Speculating from an Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest Edmonton Oilers news as well as the freshest NHL speculation featuring players such as Anthony Duclair, Mike Hoffman, Karl Alzner, Jake Gardiner, and many more!
NEWS:
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The News and Rumors
- Pat Boyle (NBC Sports): The Chicago Blackhawks offered goalie Corey Crawford and forward Brandon Saad to the Colorado Avalanche for bluechip prospect defenseman Bowen Byram at the trade deadline.
BLH’s Thoughts: Sweet Jesus! How in the world did Stan Bowman think that kind of offer would fly? That sounds like the kind of offer that gets you laughed off of Twitter for suggesting… I’m thinking Bowman’s days in the Windy City are numbered and probably for good reason.
- Frank Seravalli (TSN): Mike Hoffman is open to a 1yr deal at $5.5M-$6M. The Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators have interest.
- More Seravalli: The Tampa Bay Lightning will have to add a pick with Tyler Johnson if they want to trade him.
- TVA Sports: Trade options for the Montreal Canadiens include: Joel Armia, Paul Byron, and Jordan Weal.
BLH’s Thoughts: Paul Byron and Jordan Weal are a couple of players I wouldn’t mind Edmonton targeting at the trade deadline for a playoff run. These guys will run through a wall to get the job done. Lotta heart and very coachable.
- Aaron Ward (TSN): The Boston Bruins should target a player who is big, experienced, and hungry to redeem himself. Karl Alzner checks all the boxes.
BLH’s Thoughts: Yeah… Maybe… Or Maybe not. If Boston is at this point in the player recruitment I don’t think things are going well for them. There are much better players on the market still.
- Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet): Boston, Carolina, and Columbus are looking for a scorer.
BLH’s Thoughts: Lots of Friedman talk here.
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- Boston and Calgary were among the others who badly wanted Anderson. If it had been the Flames, I think we’re talking about a pretty big deal.
BLH’s Thoughts: I’m willing to bet that Johnny Hockey would’ve been included in this deal.
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- Even with the signing of Alex Pietrangelo, the Vegas Golden Knights tried to do more considering Taylor Hall and Steven Stamkos.
BLH’s Thoughts: FFS… This is getting annoying and I don’t imagine Kelly McCrimmon is loving how ownership is constantly involving itself in how the team is built. Eventually it’s going to collapse upon itself. You can’t have all the shiny toys at once. There are real humans to consider here and I’m relatively sure that players will choose not to sign there if their future is in jeopardy a year later. It’s that or iron clad NMCs and only signing deals that are impossible to move.
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- Many of the offers given to Taylor Hall were around $3 million less than Buffalo’s offer.
BLH’s Thoughts: Could you imagine a team getting Hall for $5.5M/yr? I can’t wait to see where he goes next season… Another 1yr deal somewhere?
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- The Columbus Blue Jackets moved money and now we’re all wondering what’s to be done with the cap space. They wanted Hall. They have considered offer sheets in the past, but there’s a belief they are protecting themselves against one to Pierre-Luc Dubois.
BLH’s Thoughts: They’d best hustle getting PLD signed up is my advice, then go out and get that elite winger they’re aching for.
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- Andy Greene is believed to be returning to the New York Islanders.
- Anaheim, Boston, Colorado, Toronto, and Winnipeg have checked in on Panthers defenceman MacKenzie Weegar.
- Lots of discussion around the league as to what the St. Louis Blues plan to do with RFA defender Vince Dunn.
BLH’s Thoughts: I really dig Vince Dunn for Edmonton. He’s basically a left-shot Tyson Barrie I feel. Great skater, doesn’t get phased by a hard forecheck, and can move the puck very well. I can’t see Edmonton going after him though. Not this off-season.
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- Florida has had conversations with winger Anthony Duclair.
- Carolina is still looking at trade options with Jake Gardiner
BLH’s Thoughts: Meh… Florida should just do something here. I feel like they’re always in the rumors but they never do anything and if the Hurricanes want to do something with Gardiner, I don’t think they should expect much of a return for him. He’s an expensive 3rd pair defender now and considering that Dougie Hamilton will be a UFA next year, maybe they should just do what they can to move on from Gardiner and get Hamilton’s new deal done up… IF the plan is to keep him that is.
The Oilers Speculation
Lots of tidbits on Oilers Now yesterday.
“I believe whenever 20/21 free agency is, the #Oilers will add another top-6 forward in free agency… I think they’ll find a way to get RNH done and I still think there’ll still be the cap space there to add another top-6 guy.” – Bob Stauffer
Geez, I wonder who that will be? Bob talked a lot about Gallagher but this was before he was re-signed by the Habs.
“I’m going to be really intrigued to see what Ryan Getzlaf does long-term… Sometimes guys want to win late in their career.” – Bob Stauffer
This was Bob’s “wildcard”. He said he had three names, Hall, Brendan Gallagher, and a wild card… Ryan Getzlaf. He also added that the Ducks captain can play RW if need be…
Don’t take this one lightly. Stauffer is good friends with Getzlaf’s agent, Gerry Johannson. An Edmonton-based NHL agent. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire here and I’ll predict now that he’s an Edmonton Oiler in 2021-22, possibly sooner if he can be acquired at the trade deadline. It’s such a Ken Holland move too. He loves his vets.
“I think we’re headed to an inevitable path here that’s gonna see Nugent-Hopkins get contract extension of probably 7 or 8 years. It just makes too much sense for both parties involved.” = Bob Stauffer
Oilers GM Ken Holland did mention on his spot a few days ago that he believes RNH is looking for term. In that scenario, maybe Edmonton can get Nuge under contract for something south of $7M,
“I absolutely believe Taylor Hall – Edmonton would merit serious consideration for him on a long-term deal.” – Bob Stauffer
And boom goes the dynamite. Can Bob speak this into existence in the same way he did with Tyson Barrie?
Next up are some thoughts from former player agent and Tampa Bay Lightning GM Brian Lawton regarding Taylor Hall signing in Buffalo.
“Makes zero sense to me… I thought the mandate was going to be don’t worry about the top-line # this yr, put yourself in a position like Tyson Barrie or Kevin Shattenkirk did last year and then come back and get paid for it.” – Brian Lawton
That makes two of us. The way I see it is that Hall has looked at the Sabres roster, talked to the necessary people around hockey to see what the odds are of him succeeding in Buffalo, and made his decision from there. The former MVP is known to be very heady when it comes to hockey and sports in general. He knows what he’s talking about, put it that way. So, after considering it for a little while, I don’t think him signing with the Sabres is all about the money. I think he’s making a big bet that Buffalo is going to take a big jump next year and that he’s going to play a massive role in that.
“The best decision for Taylor Hall would’ve been to go to the best team that puts him in the best position to shine well for his career. As an agent, I did this in the past for players and it always worked out.” – Brian Lawton
This would’ve made the most sense. Lawton mentioned Colorado and Edmonton as two teams that Hall probably should’ve went to. Even when Stauffer presented him with a hypothetical scenario of Edmonton only having $4M available for the UFA winger, he still said he would’ve advised Hall to sign the deal.
Now, remember how we talked about Thomas Greiss here a few days ago? How word got out that the Red Wings swooped in and basically stole the goalie from under the Oilers? This next quote is him talking about Mr. Greiss and one, Corey Crawford.
“We know that the Oilers talked to the agents representing those goaltenders as well. Maybe even that was too much at the end of the day.” – Bob Stauffer
It’s nuts how active Ken Holland was on the goalie market. It’s been reported extensively that he was in on Markstrom right up until he signed with Calgary. In addition to him, Edmonton was in talks with Ryan Miller, the aforementioned Greiss and Crawford as well as there were rumors that Petr Mrazek was also being looked into. Oh! Can’t forget about Braden Holtby either.
