BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Brady Tkachuk (OTT), Seth Jones (CBJ), Taylor Hall (BOS), 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
David Schoen (Las Vegas Review): Says Golden Knights defender Alec Martinez would like to re-sign with the club and that Anton Stralman’s three-year $16.5 million deal that he struck with Florida back in 2019 could be comparable.
Aaron Portzline (The Athletic): The Columbus Blue Jackets are thinking “reload” and not “rebuild.”
- July 28th is when they are officially allowed to sign defenseman Seth Jones to a contract extension but what if Jones doesn’t want to sign an extension? Trading him would net them a huge return but it would be devasting to the organization.
- The Blue Jackets would retain Patrik Laine‘s rights if they give him a qualifying offer.
- GM Jarmo Kekalainen needs to decide who his goalie is for next season – Joonas Korpisalo or Elvis Merzlikins – and then move the other. Both have a year left on their deal.
Ken Warren (The Ottawa Sun): Took a closer look at what it’s likely going to cost the Ottawa Senators to get a contract extension done with budding superstar Brady Tkachuk.
- “If the Senators and Tkachuk sign an extended deal that takes away years of unrestricted free agency, they could even go beyond the numbers in Chabot’s existing eight-year, $64-million deal.”
- “If the Senators go down the long-term road, buying Tkachuk out of years of unrestricted free agency, the contracts of New Jersey’s Nico Hischier (seven years, $50.75 million), Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor (seven years, $50 million), Arizona’s Clayton Keller (eight years, $57.2 million) and Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen (six years, $55 million) could come into play.”
Fluto Shinzawa (The Athletic): There’s a strong sense that the Bruins might be looking at extensions for both David Krejci and Taylor Hall after this season.
- “Krejci can still be a dangerous No. 2 center for another season, especially if Hall returns too. Both UFAs-to-be could be a package deal between the July 21 expansion draft and the July 28 opening of free agency. Krejci has known no other employer. Hall raised his hand for an extension even before his first shift.”
Larry Brooks (NY Post): Recently suggested the Rangers could face an offseason shakeup following Thursday’s season-crushing 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders. He singled out marquee players such as Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad as well as the leadership group and head coach David Quinn.
- “Once again, the Rangers’ marquee players, the ones with upper-echelon talent, the veteran ones who are supposed to show the way to the phalanx of youngsters, had nothing. Artemi Panarin was shockingly inept and never once was a factor in this one, failing to send one shot on net. Mika Zibanejad was slightly better but not by a margin distinctive enough to make the slightest bit of difference.”
- “This falls back on the leadership group. This also falls back on David Quinn, the head coach whose team not only lost decisively, but seemed lost from the get-go. The players were scattered and disconnected in all three zones. This one did not reflect well on anyone.”
Larry Brooks (NY Post): Is reporting that according to his sources, Philadelphia Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault might not be back for a third season behind their bench and that the NJ Devils might be looking for somebody a big younger to coach their young stars.
- “We’re hearing that it is no sure thing at all that Alain Vigneault will return for his third season in Philadelphia next year. Hasn’t 2020-21 in Philly smelled a lot like 2017-18 in New York? And if not Vigneault, who in the organization is going to answer for the debacle that became Carter Hart? Told too, but we can’t cross our heart and swear on it, that the Devils might be seeking a younger man than Lindy Ruff to shepherd the flock of youngsters flowing through the organization.”
Kurt Leavins (Cult of Hockey): In his latest weekly blog, hints that a couple of depth players could be on their way out OR re-signing at a much cheaper price…
- “Alex Chiasson is such a smart player, so solid along the D-zone walls and in front on the PP. In this COVID economy chances are the Oilers would not have to match Chiasson’s present $2.15m salary in order to keep the expiring UFA, even with the glut of RW’s already on the roster.”
- “The evolution of Ryan McLeod is certainly good news for the Oilers and McLeod, but it may not be for Gaetan Haas. Haas has attributes I value: Speed, smarts and a defensive conscience. But he got drilled Saturday in chances for & against. Thus far in his career Haas hasn’t produced near enough to be a 3C (3 points in 33 GP this season). And he doesn’t win enough faceoffs (45%) to be a 4C. McLeod (on an ELC and with a much higher ceiling) has a real chance to claim that 3C role. And either a re-signed RFA Jujhar Khaira (yes, I expect him back) or an acquired veteran such as Derek Ryan or Brandon Sutter (I prefer the former) is likely to slot in at 4C.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I’ve also got a lot of time for Alex Chiasson but as Ken Holland said over the summer, there has to be change. You can’t go into each season with the exact same squad.
Jesse Puljujarvi has to be given the reins on the first unit PP and I wonder if Patrick Russell would be better suited for 4th line RW. He’s younger, cheaper, and just as good on the boards and in the muck. Although the shot and strength aren’t there.
If not an internal option, then what about signing a physical presence like Kurtis Gabriel or Brett Ritchie. Wayne Simmonds and Corey Perry are UFAs this summer too.
As for Gaetan Haas, I think he’s as good as gone and Joakim Nygard will join him. I predict both players will head back to Europe this summer. I applaud them for coming over and giving the NHL a go but as good as they are in the Swiss and Swedish leagues, their talents simply never translated in North America.
Now, speaking of players out of Europe, if the Oilers are looking to add a highly skilled forward, I read that Vladdy Hockey (Tkachev) is a free agent now…
Remember him? The Oilers tried to sign him in… 2014 (I think) but he was still eligible to be drafted so it was voided.
I remember watching him, Leon, Jujhar, and Darnell all dominating the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the only Oilers Rookies/Golden Bears game I ever attended.
Sources: nhlrumors.com, nhltradetalk.com, Spector’s Hockey, The Athletic, Edmonton Journal
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