Coming from an Edmonton Oilers point of view, BLH provides you with excerpts from 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 Oilers Now
Does Edmonton Need a Second Left Wing or a Third Line Center More?
This was the question posed to former Edmonton Oilers enforcer Louie DeBrusk by Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now yesterday morning. Here’s what Louie had to say,
- “I’m going to tell you it’s even. They’re both priorities. I really think that you can’t emphasize one over the other more. If I was going to lean in one direction, I’d say a LWer because it’s something we’ve talked about a lot and you’ve got two of the best centermen in the NHL that you’re trying to bolster their flanks so that they can be the most efficient that they can be.They have three centermen, that’s the beautiful thing about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins that we never talk about that much. If they’re winger depth gets that much better, why won’t we see down the road where they go McDavid-Draisaitl-RNH as their top-three centers?To have the flanks filled with good young players, prospects you’ve picked up, signings in the offseason, trades you’ve made where you’ve bolstered the wingers around those three centermen, now you’re really talking. You don’t have a need for a third line centerman anymore.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I can buy what Louie is trying to sell here and it make sense down the road… But I reckon Nuge might be better off on the wing and subbing in for Leon on the 2nd line from time to time until Edmonton has either developed Dylan Holloway and Carter Savoie or found a LW who is undoubtedly better than RNH at that position.
Mind you, I do feel strongly that the Oilers shouldn’t wing it with their 3C next year. The spine of the team MUST be strong and it would be easier (and cheaper potentially) to find a LW to play in the top-six. 3C? Not so much.
Just an aside, for those of you watching Cole Caufield rip it up, he only scored six more goals in his first year of NCAA hockey than Savoie did and his linemate was Alex Turcotte. I think it’s safe to say that Carter didn’t have the same sort of quality on his line, yet he scored 13 goals in 30 games in his rookie campaign.
Now, if Savoie gets picked for the Canadian World Junior team at Christmas, there will be comparisons made between him and Caufield for sure. Just consider this, his team is getting Massimo Rizzo, a 20yr old out of the BCHL who was more than a point-per-game player at that level for the past two seasons and Samu Salminen (ranked #12th in Europe by NHL Central Scouting for the 2021 draft), Finland’s 6’3″ 190lb captain at the u18s where he racked up seven goals in seven games.
I think it’s safe to say, the goals will keep on coming for Mr. Savoie, as they always have, however, a new wrinkle will get added to the fold, pressure for him to sign a deal with the Edmonton Oilers.
All I’m saying is don’t be surprised if Savoie leaves Denver at the end of the next season and joins Bakersfield or possibly Edmonton depending on how things are going up there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2fQjQ3fPWg
From The Fourth Period
BLUES HAVE DECISIONS TO MAKE; COULD PURSUE LANDESKOG
- “Jaden Schwartz, what do you do there? He’s the one – he had an oblique injury this year – he’s been injury prone in the past, unfortunately,” said Korac.
- “To me, it’s just been too inconsistent for Jaden Schwartz as far as that (giving him a significant contract) is concerned. I just need more production, and the Blues didn’t get that this year.”
- “I’ve gone on record a couple of different times and if he hits the market, I’m on Gabriel Landeskog doorstep the minute Free Agency starts,” said Korac. “I think that guy could be a perfect fit for (Ryan) O’Reilly and (David) Perron.”
BLH’s Thoughts: If Gabriel Landeskog makes it to free agency, Ken Holland, briefcase full of cash in hand, had best already be in his dining room waiting for the Swede to come down for breakfast. Screw stopping at the doorstep.
It’ll be interesting to see how serious the Avs take the Cale Makar offersheet threat… Could that fear force them to play chicken with Landeskog’s camp?
All facetiousness aside, I think Jaden Schwartz would be a wonderful 2nd line winger too. He scores goals and works his ass off. You know in a blue collar city like Edmonton, he’d be loved for his work rate. That said, he’d have to score there and we’ve seen what happens to a loved player when his scoring drops off…
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