July 15, 2021 /

Button Says Seattle Should Take Tyler Benson From the Oilers in the Expansion Draft

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 the Edmonton Sun (Jim Matheson)

OILERS NOTES: There’s no room to protect Adam Larsson if signed now
  • Unless Edmonton Oilers’ GM Ken Holland has changed his mind on his math for the Seattle expansion draft protected list and wants to detour from his stated three defencemen/seven forwards road, unrestricted free-agent Adam Larsson isn’t getting signed before the lists have to go into the NHL on Friday.
  • If Larsson were signed now, either Bear would have to be exposed or traded for a forward, to go the 3-7 route. Or, Holland could go 4-4, but then he would have to decide on protecting Jesse Puljujarvi or Kailer Yamamoto as his fourth forward after Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He would lean to Puljujarvi because he’s 40 pounds heavier and eight inches taller, and had 15 goals this season to Yamamoto’s eight. Then Yamamoto would be there and, since he’s from Spokane, snapped up by Seattle.
  • If Larsson is unsigned by Friday, Seattle gets from July 18-21 to talk to him exclusively. Full free-agency starts July 28. Larsson and Tampa’s fellow right-shot D David Savard are the two prize shutdown guys as UFA targets. Savard, 31 in October, is coming off a five-year deal with a $4.25-million cap hit. Larsson is 28 and ending a six-year contract at $4.167 million per season.

WHO WILL SEATTLE TARGET?

  • “If I’m Seattle, I’m going for potential and Benson has that. You know what Khaira is,” TSN commentator Craig Button said.
  • “He’s a smart player and last season started digging into the penalty-killing,” Tippett said. “He’s an interesting player for us. He’s basically a left winger, but played some right, too. Eventually guys jump in and earn their spots and away they go. That’s what we’re hoping for with Tyler.”

THIS ’N’ THAT

  • The Oilers continue to try and move Koskinen, who likely won’t be protected in the expansion draft, offering to eat some of his $4.5-million cap hit.
  • With Pekka Rinne retiring in Nashville would they take him for one year at $3 million?

BLH’s Thoughts: At this point, I feel the Oilers might be lucky to get Larsson at $4.5M/yr, but in the event that he walks, surely the team signing him will be paying him more than $5M/yr, no? A shame it’d be if that happened. 

As for Benson, he’s still young so there’s time for him to make his mark, but the AHL’s history is riddled with stories of small skilled players who lit up the league but never made it to the NHL. For Benson’s skating not to have improved enough to even get a call-up from the Oilers this past year despite leading his division in scoring, that’s a big red flag. The fact that NHL execs are still using the word ‘hope’ in relation to his NHL prospects is another. 

By the time this is published, Koskinen might’ve already been moved, regardless, that trade idea from Matheson is an interesting one. It makes sense to me because in that scenario the Oilers wouldn’t have any dead weight on their books next season and at half of his salary, he’s an attractive backup option for other teams looking to fill that hole on their roster. 

From Oil on Whyte (Sean Mallon)

Oilers: Three Good Things About the Duncan Keith Trade
  • With 16 NHL seasons behind him, none can question that Keith knows about both attacking and defending at the pro hockey level. Teams feared facing him, and at least some portion of the skills he developed and perfected over his career should be transferable.
  • Leadership qualities have potential value… Keith doesn’t need to come in and take over the room.  Frankly, if you aren’t inspired to play your best hockey when you get to suit up next to the best player in the world today, witnessing all the things he does to keep himself in top shape and constantly improve his game, then maybe pro hockey isn’t for you.
  • Looking at his specific circumstances, on a Chicago roster that was a shadow of its former greatness, as well as considering the unbelievable season that fellow 38-year-old Mike Smith had for the Oilers, there is at least a chance that Edmonton can see a positive gain from this acquisition.

BLH’s Thoughts: It’s nice to see some Oilers blogs saying nice things about Duncan Keith… 

From Spector’s Hockey

NHL Rumor Mill – July 14, 2021

WILD TO PURSUE EICHEL?

TSN: Darren Dreger talked about what could be next for the Minnesota Wild following their decision to buy out the contracts of winger Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter. Re-signing restricted free agents Kirill Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala are priorities.

Dreger said the Wild would love to add a first-line center. He believes they’ll make a trade offer to the Buffalo Sabres for Jack Eichel. However, general manager Bill Guerin won’t blow their cap space or overpay with trade assets.

of his $10 million annual cap hit for the next five seasons.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE BLACKHAWKS FOLLOWING THE KEITH TRADE?

NBC SPORTS: Adam Gretz examined what could be in store for the Chicago Blackhawks after shipping Duncan Keith to the Edmonton Oilers earlier this week. They could attempt to acquire Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones, especially after getting younger brother Caleb Jones as part of the return from the Oilers. They also have enough cap space to pursue Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Dougie Hamilton if he hits the open market on July 28.

BLH’s Thoughts: How in the world are the Wild going to pay Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov, and Kevin Fiala after buying out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter? I mean, of course it’s possible, but is Bill Guerin going to fill out the rest of the roster with sub-million dollar players?

I might be in the minority, but I don’t think Seth Jones will go to Chicago and considering what the Blue Jackets are demanding from the Blackhawks in return for him, Stan Bowman can’t seriously be considering that trade. I see Jones going to a team in SoCal.

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CategoriesArmchair GM Beer League Hero Edmonton Oilers NHL Rumors

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Beer League Hero Written by:

I'm the Beer League Hero! I am from Camrose, Alberta but I make my home in Taipei City, Taiwan. I've been through the ups and downs and the highs and the Lowes, the Bonsignores and the McDavids, the Sathers and the Eakins but I'll never leave my Oilers, no matter what! They're with me until the end and then some. GO OILERS GO!