Mike Green: Top Five Suitors For The Free Agent Defenseman
Fits For Washington Capitals Defenseman Mike Green: The Oilers
Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
I know, I know. “Contender” and “Oilers” probably don’t belong in the same sentence. All jokes aside, I think Edmonton would be a really nice place for the soon to be former Washington Capitals defenseman to go for several reasons. First of all, the Oilers have at most three NHL caliber defenseman. The ones that they do have are younger and are most likely not top four caliber defensemen yet. Not only would Green help fill a huge position of need for the Oilers, he could help mentor them. Green’s a veteran player who knows what it takes to be productive at the NHL level. Green served as a bit of a mentor this season for the Washington Capitals, especially to Nate Schmidt.
There’s also the benefit of having an offensive-minded head coach who would most likely utilize Green in a way that keeps him both healthy and productive.Green benefitted from having Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz utilize Green in a way that did exactly that. Todd McLellan is a veteran head coach who has had success in the NHL. He’s a very wise man who I think could do the same things that the Washington Capitals did for Green this season.
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Green might also find it attractive to be able to play with a very promising young core. It might sort of remind him of when he was coming up with the Bruce Boudreau Washington Capitals. McLellan will most likely install a system that resembles the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 Washington Capitals. Obviously, it won’t be as efficient, but I could see it working with the Oilers young and talented forwards. They don’t have an Alex Ovechkin like the Washington Capitals had, but the Oilers do have Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall.
Lastly, the Oilers have cap space. A ton of it. The Washington Capitals defenseman said that money wouldn’t be the determining factor, but it could be hard to say that if the Oilers try to make it one. I think the Oilers would be a nice fit for Green. They’re closer to contending than most people think. I think the Oilers could sell Green on their future.
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