Speculating from an Edmonton Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest NHL rumors featuring players such as Dougie Hamilton, Jack Eichel, Pavel Buchnevich, and more!
The News and Rumors
- Tom Gulitti (NHL.com): Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell hopes to sign Dougie Hamilton to an extension before the upcoming season starts. Contract talks have not yet begun as the Hurricanes defenceman is due back in Carolina later in the week.
- Gavin Lee (Pro Hockey Rumors): Can the Hurricanes afford a substantial raise on Hamilton’s $5.75MM cap hit with the team already employing four d-men who make over $4MM per season? Andrei Svechnikov’s next contract will be a big one as well in two seasons time and in addition to those two points, the Canes do not have a goalie signed past 2021-22.
BLH’s Thoughts: Lee makes all the points that come to my mind straight away. Although, truth be told, the goalie angle never really occured to me.
Ya know, it wouldn’t shock me if Carolina shopped Hamilton this year and it also wouldn’t shock me if the Oilers were right in there on the bids using Evan Bouchard as trade bait.
- Anthony Scultore (Forever Blueshirts): “The topic of trading Pavel Buchnevich is going to be one that grows as the season progresses. He is entering the final year of his contract that comes with an AAV of $3.25 million. When the deal ends he will be an RFA with arbitration rights.“
BLH’s Thoughts: Reckon Buchnevich is going to get around $5M/yr on a new deal? Hmmmm. Would you sign him long-term at that number? I might. He looks to be growing into a solid 40pt winger and he can play both sides of the ice. What would his numbers look like beside an elite center?
- Rick Carpiniello (The Athletic): “I expect the Rangers’ young roster to be fortified by a significant new acquisition within the next year or so.”
- “The Jack Eichel fantasy could resurface, especially if Buffalo has another bad season. Yes, if he’s really available, the Rangers make a ton of sense as a landing spot based on his relationship with ex-B.U. coach David Quinn, and based on where Eichel would like to play, on a young, emerging team.”
- “Remember, Zibanejad is going to command $9-10 million when his friendly contract ($5.35 million per) expires after ’21-22. So you’d be sacrificing a ton to make a trade to get Eichel (maybe start with Vitali Kravtsov or Kaako or Filip Chytil, and then some) and perhaps risk losing Zibanejad too.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I love the idea of Jack Eichel being traded to a major market like Boston or New York. That would be very good business for the NHL and hockey in those areas. Can you imagine Alexis Lafrenniere and Eichel taking over the Metropolitan Division for the next 10 years? The Rangers are rebuilding very nicely with all their young players. I especially like their defence with Fox and Lindgren emerging last season as real talents on the up and up.
Just for shits and giggles, what would you trade to get Jack Eichel? Would you do Leon Draisaitl straight across? Nurse and Nuge? Puljujarvi, Broberg, and Holloway? I mean, I’m very happy with the roster as is, but you cannot deny the talent that is Jack Eichel. He’s an elite player in the NHL.
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