October 22, 2020 /

(10/22/2020) Edmonton Oilers Talk and the Latest NHL Speculation feat. Kovalchuk, Perry, Hoffman, Galchenyuk, and More!

Speculating from an Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest Edmonton Oilers news as well as the freshest NHL speculation featuring players such as Ilya Kovalchuk, Drake Caggiula, Mike Hoffman, Alex Galchenyuk, and many more!

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The News and Rumors

  • Satiar Shah (Sportsnet): Wonder if the Canucks will reconsider throwing in an asset to move out some salary as long as it doesn’t cost them a first-round pick or a top prospect.

BLH’s Thoughts: Well, if they’re looking to move Brandon Sutter or Loui Eriksson, I would say so… 

  • Jason Brough (TSN Radio Vancouver): “Do we need to start talking more about a bridge deal for Hughes and Pettersson? Will Benning, in Covid times, be able to give them long contracts…or are you looking where the only option is a bridge through the years we’re dealing with a flat cap”

BLH’s Thoughts: This is a very good question and one that the Oilers are going to have to deal with at some point too with Kailer Yamamoto, Jesse Puljujarvi, Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, and Darnell Nurse all having contracts that will expire in the next two seasons. 

  • David Pagnotta (The Fourth Period): Believes the Florida Panthers could be using defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to bring in an offensive forward after losing Evgeni Dadonov and Mike Hoffman.

BLH’s Thoughts: Some rumors out there that the Jets are dangling youngster Jack Roslovic who apparently wants out of Winnipeg… Weegar should be able to get the Panthers are top-6 forward in a trade. To me, a DeBrusk for Weegar deal makes some sense. 

  • Aivis Kalnins (Fullpress NHL): There is a rumor coming out of Russia that forward Ilya Kovalchuk could be signing with Spartak Moscow. Kovalchuk still wants to play in the NHL next season, so it would be interesting on how it would work.

BLH’s Thoughts: I… Don’t have a lot to say about this… Spartak are not a good hockey team this year apparently, so why would he go there and not back to CSKA? 

  • Pierre LeBrun (The Athletic): Believe that Brendan Gallagher‘s camp used Chris Kreider’s seven-year, $6.5 million per deal as comparable. Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin may have drawn the line on giving the seventh year. Gallagher also got a no-movement clause.

BLH’s Thoughts: And like the Rangers, the Habs are going to regret that agreement in the final three or four years of its term. I’d love to have Kreider and Gallagher on the Oilers but they’re on the back-9 now with the way they play the game. Good for them for cashing in though. 

  • Robert Hooper (Mike Hoffman’s Agent): 13 teams have reached out and expressed interest in the free agent and five or six of those teams have come forward with serious offers.

BLH’s Thoughts: I always find it intriguing when player agents comment publicly in the even that their client is out of contract. Is he drumming up a bit of panic on the market for Hoffman as said market has gone ice-cold?

  • James O’Brien (NBC Sports): Listed Mike Hoffman, Anthony Duclair, Andreas Athanasiou, Alex Galchenyuk, and Ilya Kovalchuk on his list of “Buyer Beware” free agents.
    • On the other side of the spectrum, O’Brien has the following players on another list of bargains, Mikael Granlund, Colin Wilson, Conor Sheary, Dominik Kahun, Drake Caggiula, and Michael Frolik.
  • Lyle Richardson (Spector’s Hockey): On Corey Perry, “No word on what’s going on with Perry but I wouldn’t be surprised if he returns for another season with the Stars.”

BLH’s Thoughts: Perry was ripe dogshite during the regular season for the Stars but lit it up when the playoffs started. A very Claude Lemieux-like performance. In a shortened season, he could be a really valuable piece to have on your board… 

The Oilers Talk

The news of the week so far is Kris Russell’s extension and the emergence of Drake Caggiula as a possible candidate for the Edmonton Oilers to sign. I don’t have too much to say on this so I’ll make it snappy.

On Caggiula, I know on Oilers Now (630CHED), Bob Stauffer’s been talking about him lately, I wouldn’t sign him. There are going to be better players available as we near training camp and as fun as Cags is to watch, his fancies tell me that he was a drag on every top-6 forward he plays with save for Jonathan Toews over the 2016/17-2018/19 NHL seasons and he only averaged around 45 seconds a game on the penalty kill. Not exactly inspiring revelations, especially when you consider that when he was in Edmonton he spent the most TOI beside McDavid and Draisaitl.

Another thing to consider, Chicago walked away from him. The same GM that thought he fleeced the Oilers in a trade decided against bringing him back just as he was going to start a rebuild… Interesting to note, none of the players in that trade (Caggiula, Jason Garrison, Brandon Manning, and Robin Norell) are in the NHL as we speak…

As for Kris Russell, he’ll be back for another season should Seattle choose to claim a different skater at the expansion draft and I’m really glad. This will satisfy the rules of said expansion draft that tell us,

  • One defenseman who is a) under contract in 2021-22 and b) played in at least 40 NHL games the prior season or played in at least 70 NHL games in the prior two seasons.

There’s one more rule that I’m very curious about and will it apply to the Oilers,

  • Players with potential career-ending injuries who have missed more than the previous 60 consecutive games (or who otherwise have been confirmed to have a career-threatening injury) may not be used to satisfy a team’s player exposure requirements unless approval is received from the NHL. Such players also may be deemed exempt from selection.

If Oscar Klefbom misses the entire season and let’s say that season is 60 games or longer, will he be exempt from the expansion draft, thus giving the Oilers the ability to protect an extra player like Jesse Puljujarvi or Kailer Yamamoto, for example.

Getting back to The Caroline Kid, it seems most people were mad at his previous contract and less so the player. Even the cantankerous stats guys are behind this one,

Look, Russell is exactly the kind of player this team needs. An older vet who can still skate and make a positive impact defensively on the game for the Oilers as well as provide a high-end mentorship to the young players like Philip Broberg, Evan Bouchard, and Dmitri Samorukov who are looking to make the club in the coming seasons.

Every coach loves this player as does every GM and every teammate. He’ll have a job in hockey for as long as he wants IF he wants.

Get your “Stanley” today!

CategoriesArmchair GM Beer League Hero Edmonton Oilers NHL Rumors

TagsEdmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers Rumors Edmonton Oilers Rumours NHL NHL Rumors NHL Rumours

Beer League Hero Written by:

I'm the Beer League Hero! I am from Camrose, Alberta but I make my home in Taipei City, Taiwan. I've been through the ups and downs and the highs and the Lowes, the Bonsignores and the McDavids, the Sathers and the Eakins but I'll never leave my Oilers, no matter what! They're with me until the end and then some. GO OILERS GO!