect Caleb Jones take his place at 3LD.

How things will shape up differently

The team is more or less the same heading into the season, and the young guns continue to develop. McDavid is otherworldly, winning his first Hart (because Hall isn’t in New Jersey) and second Art Ross.

Draisaitl takes a step as well, and I elect to make him the full-time 2C and slide Barzal to McDavid’s wing. Puljujarvi also emerges as a solid 20-goal getter.

On the back end, another healthy year from Klefbom ensures the Oilers are stable on defence. Talbot and Koskinen form a reliable tandem backstopping the Oilers to their third consecutive trip to the playoffs, unlike in real life where Edmonton missed again.

The alternate 2018–19 lines look like this:

The Oilers take the second spot in the Pacific and get a rematch against San Jose in Round 1, who they breeze past in five. This sets up a Battle of Alberta in Round 2 against the Calgary Flames. Edmonton and Calgary go the distance, and Game 7 heads into overtime where Barzal finds McDavid alone in front to win the series, sending Edmonton to their second Conference Final in three years.

There they meet the Cinderella St. Louis Blues, and although the Oilers fight hard, the Blues take the series in six games and go onto defeat Boston to win the Cup. However, Edmonton has officially planted their flag as a true Western contender, and pundits around the hockey world expect Edmonton to make a serious run in 2019–20.

The 2019–20 season

At the 2019 Draft, Edmonton gets the 28th overall pick, where I select Shane Pinto, who was taken 32nd in real life. Instead of drafting Raphael Lavoie at #38, we take Nils Hoglander, who was taken at number #40. Edmonton still selects Ilya Konovalov at 85th overall as well.

I also have to make a big contract decision. Taylor Hall is due to be an UFA, and it’s time to decide if we want to keep him. Although Hall’s value is undoubtedly high at 28-years-old, I think it’s best to keep him in town. We agree with Hall to an eight-year, $8.5M contract, making him a career Oiler. I also sign Noel Acciari in the summer as a bottom-six addition.

The rest of the lines are largely the same. The Oilers cruise in the regular season, and sit atop the Pacific Division at the trade deadline when I make my last big move. We deal Caleb Jones and a second to Los Angeles for defenceman Alec Martinez. Martinez has the playoff experience and pedigree to really solidify the back-end. He’s the perfect swing for a team in Edmonton’s position to take. Carlo also takes a step and supplants Hamonic at 1RD.

The post-deadline lines look like this:

How does this season shake out?

Even in the COVID-19 bubble, the Oilers don’t lose a step. They smash the Hawks in three games during the qualifying round, take out Vegas in six hard games, and narrowly edge out Dallas in a seven-game West Final to make their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 14 years.

There, they face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Edmonton battles Tampa tooth and nail, but the Lightning’s depth and goaltending are superior. Tampa takes the Cup in six electric games. Although the Oilers leave empty-handed, the NHL knows exactly what kind of team the Oilers are. Quick, skilled, and physical. With Jake Oettiner waiting to replace Koskinen and give Edmonton a rock-solid young stud in net, it seems like the Oilers are here to stay in the Western Conference.

My tenure as Edmonton Oilers GM comes to an end with four consecutive playoff appearances, seven series wins, three Conference Final berths, and a trip to the Cup Final. Additionally, the Oilers now have the experience necessary to take the final step. Maybe this hypothetical roster stops the Tampa repeat in 2021, or defeats the Panthers in 2022 to take the Cup. Regardless, it’s just one other way hockey history could have happened. If only Chiarelli had kept his picks.