Speculating from an Edmonton Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Jack Eichel, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and more!
Is the All-Canadian division a bad idea for Canadian teams? Read about that here.
What are the pundits in Edmonton saying about their new signing? Check that out here.
Do you know the story about the man who saved the Edmonton Oilers? Watch it here!
- Lance Lysowski (Buffalo News): Jack Eichel is happy (for now) with the moves the Sabres have made this off-season as he had this to say on the topic,
- “We added Eric Staal. Obviously, he’s won a Cup, he’s been around the league for a while. A guy like Cody Eakin, a guy like Hallsy. These are guys, established guys in the league that are older, veteran guys. I think they bring a lot on the ice. Taylor Hall, MVP a few years ago. He’s going to bring a lot to the game, but I think they bring a lot to the locker room and just overall the culture of your group. … It’s so hard to win when you’re young… I think it’s so important to have that veteran presence in the room and on the ice, so I think it was good for us to add that this offseason. We’ll see what happens.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I’m with Eichel 100%. I’ve always thought that the Oilers never brought in enough high-end veterans during the “days of darkness” to help support their all-star teenagers they were throwing to the lions.
I love the addition of Eric Staal to the Sabres, but I do feel like they would do well to add similar kinds of players on defence and in net. If Ryan Miller were to play one more season, it would be quite the story if he ended his career where it started, no?
- Tom Gulitti (NHL.com): Minnesota Wild GM on his plans for defenceman Matt Dumba,
- “I’m prepared to start the season with him, and we really like that.” Guerin said. “He’s a good young player. He’s got good energy. I love his competitiveness. Our defensive corps, I’ll out them up against anybody’s.”
BLH’s Thoughts: This is a very intriguing scenario that is developing in Minnesota. Matt Dumba is a fantastic defender and a team like Toronto, who really needs a right-shot d-man like Dumba could come in and offer someone like William Nylander for the former Red Deer Rebel and a draft pick or prospect.
Nylander and Kaprizov working their magic could very well bring that franchise back to life.
- Steve Simmons (Toronto Sun): Do you think that Simmons is insinuating that the Toronto Maple Leafs might want to acquire a proper center for their 3rd line in the quote below?
- “The Leafs have Joe Thornton and Alex Kerfoot, but they still don’t really have a typical third-line centre. Thornton can’t play 200-foot hockey anymore and can’t be counted on to play in the defensive zone. Kerfoot is a better winger than he is a centre.”
BLH’s Thoughts: They’ve defintely got enough assets to make a deal for a proper 3rd line center OR they could just move some of their higher-end forwards down and spread the TOI out amongst their top-9 a bit more evenly… I mean, you know at some point Matthews, Thornton, and Tavares will be deployed.
- Joe Haggerty (Boston Hockey NOW): A quote coming from AZcoyotesinsider.com courtsey of ‘Yotes defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson is fanning the OEL-to-Bruins speculation flames once again,
- “I knew Boston had some interest in me before I signed my contract here. That was one of the teams I felt wanted me and showed interest in me, and I spent a lot of time in Boston when I played in Portland, Maine in the lockout year (2012-13), so I was familiar with the city and I liked it when I was there.”
BLH’s Thoughts: The Bruins are going to need help throughout their roster this season with all the injuries and departures by key players. My feeling is that if they do manage to trade for OEL, the price will send shockwaves due to how cheap it ends up being to get him. The reason for that, the Swedes contract could be construed as bulbous.
Personally, I don’t mind the player. By the time his deal becomes problematic, the salary cap will be rising again. If the price is right, I’d love to see Edmonton go for him. Sending Nurse or Klefbom to Arizona is well within my range of risk.
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