BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Dave Tippett (EDM), Taylor Hall (BOS), Jack Eichel (BOS), Kyle Palmieri (NJ), 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
Pierre LeBrun (The Athletic): What does the future hold for some NHL head coaches who are on expiring contracts or are in interim positions?
- Rod Brind’Amour (CAR) – “It’s hard for me to see Brind’Amour anywhere else. But he’s among the lowest-paid coaches right now. His new annual salary probably has to at least start with a 2 to make it work. And that’s still a bargain.”
- Travis Green (VAN) – ” I do think the Canucks want to bring him back, and a source suggested to me Friday that perhaps there could be news on this front sooner rather than later. “
- Rick Tocchet (ARI) – “This one feels like it’s headed for an exit by a coach who is well respected around the league. I don’t think there are any hard feelings; it’s just a situation where you have a first-year GM in Bill Armstrong who inherited a coach and is headed for a retool or rebuild of some sort with the roster.”
- Jeff Blashill (DET) – “Blashill has earned the chance to stick around, I truly believe that, but it might also be time for a fresh voice as the rebuild enters its next phase.”
- John Tortorella (CBJ) – “This decision isn’t just what Kekalainen feels is right moving forward; it’s just as much what Tortorella feels like doing. Does the veteran coach want a new challenge? Or is he happy to stay put?… I feel like this one is headed for a split after a fun journey together.”
- Re: Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Dave Tippett – “He’s been at this a long time. He’s made money elsewhere with some smart real estate decisions. He doesn’t need to grind away behind an NHL bench forever. I’m not suggesting he won’t want to coach beyond the expiry of his deal in the summer of 2022 — he really enjoys the Oilers gig — but I’m guessing he’s more than comfortable waiting before deciding what’s next.”
Elliotte Friedman: There had been some reports on Friday that Ottawa Senators forward Artem Anisimov would be heading to the KHL after this season.
Stan Sweeney (NTR): Are the New York Islanders feeling a bit of buyer’s remorse since the NHL trade deadline?
- “The New York Islanders got a jump on the trade market as general manager Lou Lamoriello loves to do when the team completed a blockbuster deal with the New Jersey Devils to acquire Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri. Early implications have not been good and it’s getting so bad now, Zajac was made a healthy scratch on Thursday night.”
- “The Islanders gave up multiple draft picks including a first-rounder for the two forwards and so far their play has been below expectations. In seven games so far in an Islanders uniform Zajac has recorded two points. Meanwhile Palmieri who was one of the most sought after forwards on the trade market has recorded just two points in eight games.”
NHLTradeRumors.me: It’s going to take a monster trade proposal for Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams to agree to trade Jack Eichel and one team to look out for is the Columbus Blue Jackets. They have been in the market for a #1 center ever since dealing Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Winnipeg Jets and Eichel would fit the bill perfectly.
- NTR’s Mock Trade Proposal – “Columbus Blue Jackets receive C Jack Eichel in exchange for LW Liam Foudy, RHD Andrew Peeke, G Joonas Korpisalo and two first-round picks at the 2021 draft.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I’m not doing this trade if I’m Buffalo. The netminding market will be flush this off-season and we’re got Luukkonen coming but my defense needs help and we could use some more depth at forward. Jack Eichel is my franchise player and if I’m moving him it’ll be for a top-six center, a top-four defender, a top prospect, AND, a first rounder OR it’ll be a blockbuster one-for-one/two-for-two deal.
After watching the Oilers fumble their rebuild(s) over the last decade plus, the one thing they did wrong was they built from the wings in and they never had good enough support.
When you rebuild a team it’s imperative that the spine of the team is the strongest aspect. So your centers, top-four defensemen, and your starting goalie is where you focus your efforts the most. You don’t throw your kids into the deep-end and you make sure the voices in the room are ones that your skilled rookies/sophomores will listen to. The one thing Edmonton did was bring in character guys but they were past their primes and their prized no.1s couldn’t be bothered to listen because those older players couldn’t bring it when it counted anymore.
Getting back to being the Sabres GM for a moment, why wouldn’t you try to see if the Bruins would contemplate moving a Patrice Bergeron package for Jack Eichel? Perhaps Bergeron, Brandon Carlo, and Jake DeBrusk for Eichel and Henri Jokiharju? I dunno, It’s probably not a great mock trade but I’m just spitballin’ there. You can see what I’m getting at though.
Would he not be exactly the kind of leader you need on that team? Someone who can teach these elite young talents how to win draws consistently and how to play two-way hockey the right way… You’d have him, Sam Reinhart, Casey Middlestadt, Dylan Cozens, Cody Eakin, and Zemgus Gigrensons down the middle and to me, that’s a helluva start with the forwards because the wings are not terrible. It’s the defense that needs addressing and one could do that via free agency. It is simply too young and it lacks a “General”.
Tom Gulitti (NHL.com): During a recent mailbag segment, was asked about Taylor Hall’s long-term situation with the Boston Bruins and he feels there’s a good chance Hall remains a Bruin if he keeps playing well over the remainder of the season and in the playoffs.
- Asked about the New Jersey Devils, Gulitti believes they’ll try again to add a veteran goaltender to share the duties with Mackenzie Blackwood and bring stability between the pipes. With a number of teams likely to be pressed for cap space this summer, they have possibilities to acquire a veteran player or two without giving up much in return.
Sources: The Athletic, nhlrumors.com, Spector’s Hockey
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