BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Chris Driedger (FLA), Jason Zucker (PIT), Leo Komarov (NYI), and more!
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.
*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
Brian La Rose (Pro Hockey Rumors): Says Jason Zucker could be a trade chip for the Pittsburgh Penguins if they wanted to shake things up a bit more drastically.
- “However, with a $5.5MM price tag for two more years after this, moving him would allow them to potentially free up some wiggle room to make an impact addition now and depending on the term of the contract, possibly give them some extra space over the next two years when they’ll still be tight to the cap.”
Markus Nuutinen (NHL Suomi): Reports that Komarov actually has a handshake agreement in place for next season in the event he is bought out by the Islanders, but it isn’t in his native Finland. Instead, Komarov is expected to return to the KHL’s Dynamo Moscow, the same club he was with prior to beginning his NHL career back in 2012-13.
Kurt Leavins (Cult of Hockey): Suggests that Joakim Nygard’s agent requested that the Edmonton Oilers put him on waivers to see if the Swedish winger could catch on else where as he’s not playing much in Edmonton.
- “Joakim Nygard was placed on waivers by the Oilers Saturday (and cleared). Puzzling on the face of it. The waivers clock now re-starts at 30 days. But Nygard was already on the Taxi Squad. Waivers weren’t required. Maybe agent Matt Keator just asked Ken Holland that if his client’s really not in the plans (Nygard has played just 6 of 38 games) to please just do him a solid. If he’d been picked up, it would have been $875k in cap space. Alas.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Anybody else get the feeling that a trade request has been submitted?… You’d be surprised how often they happen but are never reported.
Adam Gretz (NBC): Says the Florida Panthers should resist the urge to trade goaltender Chris Driedger and that one of the landing spots for the netminder if the Panthers do decide to trade him is the Edmonton Oilers.
- “In theory, it would make some sense to move him. But it really is not that simple because the big elephant in the room here is that Driedger has been the most productive goalie on the roster for two years now… Why willingly give up a pretty good safety net that might actually be your best goalie?”
BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t know how the Oilers land Driedger in-season, to be honest, and I also don’t see the Panthers agreeing to take Mikko Koskinen and his $4.5M salary for another year.
That said, Florida will have close to $13M in cap room at the deadline, so it’s feasible that they would agree to acquire Koskinen, just not realistic in my mind.
Then again, it would all depend on what Oilers GM Ken Holland is willing to send as a sweetener. Most would think that would be defenseman Caleb Jones, but I can’t see that being enough considering how well Driedger is playing.
Is there a scenario where Edmonton would take Driedger and say, Anton Stralman (and his $5.5M for this year and next), if Koskinen and went the other way with someone like William Lagesson, though? Stralman has already been put on waivers and the Oilers could use a 2nd pair defender on the left side.
*EDIT* I’m an IDIOT… Stralman is a righty. So unless he’s playing his off-side, this was a dumb suggestion. lol… *EDIT*
I dunno, just food for thought. At the end of the day, the Panthers have to choose whether or not they’re willing to risk the chance of losing Driedger to Seattle.
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