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 Matt Dumba, Dylan Strome, Phillip Danault, Brandon Saad, and many more!
Hey #Oilers fans! Did you know that Edmonton has its own pair of Top Guns in @EdmontonJack and @Bob_Stauffer!https://t.co/aM8kfxp6Rz pic.twitter.com/emy7v0vbpw
— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) October 22, 2020
The News and Rumors
- Sheng Peng (San Jose Hockey NOW): The Sharks are talking to free agent winger Conor Sheary.
BLH’s Thoughts: Sheary has fallen off a bit since he shone in Pittsburgh but he’s fast, can score, and is really competitive. He’d be a good add to the Sharks lineup.
- Bruce Cassidy (Bruins Head Coach via Boston Hockey NOW): “If ‘Zee’ ends up in another uniform, then we have to rely on these young guys,” Bruce Cassidy told Martinez. “I guess that’s the way I look at it. I look at it as a coach. You try to separate the personal side of it. You go to bat with these guys every day, it’s a privilege to coach them but then people change, there’s trades and then you move on and then you gotta worry about the next guy.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Can you really see Zdeno Chara throwing on another jersey. Not sure I’d want to if I’m being honest. He should retire a Bruin.
- Arthur Staple (The Athletic): The Islanders have four candidates they’d like to move to clear up space; Leo Komarov, Andrew Ladd, Johnny Boychuck, and Thomas Hickey. Staple also lists the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and the New Jersey Devils as possible trade partners.
BLH’s Thoughts: Now they they’ve got those 2nd rounders from COL in the Devon Toews deal, they can use them with a prospect or two to move some of those contracts. Komarov, Ladd, and Boychuk are most likely done being impact NHLers now but Hickey still has some gas left in the tank. He might be an excellent depth addition to a good club.
- Michael Russo (The Athletic): Believes that a Matt Dumba trade will happen whenever Wild general manager Bill Guerin gets the return he wants. However, money is tight around the league and he doesn’t see a Dumba trade happening anytime soon.
BLH’s Thoughts: I’m very curious how Guerin is going to make this happen. He needs a top-6 center here. Usually top-pair right-shot defenders can demand a great return on the trade market but with the salary cap where it is and so many teams strapped for cash… It’s going to be a challenge for the Wild to move him AND get what they really need in return before the Seattle expansion draft.
- Stu Cowan (Montreal Gazette): Believes there will be plenty of interest in Phillip Danault if Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin fails to sign him before the center’s UFA eligibility next summer.
BLH’s Thoughts: I wonder if Winnipeg would come calling with Patrik Laine’s name in hand. The Jets need a center and some D and the Habs have an extra one or two of those. Then again, Montreal will have some RFAs of their own to re-sign next off-season…
- Craig Morgan (Arizona Coyotes Insider): Believes Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong has opted to stand pat for now. “What you see right now will pretty much be how we open up on opening night,” said Armstrong last Friday.
BLH’s Thoughts: I’ll believe it when I see it. This team is around $2M over the salary cap right now. Unless I’m missing something, aren’t the Coyotes supposed to be slashing cap and gutting this team? I have to be overlooking something here…
- Mike Chambers (Denver Post): Brandon Saad has a year left on his deal and may not be extended as the Avs will have to hand out new deals to Makar and Gabriel Landeskog.
BLH’s Thoughts: I can near guarantee that Saad isn’t getting extended with Makar and Landeskog needing to be re-upped in addition to the flat cap staying next off-season.
- Charlie Roumeliotis (NBC Sports): Dylan Strome has a qualifying offer from the Chicago Blackhawks that he hasn’t signed yet. They are hoping to get him signed to an extension. Once they get Strome locked up, most of their ‘heavy-lifting’ will be done. GM Stan Bowman said they are likely finished with free agency but maybe not the trade market.
BLH’s Thoughts: Sounds like the Hawks are trying to move Calvin DeHaan ($4.55M) and/or Connor Murphy ($3.85M) and if I were team on the verge of contending for a Stanley Cup, I’d take a gander at these two if the price was right. Now, if you’re a team who’s a near lock for the playoffs and you’ve got some extra cap room, these defensemen would be damned fine additions.
(If you’re a Canadian team and you want to shut down Leon Draisaitl this upcoming season, Connor Murphy gives him fits every time they play… I never said that though…)
- Adam Vingan (The Athletic): Believes Mike Hoffman could cost between $5M and $8M on a one-year contract.
BLH’s Thoughts: Well, we know who the teams are that could afford a salary like that but I have a really hard time believing that he’s going to get that much money when everybody else has had to take a massive haircut…
The Oilers Talk
I’ll be honest, there’s a whole lot of nothing going on with the Oilers. So I think I’ll leave you with a memory instead of trying to force something out…
Four years ago on this day…
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