Edmonton Oilers Talk: COVID, Niemelainen=Cernak, Pulju’s Time to Shine, and the Latest NHL Rumors

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

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The Cult of Hockey

Top Edmonton Oilers d-man out on COVID protocols, team cancels practice

🔸Cody Ceci placed in COVID protocol
🔹Duncan Keith on IR
🔸Markus Niemelainen recalled from @Condors
Of course, the fear now is that the COVID issue won’t end with one player on the Oilers, but will hit more, maybe many more.
A number of teams have been hammered in this way, including the Ottawa Senators.
The Senators have had three games postponed due to COVID, while the Islanders have had two games.
Kris Russell can also play the right side, as can Dmitri Samorukov, who is still down in Bakersfield. He is a left shot d-man who played the right side all last season in Moscow of the KHL.
As for Markus Niemelainen, Bakersfield coach Jay Woodcroft has said the huge, young defender — 6-feet, 5-inches, 205-pounds, 23 years of age — has adapted well to the North American game, using his size and skating ability well.
From what I’ve seen of Niemelainen, he’s something of a far huger version of Kris Russell, a shot-blocking, fundamentally sound defensive d-man who skates well but isn’t a great passer or shooter of the puck, hence his six goals in five pro seasons.

BLH’s Thoughts: Philip Broberg can also play the right side, for what it’s worth.

So, we’re going to get our glimpse of Edmonton’s potential version of Eric Cernak, a massively physical shutdown defenseman who can take care of business in front of the net and break the cycles down low. I’m excited!

This post should come out around noon Edmonton time and I’m hoping that we don’t hear of any more positive COVID cases before or after that. Fingers crossed!

The Athletic

Breaking down the Oilers roster after a November of many wins and many warning signs

The goaltending shows promise with a healthy dose of worry, and the team’s even-strength goal differential has been better in the past five games (10-10, with help from Skinner).
The defence is nine deep, and the inexpensive rookies are outperforming several expensive veterans.
The No. 3 line is finding some real traction but at the expense of the top line losing Puljujarvi and his dynamic range of skills.

BLH’s Thoughts: We’re in for a very inauspicious start to the month of December as the Oilers will open the Christmas month with their AHL affiliate’s top four defenders from the past two years in Evan Bouchard, Philip Broberg, William Lagesson, and now Markus Niemelainen.

So far so good, but with a defense that young, it can all come crashing down in an instant. A veteran savvy team like the Penguins (Jeff Carter and Jason Zucker are licking their chops right now), who are also riding a hot goalie, can really take advantage of these situations. Hopefully, the Oilers’ forwards have their A-game on hand and make sure to give these kids on defense a hand because it can’t be all up to Kris Russell and Tyson Barrie to carry the blueline.

I reckon if Tippett keeps Pulju on the third line, that trio will be a dangerous weapon for the Oilers seeing as the game is in Edmonton. That means the Oilers get last change and they can send out that third line to face either of Pittsburgh’s bottom two lines with a feeling of relative positivity and confidence that they’ll outperform the Pens on that shift.

NHLRumors.com

Jimmy Murphy of Pittsburgh Hockey Now: After talking to people around the league, a look at three forwards and three defensemen that could be on the trade block.
- Brock Boeser – Vancouver Canucks – He may have been available since the offseason. Carries a $5.8 million cap hit and is a pending RFA.
- Ryan Strome – New York Rangers – The 28-year old has been available for a while now. The Rangers have been looking for a middle-six forward. Pending UFA with a $4.5 million cap hit.
- Phil Kessel – Arizona Coyotes – Carries a $6.8 million cap hit and the Coyotes may need to retain salary.
- Will Butcher – Buffalo Sabres – The 26-year old is a pending free agent with a $3.7 million cap hit and a $2.8 million salary.
- Olli Maatta – Los Angeles Kings – The 27-year old will be a free agent and carries a $4 million cap hit.
- Brayden McNabb – Vegas Golden Knights – The Golden Knights will need to move some salary when Jack Eichel is ready to return. The 31-year old carries a $2.5 million cap hit and will be UFA after the season.