Frozen Fantasy: Enough was Enough

Mikko Koskinen – the straw that finally broke the camel's back. Well, actually it was his three-year, $4.5 million per year contract with a partial no-move that did it.

Good riddance, Peter Chiarelli. But it's not all his fault.

Why was Chiarelli allowed to anoint a 30-year goalie with 32 NHL games experience as the Oilers' goalie of the future? Especially one whose game has been swirling the bowl since mid-December with a 3-8 record and .880 save percentage.

Bob Nicholson joined the Oilers in June 2014. He ascended to the top of the food chain in April 2015. He hired Peter Chiarelli at the end of that month.

The buck stops with Nicholson. And with Daryl Katz.

Chiarelli is a smart guy. As Brian Burke said this week: "He didn't become terminally stupid overnight." But his track record as a general manager needed daily doses of Pepto-Bismol.

His history with the Bruins was fairly neutral, until you see the names Blake Wheeler and Tyler Seguin. Both left Boston at Chiarelli's hand.

But enter Edmonton and a long leash … with no choke chain. Taylor Hall. Two draft picks – one of which became Mathew Barzal – to get Griffin Reinhart. Jordan Eberle. And then there's the Leon Draisaitl contract in 2017 that tilted the marketplace for the entire league.

William Nylander thanks you, Peter. He really does.

Chiarelli took an exciting team that made the playoffs and turned them into a big, heavy, slow team, circa 2011 or 2012. 'Bruins West'. Meh.

The Oilers would save almost nothing by buying out Milan Lucic. What a bad contract. And Chiarelli built a blue line filled with big shutdown boys when 30 other teams went skilled, smart and fast.

Chiarelli crapped the bed a long time ago. The smell alone should have been cleaned up long before now, Mr. Nicholson. Long before now.

Now let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.

Pontus Aberg, LW/RW, Minnesota (3 percent Yahoo! owned) – Aberg traded in the California heat for the Minnesota cold, but I don't think he minds. The Wild plopped him on a line with Zach Parise and if the combo sticks, Aberg's three assists in four games could become his new normal. Playing with a guy like Parise could deliver fantasy miracles.

Jordan Binnington, G, St. Louis (43 percent Yahoo! owned) – Jake, Shmake – the Blues now belong to Binnington. He's 5-1-1 since Jan. 7. Sure, he's only beaten two playoff teams. But he played the Isles hard. And his 1.84 GAA and .924 save percentage are downright gaudy. I missed getting him – I'm stuck with Jake. Sigh. Maybe your league is sleeping on him. Hope you get lucky.

Nick Bonino, C, Nashville (8 percent Yahoo! owned) – Bonino is on a roll. He has 10 points, including six goals, in his last nine games. And he's a wicked plus-12 in that span. The Preds are among the best in the West and will continue to push hard after the break. Bonino is an important part of their success. I want him on my team.

Pheonix Copley, G, Washington (9 percent Yahoo! owned) – I recently snagged the hero of North Pole, Alaska on a hunch. It was before Braden Holtby took that stick in the eye and based solely on a forecast of second-half workloads. It's rare for a 'tender to play 60-plus regular-season games and lift the Stanley Cup. The Caps need to watch Holtby's ice time, so Copley's should benefit. The team is better than they've shown lately, so Santa's little helper should get the help he needs to shine. I'm glad I rolled the dice.

Vince Dunn, D, St. Louis (5 percent Yahoo! owned) – Go get r'Dunn. Not only did he have a better week than Victor Hedman, Drew Doughty and John Klingberg but he's also first in line to pick up the slack when the Blues trade Alex Pietrangelo. A top-four role awaits Mr. Dunn. So does more power-play time. Given the opportunity, his offensive skills could shine.

Anton Khudobin, G, Dallas (8 percent Yahoo! owned) – The Stars have four games in six days right after the break. So Khudobin is guaranteed action. It won't be easy – he'll likely face the Wild at home or the Preds on the road. Khudobin isn't a special goaltender, but his 2.46 GAA and .923 save percentage are solid. And wins aside, he's higher on the season-long Yahoo! Player Rater than Devan Dubnyk, Matt Murray, Sergei Bobrovsky and Connor Hellebuyck. Wow. And who knows – Big Ben is an injury just waiting to happen. Just saying.

Nino Niederreiter, LW/RW, Carolina (41 percent Yahoo! owned) – Minny fans lost their minds when El Nino blew east. And rightfully so. Niederreiter has first-line talent and he's already flashing it in Raleigh. Anyone who had him stashed is already laughing. Check the wire – I found him in Yahoo! Friends and Family league on Friday night. He could be yours.

Antoine Roussel, LW, Vancouver (5 percent Yahoo! owned) – Roussel is your man if you need PIM. His 112 are the NHL's best and he could easily deliver another 80 before season's end. Plug him in if you are in a battle for points in that category – Roussel could be a difference maker for you. Maybe even a title maker.

Back to the Oilers.

They have their McSavior, but what else? Sadly, almost nothing.

Most of the lineup is expendable. I'd only keep Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson and Darnell Nurse. Jesse Puljujarvi should be in the minors, so he doesn't count.

And that brings me back to Koskinen. He isn't on the list and shouldn't be.

Peter Chiarelli should have never been allowed to make that deal. More people need to be talking about Bob Nicholson's role in the Oilers' demise.

He said there's something in the water in Edmonton. I think it might still be there. And that's sad.

Until next week.