Edmonton Oilers Offseason Talk: Rishaug says there’s a possibility JP has played his last game in an Oilers uniform.

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Lowetide

Off-season priorities

Sign Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson
- Sign them, and then fashion the roster for the coaches. I expect the fourth line to be faster and younger next season and 7D will be a regular thing.
Hire an analytics department before the summer trading period
- The pro scouts haven’t been close to the amateur scouts for years.
UFA’s
- I don’t think Holland can find the money for Evander Kane, but do believe Brett Kulak is worth the investment.
- I think Brad Malone gets a contract, maybe Josh Archibald, but the team should do the right thing and let Marody go.

RFA’s
- Jesse Puljujarvi, Kailer Yamamoto and Ryan McLeod all need new contracts, I’m hopeful all three return but realistically it’s unlikely.

Ken Holland has to fix the goaltending. Years ago he said spending money on mid-level goaltending was folly, and his Edmonton work suggests he’ll either go big or go home in net. He has to get it right. We might see a deal that sends Jesse Puljujarvi, the first-round pick and Zack Kassian to the Anaheim Ducks for John Gibson. That’s the kind of trade Holland pursues this summer in my opinion.
I expect Jesse Puljujarvi, the first-round pick, Tyson Barrie, Zack Kassian and Warren Foegele are on the way out.
Holland will take heat for his three-year plan of Smith-Koskinen, as he should, but there are opportunities now with Koskinen’s money off the books.
…the team will likely reach out to free agents Darcy Kuemper, Eric Comrie, Ville Husso, Braden Holtby, Felix Sandstrom. I expect we’ll see a Holtby-level starter, Skinner and possibly someone like Comrie or Sandstrom in Bakersfield if they can clear.
One of the things this team needs to do soon is find free-agent solutions in the lower reaches of the annual pool. Ken Holland needs to go hunting for Michael Bunting. I wish he had an Eric Tulsky.

BLH’s Thoughts: Yeah, because having Eric Tulsky got Carolina farther than Edmonton this year. What about Sunny Mehta or the Kyle Dubas experience? How’s New Jersey been doing with Tyler Dellow running that show the past three years?

Could you imagine the uproar league-wide if Ken Holland were able to acquire one of the best goalies in the entire world for Puljujarvi, Kassian, and a first round pick? With that trade alone Holland would have to be considered GM of the year.

Facetiousness aside, I’ve said that Braden Holtby would be a good option for the Oilers and his name was out there as one Edmonton would be interested in. They’ll have to pay for him though as I don’t think he’ll come cheap.

As for Edmonton’s first round pick this year, it’s going to be 29th overall until it isn’t and it shouldn’t shock anybody if Holland trades down to acquire another pick or two in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round considering he’s traded those picks away for help during the last two playoff runs. Seattle’s Reid Schaefer (W) is the player I expect Edmonton to take. Bob Stauffer’s been mentioning him over and over for a while now and compares him to Josh Anderson. A big kid who can skate, plays the body, and can score a goal consistently.

Sportsnet

Analyzing the flaws that shaped the Oilers’ Conference Final defeat

One of the easiest flaws to point out is back in the blue paint. The Oilers’ decision to run it back with a crease of Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen has been criticized all year, and rightfully so.
- …going into the Western Conference Final he was around average, having performed very close to expectations to that point with a Goals Saved Above Expected of -.13.
- Colorado, however, exploited him when he over-committed or mishandled the puck. They’re an aggressive team that can keep the pressure up, and it became too much for the Oilers to handle.
…series-wide, defence was an area of concern as well.
- Of the goaltenders in Round 3, no one’s faced more shot attempts against than Smith in all situations.
- Focusing in on 5-on-5, the Oilers conceded 3.6 expected goals against per 60, which is the most among teams in the playoffs. It wasn’t just a matter of shot volume, but quality.
- The Avalanche were able to skate up the ice with the puck and create offence off the rush, with 32 slot attempts generated at the highest rate among teams in Round 3.
- …(Colorado) managed 24 slot shots off the cycle; four of those converted for goals.
- Edmonton didn’t break up passes enough, either — allowing a higher rate of east-west passes that connected 85 per cent of the time.
What hurt the Oilers, who struggled defensively, was that when they were trailing in a game the Avalanche didn’t simply go into a shell to try to maintain a lead.
- That forced the Oilers to always think about defence and how to battle back against this overwhelming offence. That weighed on Edmonton’s game because they were simply outmatched, and couldn’t play to their strengths.
…what really hurt was losing a top-six player who has been productive in the post-season.
- On the ice, Kane was productive in the post-season.
- At 5-on-5, he led the team with his expected goal generation in the playoffs at 1.39 per 60.
- ….not having Kane — or at least another top-line calibre player — only limited what Edmonton could do against this loaded Avalanche squad.
- The Oilers needed every ounce of forward depth they could get, and Kane ended his season early — and contributed to his team’s season ending sooner than they could have hoped — by taking himself out of Game 4 entirely.

BLH’s Thoughts: This is a game of chaos determined by inches lost or gained. Consider Evan Bouchard’s point shot that hit the post in game three that went back the other way only to see JT Compher sneak one past Mike Smith for the GWG or in game four when Leon Draisaitl’s one-timer on the PP missed a wide open cage to increase Edmonton’s lead, but that’s not even the most obvious example. On the faceoff prior to Lehkonen’s OT winner, Oilers center Brad Malone had actually won the draw but it hit the linesman’s skate and allowed the Avalanche to gather it up and move it back to Cale Mak-Orr for his point shot that lead to the tip.

I don’t think the Oilers’ performance was as bad as some are leading fans to believe. They simply didn’t get the bounces and Colorado did and guess what? That happens sometimes. I’m not trying to discredit the information provided by the writer above because that’s all valid information, but had Edmonton capitalized on even half of the chances they missed, we wouldn’t be talking about a sweep.

https://twitter.com/DNBsports/status/1534560353832513536

Trade Rumors

Spector’s Hockey

Fluto Shinzawa reports a source close to David Pastrnak said there’s “no chance” he returns with the Boston Bruins with Don Sweeney as their general manager.
Jim Matheson reports Evander Kane hasn’t decided yet whether he’ll re-sign with Edmonton or hit the open market this summer.
- Sportsnet’s Mark Spector suggested shopping Tyson Barrie and his $4.5 million cap hit, moving Zack Kassian and his $3.2 million AAV and perhaps having to choose between re-signing Kailer Yamamoto or Jesse Puljujarvi.
Daniel Nugent-Bowman reports Mike Smith appeared non-committal about completing his contract during his end-of-season interview yesterday.
- Jason Gregor of Oilers Nation reported sources telling him Smith is contemplating retirement.
- If Smith retires, his $2.2 million cap hit for next season comes off the Oilers’ books. Those savings could be put toward finding a new starting goaltender.

Ryan Rishaug now on 1260 says that the #Oilers at this point are significantly prioritizing Yamamoto over Puljujarvi. Says there's a possibility JP has played his last game in an Oilers uniform. #LetsGoOilers

— MJ (@jabe_m93) June 8, 2022

The Daily Goal Horn

… the Maple Leafs may find Campbell to be just too expensive and seek a cheaper option in net.
- …their best option is to trade for RFA goalie Alexandar Georgiev of the New York Rangers.
When it comes to the next coach of the Boston Bruins, you’re likely looking at a guy like Rick Tocchet. He last coached the Coyotes and this would be a great step up. Another option is Massachusetts native David Quinn, who did a good job with a very young and rebuilding Rangers team.
Pierre-Luc Dubois has until July 17th to file for salary arbitration. From July 13th, when free agency opens and until that date he could sign an offer-sheet… Murat Ates, who covers the Jets for The Athletic seems to think it’s possible. One team he feels might do it are the Habs.

NHLRumors.com

The Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs should be talking about goaltender Petr Mrazek. It’s a trade that would make sense for both the Blackhawks and the Maple Leafs.
…the Vancouver Canucks are working on a second interview with Russian free agent Andrei Kuzmenko and his agent Dan Milstein. The Canucks are still high on the list.
Given their salary cap situation, it’s looking like the Minnesota Wild won’t be able to fit in a big, long-term contract for winger Kevin Fiala.
- The New York Islanders are one of the teams that should be speaking with Guerin.
- The Wild would have to move defenseman Matt Dumba to keep Fiala.
- Would Wahlstrom and the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft for Fiala be enough?

BLH’s Thoughts: If I had to make an educated guess, I would say that Mike Smith, Warren Foegele, Zack Kassian, Tyson Barrie, and Jesse Puljujarvi are playing for other teams next season or retired.

Normally, I would say that moving Pulju is a terrible idea, but I think we’re in Jordan Eberle territory here where a change of scenery would do both parties well. Jess doesn’t seem to fit in with this group and the new coaching staff seemed hesitant to trust him regardless of his underlying numbers.

There will be interest in Kassian and Foegele as there always is in big forwards who can skate.

As for Barrie, he’s still an effective PP quarterback and I remember Montreal and the Islanders being teams who might have had their eye on him this year.

With Smith, I’ve really enjoyed watching him with the Oilers but he’s getting on in age and it’s possible this team needs a new voice in net. I don’t know if he’ll retire, perhaps Arizona would take him in a trade for their young team. Is it the right move though? Dwayne Roloson’s season at 41 was better than his one at 40 years old and if Smith can stay healthy, he can play. I just wonder if he’s had enough though…