BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Caleb Jones (EDM), Anton Khudobin (DAL), Taylor Hall (BUF), and more!
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.
This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.
NHL Rumors and Speculation
The Athletic recently updated their NHL trade deadline big board and had an interesting comment about an Edmonton Oilers target,
- “If you’re a team such as the Edmonton Oilers, seeking a long-term goaltending solution, you could imagine a scenario under which they would surrender one of their multiple, young defensive prospects in order to bring the talented Merzlikins to town. How about Caleb Jones, which would give him a chance to play with his brother Seth in Columbus? It’d be even better if Columbus were to take back Mikko Koskinen in a larger version of the deal.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I think there are some rumblings that Seth Jones is far from happy in Columbus. Now I had to read between the lines a bit when I heard that. It wasn’t exactly broadcasted as bluntly as that, but one of the things that was suggested was getting Caleb Jones to Columbus in an attempt to smooth things over with Seth.
Now, at the trade deadline the BJs will have over $7M in cap space available and we already know that if the Oilers are going to make a trade, it’ll have to be money in, money out. Koskinen makes $4.5M for another year after this… Any deal involving him will require a trade partner who will have the cap space to fit him in…
Arthur Staple of the Athletic brought up the idea of the New York Islanders trading for struggling Buffalo Sabres winger Taylor Hall and threw out a trade proposal,
- “If the Islanders could somehow get the Sabres to take defenseman Thomas Hickey along with a first- or second-round pick (or two seconds), they’d be able to replace their top wing with the top wing available.”
With Anders Lee being placed on LTIR, that would free up the cap space to take on Hall’s contract.
BLH’s Thoughts: Reunited and it feels so good… That’s what Jordan Eberle would be singing as Hall walked into the Islanders dressing room. As for that suggested trade, it’s not bad. I’d have to imagine they’d like some more futures though. Maybe Simon Holmstrom plus a first in addition to Hickey?
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic: (mailbag) There may be a mutual decision that John Tortorella may not be back with the Columbus Blue Jackets next season. Portzline also went on to give his thoughts on the idea of what it would take to get a no.1 center.
- “If I’m the Blue Jackets, I pick a goaltender — either Korpisalo or Merzlikins — and build this roster around three pillars: the goalie, Laine and Seth Jones. I really, truly, honestly would not want to trade Zach Werenski because he’s a rare gem of a defenseman. But having two great defensemen may be a luxury they can’t afford if it’s a roster that doesn’t have an impact center. I’d do everything I could to not move Werenski. But the goaltender they trade isn’t likely to draw a top center all by himself.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I was kind of thinking this myself. Although I was wondering if it was Seth Jones that would be on the move. I think this team is going to lose the guts and heart this summer if Nick Foligno walks or is traded. They’re going to need a few players who possess the kind of leadership he provides if they don’t plan on sinking back to the bottom of the league, again. I wonder if they consider bringing in Bruce Boudreau if John Tortorella leaves…
David Satriano (NHL.com): It looks like there’s trouble in paradise for defenseman Erik Karlssona and the San Jose Sharks. GM Doug Wilson said recently that it appears that they are heading for a “reset” and that didn’t sit well with the former Norris Trophy winner.
- “Obviously, I did not sign here to go through a rebuild or go through what I did for 10 years in Ottawa. But it is what it is.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Oh my… I can’t see anybody taking on that albatross of a contract. Karlsson had best hope the Sharks have some amazing luck at the draft lottery. Maybe San Jose can get themselves a Shane Wright or William Eklund or both! Because that’s the kind of talent it’s going to take to right the ship in the Shark Tank.
Matthew DeFranks (Dallasnews.com): Thinks that the Dallas Stars could trade goaltender Anton Khudobin instead of risking losing him to the Seattle Kraken at the expansion draft this summer.
- “Trading Khudobin comes with a number of layers. The Stars will (likely) have Ben Bishop back by the trade deadline. Jake Oettinger has played well as a backup this season. If the Stars think Seattle selects Khudobin in the expansion draft, might they try to get something in return instead of coming away empty-handed? Landon Bow and Colton Point would still fulfill the goalie requirement for the expansion draft even without exposing Khudobin.”
BLH’s Thoughts: If the Stars are well on their way to a playoff-less season, they should be in fire sale mode with any impending free agents. Anything they can do to keep the cupboards full in their system is a plus in my mind. They can always circle back in the off-season to anybody they deal, right? And Khudobin has already established that he’s the kind of goalie you can depend on in the post-season. I would think a team like the Penguins would love to shore up their netminding given the slog they’re facing should they make the playoffs.
Anthony Scultore (Daily Goal Horn): Wrote about the idea of the Edmonton Oilers possibly trading for Taylor Hall before this year’s trade deadline,
- “Thinking about reunions, how about Taylor Hall back in Edmonton? He never wanted to leave Edmonton and it looks like if the Oilers make a move they want it to be a big one.Ken Holland addressed the media and said this about the upcoming trade deadline. “If there is a player out there who we think can go into our lineup and have an impact more than depth, probably that is something I would look at.”What bigger impact player is available other than Taylor Hall. A player Connor McDavid is familiar with and could have a huge impact for them in the North Division.
One thing is for certain, the Sabres are going to need to eat a large chunk of that salary to make it work. However cap gymnastics is something all these deadline teams will be doing come April 12.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Holland chased Hall last off-season before he chose Buffalo. I don’t think this is any breaking news to anybody. So the precedent is already there on this one. The Oilers are looking for a winger for Leon Draisaitl and the German played with Hall early on in his career with favorable results if I recall correctly.
What kind of return would Buffalo expect though? I mean, people like to poke fun at the return Edmonton got for Hall, but Adam Larsson is by far the best thing any team has received in a trade for the former MVP and I’m thinking that the price tag won’t be that staggering. The Oiler have some prospects playing well in Bakersfield right now and are blessed with a number of good defensemen in their system.
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