Speculating from an Edmonton Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest NHL rumors featuring players such as Zdeno Chara, Tony DeAngelo, Erik Haula, Jake DeBrusk, and more!
The News and Rumors
- Jimmy Murphy (Boston Hockey NOW): Regarding Zdeno Chara, “Multiple sources have also told BHN to watch the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs when things open up and teams start signing and trading players again.”
- Murphy also reports that the Bruins and Chara’s camp are “far apart” on a potential new deal and that the former Boston captain is just waiting to hear on the format for the new season. There’s no hurry to sign a deal with anybody just yet.
- Joe Haggerty (Boston Hockey NOW): “If the Bruins go after a d-man, I’d guess it would be a young RFA-type defenceman in a swap for RFA Jake DeBrusk.”
- “Obviously if DeBrusk gets dealt for either a young defenceman or some other asset, then things might open up for the Bruins to take a run at Mike Hoffman on a one-year deal.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I expect any of those teams mentioned above, including Tampa Bay who wasn’t mentioned but has been connected to Chara in the past, to make a series of moves if they want the big man to sign with them as none of them are flush with cap space right now.
If I was a betting man, I’d probably put a buck or two on the Lightning as the team who Chara signs with. At 43yrs old, he’s not going to want to sign with a team who isn’t a contender right now for the Stanley Cup.
As for DeBrusk, I wish they’d move the guy instead of leaving him to hang in the wind and their defence is paper thin now. Well, not really, but losing Chara and Krug is massive. If they want to stay competitive while Pastrnak and Marchand are out, they’d best shore up the blue line.
- Rick Carpiniello (The Athletic): At the trade deadline Carpiniello believes the New York Rangers could attempt to package defenceman Tony DeAngelo for either a 2nd line center or a first-pair right-side blueliner.
- D-men Brendan Smith and Jack Johnson could also be put on the market in addition to Pavel Buchnevich if he ends up blocking blue-chippers Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere.
BLH’s Thoughts: Can Tony DeAngelo really net you a 2C? I’m skeptical of that because he’s a pretty boisterous guy. I feel like if they deal him, they won’t be getting an equal return because GMs are pretty conservative with regards to the characters they add to their dressing rooms. I suspect if they end up trading Ryan Strome or Pavel Buchnevich, those are the guys that will getting the Rangers a decent return, not so much DeAngelo
- Renaud Lavoie (TVA Sports): The Tampa Bay Lightning are rumored to be on the verge of trading two of their better forwards and more. Speculation is that those two are Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde and in order to move them the Stanley Cup champs are going to have to include draft picks and even young prospects.
- Nashville is said to be interested in Gourde but Lavoie also believes the New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings are teams Tampa will end up working with.
BLH’s Thoughts: Good Luck to Julien Brisbois on this one. He’s exhausted all of the other avenues he’s had in an attempt to avoid paying to get rid of a good $10MM in salary, but now it looks like he’ll be forced to move some valued assets and I’m very curious to see who or what else gets traded so Cirelli, Cernak, and Sergachev can be re-signed.
When is a GM going to grow some balls and start throwing out offer-sheets? We could use the excitement FFS!!!
- Dan Kingerski (Pittsburgh Hockey NOW): The Dallas Stars could circle back to Erik Haula and the Columbus Blue Jackets remain an option for Mike Hoffman.
BLH’s Thoughts: With Seguin out, Haula makes sense for the Stars to pursue. As does giving some younger players a chance like Ty Dellandrea.
With regards to Mike Hoffman, he’s an option for every team who’s willing to pony up. To be honest, I’m kind of getting tired of seeing his name getting recycled in the rumor mill on a daily basis.
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