Today’s news and speculation from the NHL includes notes on Braden Holtby’s potential market value, one team that is apparently “all-in” on Torey Krug, Steve Yzerman’s plans for the offseason, a potential offer-sheet candidate in Tampa, how much Bobby Ryan is on the open market, and what in Sam’s hell is going on in Florida? That and much more!
Edmonton’s hub city bubble deflating after Oilers knocked out; area businesses falling flat – Edmonton | https://t.co/awNicymiWn https://t.co/nM5vC22yvE
— Kukla's Korner (@kuklaskorner) September 28, 2020
The News and Rumors
- Max Bultman (The Athletic): Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman would like to use Detroit’s cap room to acquire future assets if teams have to move a contract and don’t have other options.
BLH’s Thoughts: Why the Oilers didn’t think of this when they were swimming in top-ten picks at the draft is beyond me… The flip side of this coin is that the team doing it has to draft well too and there’s no guarantee Edmonton would’ve done that… I’ve got more faith in Yzerman’s scouting department.
- The Athletic: A number of sources think Marc-Andre Fleury (10-team M-NTC) could end up in Minnesota or back in Pittsburgh, Vegas would need to retain salary to move the netminder though.
BLH’s Thoughts: I never considered Minnesota would be in on Fleury, so that’s a bit of egg on my face. Fleury and Guerin teammates in Guerin’s final two NHL seasons, so it would make a bit of sense on that front, but isn’t Minny trying to move out the older players and usher in more locally-born skaters?
- Thomas Drance (The Athletic): Believes that a team, Vancouver or otherwise, needs to offer sheet Tampa Bay d-man Eric Cernak. “The biggest no-brainer of my lifetime on that front.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I was saying just this not too long ago. Cernak has shown some real promise as a physical shut-down defender. He seems pretty fearless and tough as nails too. So surely, there’ll be a club with some extra picks on hand that will inquire about him.
- Brian Compton (NHL.com): Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong, “It’d have to be very creative to keep Taylor Hall in Arizona. He’s a heck of a player and we’re going to explore everything.”
BLH’s Thoughts: It’s interesting that we haven’t heard any news on the Coyotes shopping Hall’s rights to try and recoup some of the assets lost when they traded for him.
- Scott Burnside (The Athletic): “We know Anaheim will be looking for a player like Tyson Barrie and the Ducks aren’t as far away as their performance level last year would suggest.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Barrie in Anaheim would be interesting. I was under the impression that the club was looking to go through a expediated rebuild. With that in mind, they’ve got Manson and Gudbranson on the right-side already and on the left-side, Lindholm, Fowler, and Larsson. A pretty decent looking group of defensemen.
- More Burnside: One source said he sees Braden Holtby’s value at less than $4M, adds: “I suspect there are GMs that far overvalue him and will offer way more.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I wonder about the Oilers here. Could Ken Holland convince Holtby to sign a one-year deal sub $4M with bonuses. He’s a perfect example of the professionals that Holland is yearning to bring in I feel. The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir has recently noted that he feels the Oilers could be a team where Holtby could land.
- John Hoven (Mayorsmanor.com): Should start seeing some LA Kings contract news fairly soon. Expecting to see some movement on RFA forward Matt Luff’s extension in the coming days.”
- Luke DeCock (Newsobserver.com): The Carolina Hurricanes are leaving the door open for a Justin Williams return but are moving forward as if their former captain will retire.
- Jimmy Murphy (Boston Hockey NOW): An NHL source confirmed the Florida Panthers are one of the teams in on Torey Krug and are pushing hard to acquire his rights from Boston.
- Pierre LeBrun (TSN): “I believe the Panthers intend to be players in the Alex Pietrangelo sweepstakes if indeed he hits the market.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I’ll be honest, I don’t have a lot to say about Luff or Williams, but I thought the Panthers were looking to save on salary though. Pietrangelo nor Krug are going to be cheap and they traded for Patric Hornqvist too… Adding expensive players is the opposite of cutting salary, no?
Now, if they bring in Pietrangelo, does that make Ekblad expendable?…
- Jeremy Rutherford (The Athletic): “The belief among some industry sources is that Tyler Bozak could be on the move if need be. The 34-year-old will be entering the final year of his three-year, $15 million contract and wants to remain in St. Louis.”
- More Rutherford: If Pietrangelo is re-signed, there’s a possibility that Justin Faulk or Marco Scandella could be moved.
- Rutherford cont: Regarding Bobby Ryan, “It’s believed the Blues could have Ryan, who’s now an unrestricted free agent after clearing waivers last week, for approximately $1.5 million.”
BLH’s Thoughts: This would definitely be a player Edmonton would have interest in if the money could be worked out in the Oilers’ favor. As for Bobby Ryan, $1.5M is right up Edmonton’s alley! I’m just not sure if the Oilers are as close to the Cup as St. Louis is in Ryan’s mind and thus, would the price point be more expensive as a result?
The Oilers Speculation
If Andreas Athanasiou is going to play on a 1yr "show me" deal, wouldn't it make sense for him to go to market and sign in a place where he'd want to be?
I'd be willing to bet Florida (or somewhere nearby) would be one of those places 🙂#Oilers
— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) September 28, 2020
