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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Oilers Now
What Would it Take to Get Kirby Dach?
- “I got a lot of time for Kirby Dach. I have a pretty good handle as to what’s happened in Chicago over the last year. Kirby lived with Brent Seabrook in his first year in Chicago and Seabrook’s left that organization, Duncan Keith’s left that organization. Dylan Strome was the player that has benefitted from playing with Patrick Kane (who really likes to have the puck) and Kirby went through a couple of injuries including a wrist surgery which is never easy. I don’t know about you but if I was looking to pilfer a player 22 or under away from another organization, a 6’4″ right shot center that plays a little bit like Ryan Getzlaf, I might have a bit of time for.”
- “You’d probably have to get Colton Dach thrown in the deal (who is a Chicago pick from last year). They (Chicago) don’t have a first round pick in this year’s draft… The Oilers have a couple players… Now, here’s the thing, right now I’ve got McLeod as my 3rd line center. I would NOT include Ryan McLeod in a Kirby Dach trade, but would you trade Jesse Puljujarvi and a first plus (more) to get him?”
- “What’s changed in Chicago is that they’re under new management and I don’t know if they’re likely totally committed to Dach. I don’t know.”
BLH’s Thoughts: There’s no way I’m moving Jesse, a first round pick, AND another prospect or pick for a kid that’s had trouble staying healthy and hasn’t scored more than ten goals in a year since he joined the league. He might be better than Jess down the road, but he’ll also be more expensive and the Oilers have their own kids coming down the vine that may be AS good or better than Dach.
Just as Elliotte Friedman said last week, the Oilers are better off waiting to see who gets squeezed in free agency and digging for talent there. Maybe Dylan Strome gets let go by Chicago and he signs a sweetheart deal with the Oilers to play on a line with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman.
I mean, if you’re going spend big assets to make a big trade with the Hawks, you trade for Debrincat, not Dach. Isn’t that obvious?
Oilersnation
With retirement in question, Edmonton Oilers defenceman Duncan Keith “really liked it in Edmonton”
- “I know the Oilers were really happy with him. I’ve had some people say to me he’ll be back, I’ve had some other people say they’re just not 100% sure. So they said just take ‘Duncan, take a couple of weeks and think about it.”
- “If Keith retires, it’s a huge cap break for the Oilers. It’s something they absolutely need, but as someone said to me, they would not be unhappy to have him back with the impact they felt around the organization. I think Keith is much more likely to return than (Mike) Smith is.”
- A Keith retirement would open up $8.9-million in cap space for the Oilers next year: $5.5-million for his cap hit, and another $3.4-million due to a cap recapture credit.
BLH’s Thoughts: Keith had a very positive impact on Connor McDavid and the quality of leadership/mentorship he’s added to this team can’t be understated. Evan Bouchard is learning a ton by partnering up with the 2X Stanley Cup winner.
I don’t see him hanging the skates up and Holland loves his vets, so I don’t see the Oilers GM pressuring Keith to leave the game either. Philly Broberg is coming and Keith will no doubt provide some of that golden knowledge to the young Swede too.
For me, I would prefer to see Keith on the 3rd pair and somebody like Kulak or another swift skating dman with size and grit on the 2nd pair, but I’m not going to complain. However, I would be surprised if he signs another contract after next season seeing as Edmonton has some good young dmen looking to make their mark at the NHL level.
There’s talk the NHL won’t let Edmonton have that recapture credit too… I’d be very curious to see what happens if that scenario took place.
Trade Rumors
Spector’s Hockey
- Steven Ellis cited a tweet by Sportsnet’s Nick Alberga claiming John Gibson has informed the Anaheim Ducks that he’s open to being dealt.
- Ellis listed the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers among four clubs that would be looking to address their goaltending this offseason.
- Marco D’Amico recently reported Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes is getting lots of calls from some rival GMs expressing interest in Josh Anderson.
- He also cited Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman telling Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer that Anderson is a hot commodity right now.
- Stefen Rosner wondered if the New York Islanders could pry Anderson away by offering up the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft.
- David Staples cited Bob Stauffer suggesting to Elliotte Friedman it might be a good idea for the Oilers to acquire Anderson if they were to lose winger Evander Kane to free agency.
- Dan Kingerski suggested the Penguins should consider Tyson Barrie as a replacement for Kris Letang if the latter departs this summer via free agency.
- Rob Simpson suggested Barrie could be a good fit with the Canucks.
BLH’s Thoughts: The Pens don’t have a lot of assets to give for Barrie but if the Oilers were willing to accept a 4th round pick in this year’s draft, Pittsburgh could do that. Otherwise they could take a better pick from next year’s (loaded) draft.
I’d love to see Josh Anderson on the Oilers but why are the Habs moving the only guy on their team with size, skill, speed, and toughness. These guys are far and few between in my opinion.
