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!
Cooper Marody has unfollowed the #LetsGoOilers and the Bakersfield Condors on Instagram.
Doesn’t seem like he’s coming back (RFA). Trading his rights? Wish we used him more than just 6 NHL games though!
— Archivist🏒🥅 (@Archivistttt) June 30, 2021
From The Athletic
‘You’ve got to take risks’: How re-signing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for eight years could help and hurt the Oilers
The Oilers need more top-six forwards, not fewer of them, so getting Nugent-Hopkins back at a reduced rate should be helpful as the team attempts to vault into the league’s elite. Remember: it’s not exactly easy to get veteran players to come to Edmonton via free agency or trade if they can block deals.
The Oilers get a very good player back, someone with whom they’re comfortable, and someone who Holland thinks will age like a fine wine.
“His game is based on smarts, hockey sense, stick skills, patience,” he said. “Those are things that are never going to go away.”
Getting the cap hit down $875,000 annually based on the RNH’s current $6 million salary gives Holland some flexibility in the coming weeks as he tries to revamp his roster for the months and years ahead.
BLH’s Thoughts: This one more successful example of Ken Holland’s ability to sell a player on his vision. He did it multiple times with the Red Wings as they were on the verge of building an NHL powerhouse in the 90s and 2000s and no he’s doing it with the Oilers.
By getting Nuge to sign for almost a million dollars less than what he was making, he’s essentially found $6M(ish) to play around with. That’ll be valuable pocket change for Holland as he could use it on a player or players, it might be tucked away to cover for bonus overages. Who knows? Point is, found money is found money and it has to be treated with care.
Now, I don’t exactly see the final few years of RNH’s deal as all that risky. Sure there are some bonuses tied to them and the last year jumps up to $3.75M, but the cap will be higher by then if the contract needs to be moved or bought out by then. Maybe a Shawn Horcoff scenario plays out or maybe Nuge does spend the rest of his career in Edmonton, I mean, at 36 years old, if his body holds up, he could go another 4-5 years after that like Patrick Marleau has.
The RNH signing brings Edmonton’s available cap space down to $16.22M according to capfriendly. At least until the day after the Stanley Cup has been awarded… Then all hell should be breaking loose, no? 😉
From NHL Trade Talk
Fans Lose It Over Buzz Oilers to Protect Kassian in NHL Expansion Draft
Oilers fans are riled up at a rumor Ken Holland is thinking about protecting Zack Kassian during the NHL Expansion Draft.
This all comes after news that among the forwards the Oilers will try and hang onto — which as a result, means likely losing a defenseman in the draft — Kassian is going to be among the names on the protected list. So is his two goals and five points that the Oilers just paid over $3 million for this past season.
Jonathan Willis of The Athletic points out something interesting. He writes: “Given the number of teams around the NHL worried about bulking up for the playoffs and/or getting their show run by Tom Wilson, his [Kassian] trade value likely exceeds his recent on-ice contributions.” Is Willis hinting that the Oilers will protect the player to ensure they can trade the player and get a decent return versus losing him for nothing?
When you think back to the visceral reaction from Oilers Nation that came with the two-year contract Holland signed Devin Shore to, this speculation about Kassian isn’t going to go over well if it turns out to be true.
BLH’s Thoughts: The Oilers could announce that they’re partnering with a new skate sharpening company and the fanbase would lose it’s proverbial shit… Who cares what the vocal minority has to say every time Edmonton makes a move that some bored twat doesn’t like?
The point that Jonathan Willis makes is completely valid, why lose a tradeable asset for nothing in the expansion draft? Protect the player and capitalize on the asset later on if need be.
I know there are some members of the media who didn’t think Kassian upped his game last year but I beg to differ. I’ll admit, the majority of his year was underwhelming, but late in the season before he got hurt, he was starting to round into form. Then he came back for the playoffs and started to find it in the first round loss to Winnipeg (after Tippett moved him up to the top-six no less). I feel like had the Oilers gone to the next round or two, he would’ve found his mojo.
So, hopefully, if he’s not moved, he’ll start next season well and either help the team with his on-ice play or by bringing value to himself so the team can maximize their return in a trade.
Personally, I’d prefer my Oilers to have some bite and snarl but others would rather pussify the team. That’s fine. To each their own. That said, every successful Edmonton Oilers team that has been to the Stanley Cup final has had it’s fair share of grinders, enforcers, and glue guys. Whereas no team built around pure skill has made it that far.
From The Daily Goal Horn
Apparently the two sides worked diligently to get something done since the interest to remain was not only mutual but very strong. “I think I’ve said it from the start, I love being an Oiler, I always have,” Nugent-Hopkins said after the Oilers lost in the playoffs. “My goal is always to stay an Oiler… I think I’ve said it from Day 1, I love being an Oiler and it’s something that I’ve taken a lot of pride in the last 10 years.”
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