BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Nazim Kadri (COL), Jordan Staal (CAR), some possible Edmonton Oilers moves, and more!
This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.
What’s the plan for Edmonton’s defense after this season? Check that out here!
Are the Edmonton Oilers poised to make a tough trade before next year? Maybe…
*NEW* Three Teams want to get tougher and are targeting Zack Kassian. Read about that here!
NHL Rumors and Speculation
Patrick Johnston (The Province): Reports Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning takes responsibility for his club’s failure to reach the playoffs this season. He also dropped hints as to his offseason plans for the roster.
Contract buyouts are on the table. Johnston listed Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel, Loui Eriksson and even Jake Virtanen as potential candidates, though the latter’s legal situation could make things murky.
BLH’s Thoughts: I’ll speak more to this at the end of this post, but if Antoine Roussel is available, I’d have time for him on Edmonton. Jay Beagle too. Both would be upgrades on what the Oilers have in their bottom-six right now and both provide edge, sandpaper, and a bit of heart. If I’m not mistaken, they are both familiar with the penalty kill as well and any player skating in Edmonton’s bottom six needs to be able to contribute elsewhere on the club.
Bruce Garrioch (Ottawa Sun): Senators owner Eugene Melnyk spoke about his club’s roster needs during an interview earlier this week with Bob McCown.
The Senators owner also feels his team needs a “good defensive defenseman” and “a veteran-type first-line center” but acknowledged those types of players are easy to come by.
Peter Baugh (The Athletic): Peter Baugh yesterday examined the fallout of Nazem Kadri’s then-pending suspension for the Colorado Avalanche lineup during their series with the St. Louis Blues.
Baugh pointed out Kadri was traded in 2019 to the Avalanche by the Toronto Maple Leafs following two playoff suspensions. He wondered if the 30-year-old center could face the same fate again this summer.
Lyle Richardson (Spector’s Hockey): Reckons despite his dodgy suspension history, Kadri would still be a wanted asset in the trade market. The Avs center has a 10-team NTC that could cause problems but it wouldn’t be a deal breaker.
BLH’s Thoughts: Kadri is on a decent contract, is he not? If you’re an Oilers fan, is he the kind of player you’d like on Edmonton? Personally, he’s exactly the kind of player I think the Oilers need. Someone who plays on the edge and occasionally crosses it.
The problem now is that he’s probably one or two bad hits away from being ‘Raffi Torres’d’. Meaning another suspension and he’s probably done in the NHL. Would you be willing to take that risk?
Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Confirming the Rangers GM Chris Drury plans on speaking with Tocchet.
Drury has already spoken with Gerard Gallant and he’s contracted John Tortorella and Patrick Roy. The Tortorella and Roy talks may not have been ‘interviews’ yet.
Pierre LeBrun: The Buffalo Sabres have lined up an interview with Rick Tocchet and Bruce Boudreau for their vacant head coaching position. gets the sense that Sabres GM Kevyn Adams wants to talk to quite a few coaching candidates. They are not in a rush. Interim coach Don Granato remains in the mix for the full time position.
Rick Dhaliwal: John Shannon on CHEK TV with Donnie and Dhali: “I think that Canucks are going to add someone else on the management side. I could see them adding a President.”
Alex Blair: “Not a surprise but multiple people both in and around the @Canucks and around the @NHL “stunned”, “surprised” and “shocked” by @FriedgeHNIC report that Canucks ownership is planning to bring back GM JB. Believe the decision will not be well received by many @Canucks players.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I’ve been told JT Miller would be one of those players not happy that Jim Benning is returning.
Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet 650): Thinks one or two of Canucks players that are upset will ask for a trade out of Vancouver.
BLH’s Thoughts: Me Thinks Brock Boeser is one… At least that’s my sources think.
Ted Kulfan (Detroit News): Marc Staal is eyeing two possible options this offseason. The first (and perhaps the priority) would be to see if he can work out a way to play with his brothers. Eric Staal will also be a pending free agent and isn’t likely to be back with the Montreal Canadiens once this season ends. Meanwhile, Jordan Staal is a fixture in Carolina with the Hurricanes. If possible, Marc would like to play alongside them.
BLH’s Thoughts: It would be fantastic if the Staals could find a way to play together for one season but I can’t see it happening unless Jordan Staal agrees to be moved. Although, maybe at the trade deadline the Canes could bring them in for depth.
Now, if you were GM of the Oilers, would you try to swing a deal to get Jordan Staal and then add his brothers? Jordan would be the perfect 3C in Edmonton, wouldn’t he? Eric would be a good 4C or extra forward and Marc would be a decent 3rd pair defenseman.
Ken Holland bringing in veterans who everybody thinks are past their prime… Wouldn’t that be the most Holland-like thing to do?
Of course, Caleb Jones is most likely a better option than Marc Staal at this point in their careers and Ryan McLeod is looking to be Edmonton’s 3C of the future, so why would you want to take that away from him or move him down the lineup?
Brian La Rose (Pro Hockey Rumors): Responding to the question, “ if Edmonton is eliminated in Round 1, do they shake up their core outside of Leon, Connor and Darnell?”
- “Edmonton certainly seems like the obvious choice to be bolder in their team building. The forward depth isn’t the greatest which is a by-product of having players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on their roster. Their defense isn’t elite by any stretch either. I don’t think they’d move one of McDavid, Draisaitl, or Darnell Nurse but I don’t think there would be many untouchables beyond those three either. If they go down to Winnipeg with the offense continuing to sputter, GM Ken Holland will have a hard time justifying keeping things the way they are now.”
BLH’s Thoughts: You can be damned sure there will be changes if Edmonton doesn’t get past the first round. If I had to guess what those changes might be, I’d say Holland would target players with more speed, more size, and more fire in their bellies.
Speaking of players with fire in their bellies, I’m watching Florida’s Ryan Lomberg drive the Lightning absolutely bonkers right now and thinking to myself, which Oilers forward not playing in the top-six is willing to sacrifice everything to get the job done right now? Josh Archibald maybe, perhaps Alex Chiasson…
They don’t have “that guy” who is just a massive pain in the ass. I thought it was going to be “Killer” Yamamoto but nothing there so far. It used to be Zack Kassian, but he’s relegated himself to overpaid grinder at this point. I love the guy but he MUST find his old form before this series is done. James Neal is trying but the wheels aren’t there anymore. Khaira and Archie are throwing the body around but it’s not translating to anything…
Don’t get me wrong, the Oilers are getting bossed by a hot goalie in this series with Winnipeg but they are not being outplayed. That said, they’re not doing anything to get the psychological edge so far in these first two games…
Sources: Spector’s Hockey, nhlrumors.com, nhltradetalk.com,
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