This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!
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The Athletic
What I’m hearing about the Oilers 2.0
- “Bouchard is eligible for an offer sheet. That would be disastrous for the Oilers.”
- “I’m told it’s very unlikely the Oilers will be able to match any substantial offer sheet Bouchard chooses to sign.”
- “The Oilers want to keep bruising winger Klim Kostin, a pending RFA with arbitration rights… The ideal compromise is a two-year agreement for an annual cap hit of no more than $1.5 million… Is that enough to keep Kostin around? There could be some interest in the 24-year-old winger from KHL teams.”
- “I’m told (Derek) Ryan understands the Oilers won’t hesitate to send him to send him to Bakersfield if he clears waivers, in the second year in the event of underperformance.”
- “Barring something unforeseen, the Oilers aren’t planning to move on from Cody Ceci this offseason. That’s what I continue to hear.”
- “The feeling is that Ceci’s contract just has too much value for a No. 4 defenceman…”
- “It sure seems more likely one of Broberg, Vincent Desharnais or Brett Kulak is dealt before Ceci.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Seeing how cutthroat Vegas has been with regards to upgrading its roster since they’ve joined the league, I wonder if other teams will join in the party and sacrifice futures for immediate help? How good would Bouchard look on the Sabres right now teaming up with Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Mattias Samelsson and playing closer to home no less?
Jason Strudwick made an interesting point on Gregor’s show last week (I believe) about Kostin. He asked how many players who don’t produce much on their first team get a little bit of traction on their 2nd NHL team only to move on to a third and really catch fire and I think it’s a valid question.
Now, for me, Kostin doesn’t come across as your typical Russian hockey player. He seems to have more of an old-school Canadian player’s personality. He fights, blocks shots, looks after his teammates, and is more power than speed. I want to think that he’s not the type to look a gift horse in the mouth. Meaning he realizes how good of a spot he’s in IF winning is important to him. If money’s a motivating factor, he might as well start looking for a place in Moscow now and be ready for the start of the KHL season.
The Oilers shouldn’t be planning to keep anybody that’s underperformed in the last 18 months and I’d love to know what they see in his game that makes his contract so valuable at $3.25M for another two years.
Brett Pesce makes $750k more than Ceci, is a much better player, and he might be available for trade this summer. Trading for him and then signing him long term with the knowledge that the cap is going up next offseason would be ridiculously prudent, but who’d want a top-four of Nurse, Bouchard, Ekholm, and Pesce? Brutal, right?
Dylan Demelo makes $250k less than the Oilers rearguard and some fancies have him a better defender against elites. I’d take that.
Oilersnation
Seravalli: Expect more depth moves than big moves for the Edmonton Oilers
- “Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff had this to say about the Konecny rumours and if the Oilers will make a big move this summer.”
- “I don’t think it is realistic. I think the Oilers will keep their ears close to the ground, and if something jumps onto their plate that makes sense, then you might see them go down that path. For the most part, I believe their way is to improve on the margins. Maybe they can make a deal with someone around Cody Ceci, giving them some increased flexibility to make that big move. I think the goal should be to stack up on three and five per cent wins that can hopefully add up to something bigger. Find a way to improve the right side of the offence or increase the variability of your bottom six.”
BLH’s Thoughts: If Ceci’s contract is so valuable, why not capitalize on it and win a trade? Nah, that makes too much sense.
All facetiousness aside, Improving the bottom six is something I’ve been harping on for quite a while now. I think if the Oilers get Noel Acciari, Sam Lafferty, and Luke Schenn at the deadline in addition to Ekholm, they’re planning the parade down Jasper Ave this week.
But, you know what? Maybe in 23/24 Dylan Holloway will be this year’s Sam Lafferty or Brandon Hagel. Perhaps Rafa Lavoie is the next Nick Paul and Vinnie Desharnais is the next Erik Cernak.
A lot of people would be upset if the Oilers slow played it this summer and went into the next campaign with a lot of the same old faces, but I can see value in that too. Keeping the powder dry and making some astute moves in March that could pay massive dividends in seasons to come might very well be the plan.
That said, this team still needs one or two elder statesmen like a Toews or Corey Perry. Phil Kessel would be fun, wouldn’t he? Zach Parise is still tossing up 20g seasons at 38 years old or what about the ultimate vet, Patrice Bergeron! Get Gretz and Mess on the phone to Patrice yesterday!
Trade Rumors
Spector’s Hockey
- Matt Larkin listed the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild as possible trade destinations for Pierre-Luc Dubois.
- Shayna Goldman looked at seven potential trade destinations for Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson… The Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, and Los Angeles Kings were Goldman’s suggested targets.
- Sammi Silber reported Sirius XM’s John Hoven and The Fourth Period’s Dennis Bernstein reported on “King Of The Podcast” that a reliable source claimed the Los Angeles Kings “kicked tires” on Tom Wilson.
- Lance Lysowski reports Victor Olofsson and his agent expect a trade from the Sabres.
BLH’s Thoughts: For Oilers fans, with this offseason at the forefront, be very mindful about next summer when the cap is set to jump up. Holland might not be able to put a Travis Konecny on the team for 23/24, but when the cap space opens up for 24/25, there’ll definitely be more of a chance to add a big fish to the roster at this year’s trade deadline or after next year. It may possibly mean a tough contract is easier to move too…
