BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Evan Bouchard (EDM), Phil Kessel (ARI), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (SJ), and many more!
This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.
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NHL Rumors and Speculation
NHL.COM: In a recent mailbag segment, Dan Rosen was asked if the Arizona Coyotes could trade Phil Kessel now that Rick Tocchet is no longer their head coach.
AZ COYOTES INSIDER: Craig Morgan also believes Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong could shop Kessel, speculating the winger could be open to that option. He’s due a $5 million signing bonus on July 1, after which he’s only due $1 million for the remainder of the season.
Morgan was also asked if the Coyotes could attempt to shop Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He’s not sure yet if their captain will expand his no-trade list but knowing the front office wants to move him can’t be a comforting thought. They would have to take back a big salary as Ekman-Larsson is due to earn $10.5 million annually in real salary over the next three years.
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun believes the Philadelphia Flyers could be busy during the offseason following their disappointing performance this season.
LeBrun can see the Flyers looking into Jack Eichel’s situation with the Buffalo Sabres. He also thinks they could reach out to the Nashville Predators to inquire again about Mattias Ekholm or Ryan Ellis. They could also have interest in Seth Jones if the Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t able to sign the blueliner to a contract extension.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Matthew DeFranks recently reported Stars GM Jim Nill didn’t dismiss the idea of adding another scoring forward. He feels his club has the cap space to make that move if the right player can be found.
THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell believes the recent rumors suggesting the Oilers could be close to signing Adam Larsson to a new contract could signal the end of Tyson Barrie’s tenure in Edmonton.
Re-signing Larsson, the presence of Ethan Bear and the potential elevation of Evan Bouchard next season would give the Oilers a shutdown defenseman and two right-side puck-passers for under $7 million combined.
Kevin Kurz (The Athletic): Don’t see the San Jose Sharks being a landing spot for Jack Eichel. The Sharks don’t really have any elite prospects and they aren’t in a position to be offering up first-round draft picks.
Curtis Pashelka (Mercury News): Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic when asked if he’s concerned about a longer rebuild: “No, there’s no rebuild. Next year we’ll be back, and we’ll be competing for the playoffs.”
Eric Francis (Sportsnet): Calgary Flames ownership will need to decide if they want to continue with Brad Treliving being their general manager. He has two years left on his contract. Given his knowledge of the team and willingness to make a big move, he may be the best man to lead them this offseason. They need to make some big moves this offseason.
Defenseman Mark Giordano will likely be left unprotected for the expansion draft. The Kraken would likely select the 37-year old who has one year left at $6.75 million. Will the Flames offer the Seattle Kraken an asset to not select Giordano?
The Fourth Period: Is reporting that the Detroit Red Wings are open to exploring the trade market this off-season and if the prices are right, it could result in a very busy summer for the club. GM Steve Yzerman more or less laid out his plans in a recent presser where he announced the Jeff Blashill extension.
- “Between now and the end of the playoffs, we’ll spend some time talking to other clubs that aren’t playing, and as teams get eliminated work your way around the league to find out if there’s any match similar to the trade deadline to find out what teams are trying to do, if there’s a fit that we can address any of our needs through a trade prior to the expansion draft,”
- “In general, I don’t think it makes a lot of sense for us to be trading draft picks and prospects for players that may not be here in three, four, five years,” Yzerman explained. “If we are able to do something with some of our future assets, I’m certainly willing to do that, but I would look to add younger players that are going to fit with the core group of those guys.”
- “If something out there is too good to pass up that doesn’t necessarily fit that exact description, I’d be open to it.”
Sources: Spector’s Hockey, nhlrumors.com, The Fourth Period
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