Are the Oilers Considering a BIG Move This Summer?

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!

From Oilersnation

Acquiring Duncan Keith: Good Move or Bad Move?

Jason Gregor on the Duncan Keith Rumors,

1. Chicago has now granted the Oilers and other teams interested the opportunity to speak with Keith and his agent Gerry Johannson. Chicago did this in the hopes they can get more in return for Keith, and get a true sense of how Keith views their team.
2. Edmonton is interested. But the cost will be the deciding factor if a deal will be made. They have spoken with Keith’s camp. That doesn’t mean a trade is imminent, just that they have spoken.
I reached out to a pro scout who watched the West division very closely this year.“His skating is still very good,” said the scout. “He is always in the play. He is aggressive. He defends by attacking and I think he is better suited to play with a veteran partner who assesses situations quicker and better than rookies. Veterans often adapt better when playing with an aggressive partner.”
In his prime he was elite and one of the best defensemen in the NHL. He isn’t that player now, but how much of that skill remains in his game? I asked the scout.“Like I said, his skating is still very good. His conditioning is top-notch, he said. “He can play 23 minutes, although you’d be better served playing him fewer minutes. If you acquire him to be your top guy you will be disappointed. My one concern is can he handle not being the top guy? Keith wasn’t the top PP guy this year. Boqvist was and I think Keith struggled a bit with that. I never spoke to him, and I’m just basing that off what I saw. It is difficult for elite players who were the Alpha for so long to suddenly not be that guy. Whichever team acquires him probably won’t have to deal with that, because on a new team, in a new situation, he won’t have that same feeling of being the guy.”
If Edmonton acquires Keith, then he should play with Adam Larsson or Ethan Bear. I don’t play him with Bouchard for the exact reason the scout outlined. Keith’s aggressive style is not a fit with a rookie. Don’t ask Keith to change his style. He is who he is, but Edmonton has to recognize this and play him with a veteran who can read the play and react accordingly.
Maybe Keith will get a jolt on a new team. Maybe he won’t, but elite players are playing better into their late 30s than ever before. Smith just had his second-best season ever at 38 years of age. Remember Ron Hainsey, who had arguably the best four years of his career from 36-39. And he was never as elite as Keith.

BLH’s Thoughts: Gregor’s points here are quite valid. I feel like the only people taking this trade out of hand are the fans. The media in Edmonton are all over it and almost to a man, in favor of bringing Keith in. They recognize that trading for a player like Keith is the kind of investment that will pay off for years and years after he’s retired. His potential impact on Edmonton’s young stars and up and coming defensemen can’t be quantified, it’ll just be something that the players will only talk about for the rest of their lives.

Oh, please stop with the Ference comparisons… Your intelligence is starting to show.

From NHLTraderumors.me

3 Teams That Will Look At Signing Goaltender Linus Ullmark

Vancouver Canucks – Vancouver is very likely going to lose Braden Holtby to Seattle in expansion. Vancouver will need a goalie to play 1B to their starter Thatcher Demko. Ullmark would be an excellent addition to that team, and a tandem of him and Demko would be able to make up for some of the defensive failings that plagued the Canucks throughout the last season.

Edmonton Oilers – Smith can’t be the go-to guy in Edmonton forever, and Ullmark, who is only 27, could be their goalie of the future, allowing them to further push themselves into contender status and maintain that status for years to come.

Colorado Avalanche – Vezina nominee Philipp Grubauer will be wanting a raise of his own this offseason, and Colorado may not be able to afford it. Should Grubauer walk, bringing in Linus Ullmark would help soften the blow. A good defence like what the Avalanche have can help boost a goalie’s numbers, and Ullmark’s numbers are already pretty good.

BLH’s Thoughts: Crikey, I couldn’t tell you if Ullmark is that good or not. I didn’t watch any Sabres games this year, but if there are enough people saying that this goalie has starting potential, that’s a pretty good indicator he may very well be a no.1 keeper in the future.

From NHL Trade Talk

Oilers to Take a Big Swing on the Open Market or In Trade [Report]

Because the Edmonton Oilers are comfortable with their young prospects taking on bigger roles, does that mean taking a big swing this summer?

What this means is that Edmonton might make a massive pitch for a big-name left-winger. Among the names out there are Zach Hyman, Brandon Saad, Mike Hoffman, Gabriel Landeskog, Taylor Hall and others. If the Oilers aren’t afraid to spend $6 million to land their guy, they should be an attractive option for at least one of these names.

BLH’s Thoughts: As I’ve said multiple times and I’ll continue to say until the offseason is declared over for the Oilers, expect the unexpected. Connor and his leadership core are ready to take the next step and the pressure is on Ken Holland to bring in the players that will help his team do that right now.

So, my advice going forward would be not to ignore names who you think are out of Edmonton’s league because you don’t know what you don’t know and Mr. Holland might just surprise you with what he knows and is willing to do…

Normally on my birthday I’d take the day off, but we’re just coming to the end of our own little Covid lockdown and there’s no real point it going out with the family when there aren’t that many places to go. Plus it’s f*cking roasting out there… Summers in Taipei mean waking up to 35 degree mornings and I’ve made it a habit over the years to stay indoors until the evenings and even then if we go out, I’m coming home with a sweat-soaked t-shirt.

So, instead, I decided to grind away and give you what you’ve come to expect everyday.

Have a good one!

BLH

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