BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Drew Doughty (LAK), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (ARI), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM), and more!
This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.
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NHL Rumors and Speculation
Dan Rosen (NHL.com): The Arizona Coyotes will explore the idea of trading forward Phil Kessel this offseason. Even if Rick Tocchet remained as coach they may have looked at the idea. The Coyotes will likely go with a younger coach and build around their youth. They could also revisit an Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade this offseason. They are without a first- and third-round pick this year. Kessel won’t net them a first, but could land them a need pick(s)/prospects(s).
Joe Haggerty (Boston Hockey Now): Boston Bruins president Cam Neely has said that the trade deadline acquisition of Taylor Hall solidified their offensive depth and they hope they can work out an extension. Believe that Hall could end up with a three- to five-year at between $6 and $7 million.
TSN: Darren Dreger said that Vegas Golden Knights have given the New York Rangers permission to interview Gerard Gallant for their head coaching position. He could be one of their top candidates.
TSN: Frank Seravalli says that Philadelphia Flyers Nolan Patrick could be looking for a fresh start next season. He’s on his third agent in three years. He didn’t produce as much as both sides had hoped. He’s a pending restricted free agent.
BLH’s Thoughts: It simply hasn’t worked out for Patrick in Philly, has it? I could really see the Golden Knights being in on him. His old GM in junior would have some time for him.
TSN: Darren Dreger notes that Oilers pending UFA defenseman Tyson Barrie led NHL defenseman in scoring. He had signed a one-year, $3.75 million deal this past offseason and could be hitting the open market again.
- “The sense is that Barrie is going to test the free-agent market. He’s earned that right and given everything that Ken Holland and the Oilers are going to have to go through with hefty negotiations with Larsson, Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, and others, you need to be able to compare apples to apples.Tyson Barrie would very much like to stay in Edmonton but he also wants some stability. We’re talking about a five- or six-year term, so most likely, he goes to the open market to see what the bigger picture looks like as well.”
Mark Spector (Sportsnet): Do the Edmonton Oilers extend pending UFA Ryan Nugent-Hopkins before the expansion draft? If they don’t re-sign Nugent-Hopkins, what is their plan to replace him?
One scout notes that you may be able to get two forward – ie. Mikael Granlund and Alex Wennberg – for the same money combined as you would for just RNH.
- “He is not irreplaceable,” the scout said. “The two big boys, they are. But Nugent-Hopkins? If you’re Kenny, would you rather have two $3 million wingers, or one $6 centre? And if McLeod is your third line centre moving forward, then why do you need Nugent-Hopkins?
BLH’s Thoughts: My thoughts as well. The Oilers are on a fantastic run right now but the roster is still very top-heavy. I’ve suggested Granlund and Wennberg in the past as two players who’d provide top-nine depth at a reasonable price.
One scenario worth considering is Edmonton re-signing Tyson Barrie and moving on from RNH and Ethan Bear. Bear’s been good for most of the year but he’s also the kind of asset that would be able to bring in a bonafide top-six winger like Jake DeBrusk (BOS) for example and all signs are pointing to the Bruins moving him in the off-season and replacing him with Taylor Hall.
Ken Holland and Dave Tippett LOVE veterans and even though a team like Seattle will be offering Barrie a very lucrative contract, maybe it’s not in his best interests to leave such a good situation so quickly. Plus Evan Bouchard will be a full-time player in Edmonton next season and I don’t believe there’s an appetite to have him on the left-side… So something would need to budge there.
Larry Brooks (NY Post): Believes the New York Rangers should stick with Mika Zibanejad at center and add Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk instead of going after Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel this summer.
- ““I believe they need to hunt for big game to change the dynamic of their top six, and yes, of course if there is any way to pry Matthew Tkachuk out of Calgary that should become Drury’s singular obsession.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I’ve long thought that the first chance Tkachuk gets to choose his own destination that he’d be on the first plane out of Calgary. Maybe for Arizona and a possible meetup with Auston Matthews or to St. Louis where he grew up. Boston or the Rangers would be two more options.
With that in mind, I think Flames GM Brad Treliving has a lot on his plate with Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Mark Giordano coming up but if there was one team who could be able to give him the quality he’d require in a Tkachuk trade, it’d be Chris Drury’s Rangers.
Dennis Bernstein (The Fourth Period): The Los Angeles Kings are expected to try and contend next season and if management decides not to, expect to see defenseman Drew Doughty voice his displeasure, and potentially ask to be moved.
- “Drew Doughty if significant moves aren’t made by LAK front office this summer will he be happy with the direction the franchise is going …. he thought about answer…. “No””
BLH’s Thoughts: And just as the Edmonton Oilers are completing their transformation into Stanley Cup contender some big names will begin to become available… I don’t think there’s any way the Kings are in a position to start emerging from their rebuild next season and moving Kopitar and/or Doughty couldn’t possibly help… So it might be inevitable that they continue on the path they’re on for another two or three seasons. That said, trading one or both of their superstars might expedite the process if Rob Blake can get his hands on the right assets in return for them.
Sources: nhltraderumors.com, nhltradetalk.com, nhltraderumors.me, Twitter
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