BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Eric Staal (BUF), Elvis Merzlikins (CBJ), Jake DeBrusk (BOS), and more!
Keith Jones and Patrick Sharp think the Calgary Flames have a better chance at the playoffs this year than the Oilers. Read about that here.
Is Leon Draisaitl’s excellent two-way presence just a mirage? One Edmonton pundit says they may very well be, BLH says not so fast. Read about it here.
A new name in the rumor mill for Oilers fans! Check out who it is here.
Could Tyson Barrie be trade bait for the Oilers? Read about that here.
NHL Rumors and Speculation
Pierre LeBrun (TSN) has said that he thinks the Edmonton Oilers could have interest in trading for a third line center and Buffalo Sabres forward Eric Staal would fit the bill. He also noted that Staal’s family isn’t with him and since the Oilers are so close to the cap, it’d have to be a dollar-in, dollar-out trade.
BLH’s Thoughts: Staal has a 10-team no-trade list that he’s already submitted and if you listen to any former player or pundit today, they’ll say that there’s a team that’s almost on every no-trade list and that is the Edmonton Oilers.
Now, I’m not saying Edmonton is on Staal’s list, but the former Hurricane obviously must’ve had Buffalo on his 10-team no-trade list because it’s not that far from home and his family.
That stumbling block aside, let’s talk about acquisition cost. Staal is an impending UFA if I’m not mistaken and his salary, a shade under $4M, is significant enough that it’d pose a challenge. I would think there are some who’d like to send Zack Kassian or Kris Russell to the Sabres, but I’d be willing to bet that would be met with a some resistance from the playing personnel and the coaching staff.
My idea would be to send Kyle Turris, Cooper Marody, and a pick for Staal and 50% retention on salary.
Oh, how thick the irony would be if Edmonton won the Stanley Cup with Eric Staal in the lineup…
In his latest 31 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet) noted that Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins might be an off-season target for the Oilers.
- “It might not be something that could happen until the off-season, but Elvis Merzlikins is the kind of goalie who makes sense long-term for Edmonton.”
BLH’s Thoughts: This is not a new rumor. Merzlikins to the Oilers has been around since well before this season started. If I recall correctly, the asking price was one or possibly two first rounders for the Latvian netminder but then I remember Jim Matheson saying that he thought a high-end forward would be the cost.
If #CBJ trade a goaltender – they’re listening to offers for both Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins – they’d likely be in the market for a short-term, veteran back-up.
Interesting candidate to me is Jimmy Howard, who wants to play one more year and could be had for $1.5 – 2M.— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) October 3, 2020
So, if the Blue Jackets are really only willing to pay around $2M for the goalie who’d be sharing the net with Joonas Korpisalo, Edmonton would need to retain salary and then Columbus would be required to lower their asking price, no?
Merzlikin is on a two-year deal right now, so he’s eligible to be protected for the expansion draft. That’s an important distinction to make. Koskinen also has term remaining and to circle back to the Oilers retaining salary on him, I can’t see it. It’s too much money and they might be best off simply buying him out and having $1.5M on their books for two more years.
This is what Paul Almeida on Twitter had to say,
- “How the Oilers can handle the Koskinen contract.
- 1 – ride out the 4.5M next year
- 2 – trade in a deal for another goalie & retaining 1.5M
- 3 – buyout at 1.5M x 2 years
- 4- hope Seattle take him in expansion draft. Offer sweetner?
- 5 – trade him for a pick/player retaining 2.25M”
What would you do?
Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk, son of former Edmonton Oilers pugilist Louie DeBrusk, sat last night’s game out as a healthy scratch and that has sparked speculation in Oil Country. Many fans of the Oilers pondered aloud whether or not their club should trade for the struggling winger as the quest for Lord Stanley’s cup stands before them.
https://twitter.com/TheCity0fChamps/status/1369334039392444420
BLH’s Thoughts: I reckon if the Oilers could get DeBrusk for Bear, you take that and run. Jake is struggling in Beantown and needs a change of scenery. We know that he can score goals and that his work ethic will never be challenged, a return home to play on Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl’s wing could be what the doctor ordered.
The Bruins would get a defenceman with top-four potential and on the cheap no less. The rumors going around have them on the hunt for a blueliner as it is.
There’d be salary cap challenges though since DeBrusk makes $1.675M more than Bear. Guess who makes $1.65M a year on Edmonton though? Kyle Turris… Dominik Kahun could be a candidate as well but he only makes a tad over $900k.
This kind of trade would require the Oilers to have more healthy bodies on the backend though. They’d be very irresponsible to send Bear to Boston (IRONY ALERT!) without having enough defenders to cover.
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