Coming from an Edmonton Oilers point of view, BLH provides you with 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 NHLTradeRumors.me
Recently, Stan Sweeney published a blog post detailed three potential destinations for soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Check them out below!
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BLH’s Thoughts: Why would Chicago or Detroit add RNH at this point? They are two teams that are rebuilding and they have no.1 centers already. In Chicago’s case, they have Toews, Kirby Dach, and Dylan Strome. Then they have Kubalik and DeBrincat on their LW… Not sure how Nuge fits in there
After what he’s gone through in Edmonton, would he look at Columbus and figure that’s a good place to sign. All of their stars are leaving or have left but at least he’d get to play with Patrik Laine and Oliver Bjorkstrand or Cam Atkinson instead of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl…
Mr. Sweeney hasn’t quite thought this one through…
Now, it’s only fair that I offer up three destinations of my own if I’m going to criticize.
- Seattle: They need a face to sell to the fans and I’ve heard they’re willing to pay him top dollar even though they know it would be an overpayment. It’s also closer to where he grew up.
- Minnesota: The Wild are on the hunt for a top-six center and they’ve been interested in Nuge for a VERY long time. There’ll be challenges though because they have to re-sign Kaprizov, Fiala, and Eriksson-Ek.
- Boston: This is a wildcard for me. Certainly they re-up with David Krejci, but what if they don’t and decide to sign both Nuge and Taylor Hall? That’s a duo the team can go into the foreseeable future with when Bergeron and Marchand start to decline…
From The Hockey Writers
Taking a look at expiring contracts that have left the Toronto Maple Leafs in the past for nothing, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox asks, “Does Rielly — an integral and passionate piece of this core — skate out 2021-22 as an “own rental” and participate in one of GM Kyle Dubas’s final three Cup attempts with Matthews and Nylander in the fold?”
Suggesting the options are to move Rielly before his price goes through the roof or negotiate with Rielly’s agent, J.P. Barry, starting July 28, what to do with the defenseman is a bigger decision than the Leafs determining what to do with Zach Hyman and/or Frederik Andersen. Fox writes:
- “He could fetch a superior return to any of the Maple Leafs’ past “own rentals.” He’s also been usurped on Sheldon Keefe’s top power-play unit by the emerging and cap-kind Rasmus Sandin. That could diminish his point production as a Leaf in 2021-22.”
Rielly is set to become a UFA next summer and will be looking at a raise of his current $5 million per season salary. No talks on an extension have occurred yet but Dubas is well aware that he needs to leave room to get that deal done when he makes an action plan for this offseason.
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BLH’s Thoughts: Does Rasmus Sandin have the ceiling that Morgan Rielly has? Ideally you’d like to keep good players when you have them and I’ve never had the feeling that Rielly wanted out of Toronto. Add to that the fact that the Maple Leafs need to strengthen their defense not weaken it and isn’t he part of Toronto’s leadership core?
I don’t know. I don’t spend a lot of time going over the Maple Leafs’ depth charts that much but this is a player I’d much rather keep. I’d move on from TJ Brodie if push came to shove.
The whole conversation hinges on Rielly and Brodie waiving their NTC or NMC too… At least with MR, he will get to choose his spot if he agrees to a trade.
From The Athletic
Daniel Nugent-Bowman, the beat reporter who covers the Oilers, published part 2 to his recent mailbag blog where he fielded questions regarding Edmonton’s prospects and trade proposals.
It’s quite a long post, so I’ve found the best snippets and spread them out over today’s three blogs. This will be part 3!
Do you think Ryan McLeod can be a third-line centre next season? What do you think about his defence?
- “Can he be? Yes. Players can make big strides in the offseason. Just look at what he did this year. That was a huge improvement based on 2019-20.Will he be? That’s less likely. The Oilers could really use an established centre behind McDavid and Draisaitl, which would help take a bit of pressure off McLeod.”
BLH’s Thoughts: For me, he’s a 4th line center or bottom-six winger until he consistently displays that he’s strong enough to graduate to the center position. Edmonton can’t afford to go season after season with one player who can win faceoffs.
Which forward and defenceman would you chose from Bakersfield to step into the Oilers lineup next year and be a regular?
- “Up front, it has to be Tyler Benson. He’s entering his fourth year in the pros. It’s getting to be now-or-never territory.”
- “My answer is Markus Niemelainen. He might get in a few games at some point, but he won’t be a regular.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Niemelainen had been getting a real push from Bob Stauffer this season until the Finn broke his arm. Some are comparing him to Justin Holl (TOR), but we’ll have to see on that one.
As for Benson, he’ll get his shot, but if he misses, he’ll be moved as there are other teams in the league that would gladly have him in their lineup.
Now, when he does get his opportunity, where do you think he starts? Alongside somebody familiar like Ryan McLeod or maybe a bit higher up due to his high hockey IQ and outstanding history in the muck?
Tyler Benson’s skating has always held him back a bit in the Oilers organization but Patrick Maroon was never the best skater and he performed well in his time in Edmonton… If there’s a will, there’s a way with young Benson.
Holland doesn’t make many trades, but are there any players you would target in a trade?
- “The Oilers should be targeting players — namely forwards — that teams will have trouble protecting in the expansion draft. They could try to get, say, someone like Tyson Jost from Colorado for a lesser package or value than it might normally cost. The issue is they don’t have a lot of tradeable players if Holland sticks to his guns and won’t give up Bouchard, Broberg, Holloway or McLeod.”
BLH’s Thoughts: I’m telling ya, Holland should get on the honker with Tampa Bay and not hang up until he’s got Alex Killorn on a plane to Edmonton.
With lots of cap space and a flat cap this offseason, one way the Oilers may be able to add to their top six is to take advantage of a team in a tight salary-cap situation and trade picks/prospects for an established player. (Think J.T. Miller in Vancouver.) Do you think this is something the Oilers would consider and, if so, are there any potential players you see being available that would fit this situation?
- “This is exactly why I asked Holland the questions I did about whether he felt an impact trade was necessary and if his top prospects were untouchable at the season-ending presser. His answer then and what I’ve heard since leads me to believe this type of trade is unlikely. The Oilers don’t have much to deal from their roster, and Holland doesn’t want to ship out his best prospects. What’s left to sell other than picks?”
BLH’s Thoughts: Holland has a first round pick in this year’s draft and a handful of left-shooting prospect defensemen should he want to part with futures. If he’s willing to trade from his roster, I’d say Caleb Jones and Ethan Bear might be the only moveable pieces he’d consider.
Even though Holland signed him to an extension, I don’t see how Kassian can be brought back on that contract playing bottom-six minutes. Does a team like the Rangers or Penguins value him more considering they need a counterpunch to Tom Wilson in their division?
- “I agree in the sense that it’s probably not ideal to have Kassian back (because of the contract and his lack of special-teams minutes as a bottom-sixer.) Moving on is probably best.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Move Kassian and you’ll be looking for another one. He’s not completely overpaid at a shade over $3M and he’s a RWer who can play on the left side as well as up or down the lineup as the coach prefers. Kass’ll also keep the peace and we can’t forget how entertaining the Battle of Albertas have been since he joined the team.
Zack Kassian is a functional tough guy and those are awfully rare.
Now, if they did move him, there’s nothing wrong with searching for the next one. There are a few emerging like Zach Sanford, Josh Dakota, Nathan Bastian, Miles Wood, etc.
It’s just a matter of considering if acquiring the new Kass is worth it on a number of levels aside from financially.
With Klefbom’s uncertain health status and Barrie likely priced out of Edmonton as well as blocking a path for Bouchard, does Holland sign a top-four LD this offseason, perhaps Alec Martinez?
- “The Oilers must plan as if Klefbom won’t be back and act accordingly. Larsson had five partners in 2021. That can’t happen again. Martinez, Jamie Oleksiak,and Ryan Murray are the lefties that stand out on the free-agent market.”
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BLH’s Thoughts: Those three would be ideal additions in my book. I love what Alex Martinez would bring to the table for the Oilers if he were to join the team. He’s a winner and if I’m not mistaken, he’s always played on winning teams.
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