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Oilersnation
News and notes: The latest on Jesse Puljujarvi trade rumours, Edmonton Oilers at the World Juniors, and more
- The Jesse Puljujarvi trade winds continue to blow… The biggest issue here seems to be the arbitration case, rather than the Oilers disliking the player.
- We’re now just days away from Team Canada’s World Junior camp kicking off, but we may not see any Oilers there… According to The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman, [Xavier] Bourgault is still battling a core/oblique injury he suffered in the final weeks of the QMJHL season.
BLH’s Thoughts: We’re only a few days away from the opening of free agency and yet we’ve entered the slowest part of the offseason. Lucky enough for us, the Oilers still have some semi-important roster decisions to make, the World Juniors are coming, and it wouldn’t shock me if there were some front office additions made in the coming weeks as well. Not that it’ll rock any boats, but there’s also the Evander Kane arbitration hearing whenever that gets sorted.
That said, there are still quite a few big names left unsigned (Kadri, Klingberg) and we’re left wondering where Puljujarvi will end up and if Warren Foegele and Tyson Barrie will be Oilers in 2022/23.
I’ll maintain until proven differently that I believe both Kailer Yamamoto and Jesse Puljujarvi are going to give the Oilers some grief if they make it to their arbitration hearings. All that talk about how much Killer is a requested lineup is only making their case stronger and Pulju’s strong start to last season will do the same for him. The Oilers might be forced to make a difficult decision on both players should things go all the way in the arbitration process.
The Hockey Writers
Oilers Should Hold Off on Trading Barrie for One More Season
- Since Philip Broberg, the Oilers’ prospect that is almost definitely making the lineup next season, is able to play both sides, he would have been able to slot in whether Keith was gone or Barrie was gone. Now he can play his stronger side and the Oilers can have time to find who will be there next season.
- Barrie is still expected to do what he does best for the Oilers, and that’s play the point on their power play which remains one of the best in the league year after year.
- It’s not very likely to happen for a ton of time next season, but when Barrie and Kulak were together, they were very effective and the best pairing the Oilers had down the stretch and into the playoffs.
- Whether that is replacing him internally or externally, it will be easier now to replace Barrie and what he brings to the Oilers with another year of development and player movement around the league.
- In the end, if the Oilers can afford to pay Barrie next season which it looks like they can with no problems, then it is better to have that skill and what he brings to the lineup rather than just trading him for something that won’t help the Oilers right now.
BLH’s Thoughts: I was already sort of under the assumption that either Duncan Keith or Tyson Barrie wouldn’t be back and I don’t see Holland, who loves his vets, moving Barrie unless he really needs to open up some cap space in the event Puljujarvi’s and/or Yamamoto’s re-signings end up costing more than expected.
Personally, I just like the idea of having two capable puck moving right-shot dmen on the team rather than just one because the Oilers don’t have another one coming up on the farm who could step in.
If this team is going to be a champion, it needs championship depth.
Trade Rumors
Spector’s Hockey
- Michael Traikos recently wondered if Auston Matthews might follow Johnny Gaudreau’s example and sign as a free agent with a club close to his hometown. The 24-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs center was raised in Arizona and makes his off-season home in Scottsdale.
- The Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders and Calgary Flames are among Peter Baugh’s suggested destinations for Nazem Kadri… Baugh also listed the Nashville Predators and Seattle Kraken as destinations for Kadri.
- Lamoriello could inquire about Patrik Laine if the Columbus Blue Jackets have difficulty re-signing the RFA winger after adding Gaudreau. He could also revisit his interest in Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller.
BLH’s Thoughts: Auston Matthews and Matty Tkachuk in Arizona alongside Conor Bedard or Matvei Michkov is Gary Bettman’s biggest fantasy and I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibilities either. Tkachuk could be there by 2023 if he accepts his qualifier this year and Matthews’ contract expires at the end of the ’23/’24 season.
That’s the kind of chaos I’m here for, too.
