Dreger: "MacTavish is looking for a centre via trade"

Darren Dreger was on TSN 1200 Friday afternoon.

On the Edmonton Oilers being dead-last in the NHL, having given up the most goals, and if something will come in the form of a trade or a move:

“Well, but they’ve got a great Corsi rating. That seems to matter to some, and I’m kind of being facetious, obviously, because it’s so early in the regular season. But I believe their Corsi rating is over 50, so, I mean, that’s a good number for those who generally contend for a playoff spot.

“But yeah, it’s getting dark there. There’s no question. And depending on what happens on a seven-game homestand, it could obviously get a lot worse. And if it gets a lot worse, then you have to ask the tough questions of those who are making the decisions, both from coaching and management.

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“But interesting, the moves that they made today. Darnell Nurse is just not ready to be a full-time NHL defenceman. So he was sent back.

“And if they had the luxury, if they had the depth up the middle of the ice, I think they’d send Leon Draisaitl down as well. But they just don’t.

“And MacTavish is looking for a centre via trade. He can’t find one. All the managers know that they’re in dire straits and are trying to pick his pocket. Edmonton has the horses, but they’ve got to find a way to get them to run here.”

Source: TSN 1200/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

UPDATE: Dreger was on TSN 1050 Friday evening. Following up on the lack of depth down the middle for the Oilers, he offered these thoughts:

“But MacTavish hasn’t been able to find any backup there. And it’s a bit of a head-scratcher. You know, to be critical of Craig MacTavish – and other managers can be, because they’ve had to deal with him. They say, ‘Man, does he overvalue his players.’ And that’s a knock on a lot of NHL GMs.

“But if things don’t go well on this homestand, then I think that conjures up all sorts of nasty storylines. I believe in Dallas Eakins. I think he’s a good coach. I think Craig MacTavish can be and is a good general manager, but guess what? The market’s turning. That’s turning into a toxic place, Rexall, towards the home club, so it’ll get worse if things doesn’t turn around.”

Also, during a quick discussion on Darnell Nurse not being ready for the NHL yet: "Not to, again, throw it all at Craig MacTavish. But at some point, you do have to recognize - maybe Oscar Klefbom isn't going to be an All-Star NHL defenceman. Throw him into a package, get a centre or get a defenceman who's going to be a difference-maker."

Source: TSN 1050/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey