BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Oscar Klefbom (EDM), Johnny Gaudreau (CGY), Rickard Rakell (ANA), and more!
This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.
*NEW* What’s the plan for Edmonton’s defense after this season? Check that out here!
*NEW* Are the Edmonton Oilers poised to make a tough trade before next year? Maybe…
NHL Rumors and Speculation
Eric Stephens (The Athletic): Says the Anaheim Ducks wanting a first round pick and a good younger player for Rickard Rackell and Josh Manson could’ve been the part that got in the way of a big move truly happening.
Anthony Scultore (Daily Goal Horn): Regarding the Ducks moving Rakell to get the type of player(s) GM Bob Murray is looking for (players that are already drafted and have a little bit of experience),
- “What if Murray packages Rakell and a draft pick for the type pf players he’s looking for this summer? A contender who feels they are a top six winger away from getting over the hump may take the bait and make the deal. It certainly isn’t a bad strategy. Rakell can also be moved at the next trade deadline for a first round pick, so it isn’t a must make deal.”
Terry Jones (Edmonton Journal): Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland on the future of defenseman Oscar Klefbom,
- “I told Klef that I’d talk to him as we got into June and July to see how he was doing,”
- “Obviously I have to make decisions about our team heading into the expansion draft and who we protect and also about free agency as to whether he’s thinking about playing next year or not.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t think Klefbom’s getting protected because there are questions about his contract being insured and if Seattle takes him in the expansion draft and he chooses not to play, they’re on the hook for 100% of that deal, not the 30% or so that they’d be paying out if it was insured.
I also think he’s coming back to play. For how long, I do not know. But given his competitive nature and how he’s put on a brave face despite playing banged up in the past AS WELL AS the Oilers being in a very good position to take the next step and become Cup contenders.
He won’t have to play 23 minutes a night anymore with Darnell Nurse progressing into a top-pair defenseman. So, in theory, that should limit how much wear and tear he would have to deal with.
Just consider this group of defensemen going into next season and tell me it wouldn’t be one of the best in the league,
Nurse/Bear
Klefbom/Larsson
Kulikov/BouchardMaybe Caleb Jones is the no.7 too… That’s about as good as Edmonton has had in decades if it comes to fruition.
Eric Francis (Sportsnet): Had some interesting comments pertaining to Johnny Gaudreau’s future with the Calgary Flames recently on a podcast,
- “There is zero doubt in my mind that he is not going to re-sign in Calgary. He says otherwise, but I think he is destined for Philadelphia,” Francis said when asked about Gaudreau’s future with Calgary. “I think people have thought that from the day he signed here and he’ll ultimately be a Flyer.”
Ben Pope (Chicago Sun-Times): Following last Monday’s NHL trade deadline, Ben Pope suggested Nikita Zadorov has the remainder of this season to prove to the Chicago Blackhawks he still belongs in their future.
Luke Fox (Sportsnet): The Buffalo Sabres were offered at least one trade package that involved a first-round pick according to Brian Lawton on Nick Kypreos‘ podcast. Lawton adds that Sabres GM Kevyn Adams should have insisted before the season that Hall give him a list of five teams he’d accept a trade to.
- “I know for a fact a team that offered a first-round pick. And there’s more than one. It cost the Buffalo Sabres millions of dollars.”
- “I doubt that happened. If it did happen, Kevyn Adams should say that,” Lawton said. “If the player says, ‘I’ll go to one team,’ say, ‘Good luck in the summer, dude. It ain’t happening—because I can’t trade you to one team without embarrassing this organization.’”
Sources: Spector’s Hockey, Daily Goal Horn, nhlrumors.com
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