Coming from an Edmonton Oilers point of view, BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation from all of the internet’s best sites including Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, The Athletic, TSN and more!
From NHL Trade Rumors (dot) me
Stan Sweeney has had a ton of content published in the last couple days over at nhltraderumors.me, here’s a taste of some of it,
Connor McDavid Comments on Trade Rumors: Regardless, McDavid stated the obvious and ensured everyone knows, he’s not going anywhere. He’s going to ride it out with his franchise much like the Alex Ovechkin’s of the world, who had to handle the pain and suffering for a long time before reaching the glory.
- “That’s not the case at all. We have a great core. We want to see this thing through together.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Anybody who has a platform of any significance that is saying or hinting at the idea that McDavid wants out of Edmonton is going it for attention. It’s clickbait full stop. As soon as people stop reacting to it, those people will stop posting that kind of bullshit or they’ll find a new angle and to be honest, that would be a breath of fresh air at this point.
St. Louis Blues Preparing Big Offer for Jack Eichel: Word is the St Louis Blues will be one of the many teams making offers for Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel and the Blues will be going in strong. The team is expected to include multiple first-round picks along with NHL experienced players.
- “The offer from the Blues is expected to include Robert Thomas, Oskar Sundqvist, Vince Dunn, and two first-round picks. Dunn and Thomas are both headed for restricted free-agency and are under team control.”
BLH’s Thoughts: One of my biggest nightmares is that the Calgary Flames trade for Eichel… Not that I’m scared of the Oilers playing against him but you’d have all those media types and fans screaming, “LOOK! NOW THAT IS A TEAM THAT WANTS TO WIN! LOOK AT THE MOVES THEY’RE MAKING TO BECOME A CONTENDER!” and it’s such a daft rhetoric because there are no more big moves coming in Edmonton I wouldn’t say.
Maybe a good free agent or a mid-level trade might go down, but the major pieces are in place for the most part and the club can be considered a regular season contender annually now. So it’s time to fill in the peripheries with quality depth assets.
Getting back to Eichel, I love a good hockey story and if there are two teams I’d ilke to see Jack play for, it’s the New York Rangers or the Boston Bruins.
Evgeny Kuznetsov is Finished in Washington: As we reported last week, a big trade is expected from the Washington Capitals and all signs are pointing to center Evgeny Kuznetsov being the player to be dealt. The Caps confirmed on Wednesday only Niklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin are untouchable and a Kuznetsov could be moved for the right deal.
- “The Russian center who was in the dog house at times this season has four seasons left on his contract, paying him $7.8 million per season. His deal includes no-trade protection for 15 teams, and in 2022 this list does decrease to 10. While some are speculating a deal for Jack Eichel, you can bet Buffalo is on the no-trade list. It’s going to be an interesting offseason in Washington and this roster is going to look a lot different come opening puck drop next season.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Now here’s the ultimate “buy-low” option on the trade market right now. Could you see him playing in Edmonton? Ken Holland does have a history with Russians you know AND he loves a good reclamation project, doesn’t he?
Columbus Blue Jackets Working on Goalie Trade: According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, expect to see one of the goalies moved early on this offseason.
- “With the Blue Jackets having three first-round picks already, and a huge hole at their #1 center position, many believe the team will move a goalie and a high draft pick to make a blockbuster splash this offseason.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Speaking of teams that Jack Eichel could be traded to? I also wondered if this would be the kind of team that would offer Nugent-Hopkins a bit more than what Edmonton will…
Two Florida Panthers Who Could Be Traded: There’s going to be some moves coming for the Panthers this offseason, expect management to be in on a lot of different names.
- Keith Yandle: “The iron-man has a full no-move clause but by the sounds of it will be open to a trade after being scratched at the worst possible time. His 27 points in 56 games wasn’t his best season but it’s still productive and expect to see his name pop up in some trade talk this summer.”
- Sergei Bobrovsky: “It’s going to take a small miracle for the Panthers to get rid of ‘Goalie Bob’s’ $10 million salary for the next five seasons, but that’s why the NHL put in salary retention. The team doesn’t want to lose Chris Driedger to free-agency but with a crowded crease, unless a trade happens this summer, that’s going to be the case.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t think the Oilers would have interest in either player here. On the other hand, Chris Driedger is definitely on their radar. If I’m not mistaken, I think his agent is based in Edmonton… Probably doesn’t matter though, I think he might be heading to Seattle unless he’s traded before that…
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