Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Duncan Keith Deal to be Sorted by July 18th?

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!

Chris Johnston on SN650:

"Ultimately I think it's very likely (Duncan Keith) is an Oiler. If that doesn't come through, Chicago certainly will look elsewhere. But I get the feeling that's been primarily where they've been focused on this deal"

— #1 A'ja Wilson Fan (@Account4hockey) July 7, 2021

BLH’s Thoughts: As we get closer to the expansion draft protection list deadline (July 17th?), if Stan Bowman has something special in store for his list, he’s going to have to make some moves, Right? Would he be happy losing Keith for nothing to Seattle and getting the full cap hit off of his books? Maybe. Would he rather use his legacy defenseman to bring in Caleb Jones so that he’s got more leverage bringing his brother Seth to town? Perhaps, although I’d bet that Edmonton would be just as happy talking about a different trade involving Jones.

For what it’s worth, I was told July 18th was the date to expect something to happen by… So, who knows?

From Oilersnation

This and That

Help me understand why some are comparing Jeff Petry to Ethan Bear or Caleb Jones. They aren’t similar players. Petry is 6’3″, very mobile, deceptively physical and was a pending UFA when he was traded.
- If the point is to say don’t rush to judgement on young players I would agree. However, Bear will never be Petry, nor will Jones. They aren’t as big, don’t skate as well nor are they as physical.
- Right now a more realistic comparison for Jones might be Martin Marincin at this stage of his career.
I’m guessing many bottom-six RFAs and pending UFAS weren’t excited to see pending UFA Nick Bjugstad’s one-year, $900K deal with Minnesota… So money wasn’t his primary focus, but if this sets the bar for players like him then many will be taking a pay cut.
Jujhar Khaira can’t expect to be qualified at $1.3m now can he? And others like Ondrej Kase ($2.6m), Ryan Donato ($2.15m), Jason Dickinson ($1.6m) and Ivan Barbashev ($1.55m) could be in the same boat.
The Ducks won’t qualify Danton Heinen at $2.8m.

BLH’s Thoughts: Are there really people comparing Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones to Jeff Petry? Good Lord… Are these the same people who think Duncan Keith and Andrew Ference are the same player?

If Bjugstad’s deal is an indication of the sort of prices we can expect the Oilers to pay to shore up their bottom six, Edmonton should be able to upgrade that portion of their squad with ease with players like Erik Haula, Mattias Janmark, Vinnie Hinostroza, or possibly an old cat like Bobby Ryan.

Danton Heinen, remember that name. The Oilers have liked that guy for a long time and I could be wrong, but I think his agent is based in Alberta.

From The Athletic

Lowetide: Oilers 2021-22 roster projection, including trade and free agent targets

If general manager Ken Holland is to build a Stanley Cup contender from this point, changes have to be made.

There are at least five (starting goalie, Connor McDavid’s winger, No. 3 centre, both portions of a second pairing) significant pieces to come.

Goaltending

There has been some talk of Chris Driedger or Linus Ullmark via free agency, but Edmonton may wait one year until Koskinen’s deal is up and turn over the position without penalty. By the summer of 2022, the team will have a better idea about the three AHL prospects. However, the free agent pool after the 2021-22 season (Darcy Kuemper of the Arizona Coyotes, Elvis Merzlikins of the Columbus Blue Jackets) is razor thin.

Left Defence

All indications have the Oilers acquiring Duncan Keith from the Chicago Blackhawks in what promises to be an explosive trade… There is a strong group pushing from the AHL Bakersfield Condors, and that has to be a consideration in the possible deals of summer.

Right Defence

This position looks straightforward and inexpensive over the coming season, depending on the price point for Larsson… One thing Holland will have to ponder is the cost of Ethan Bear’s next contract… If the difference between Bear’s third contract is not far from the price to re-sign Tyson Barrie this summer, the general manager might contemplate a roster shuffle.

Centre

Edmonton needs to improve its depth at the position but the top end (McDavid, Leon Draisaitl) is the peak of the sport.

I wrote about the idea of addition at the position recently, and Derek Ryan emerged as the obvious and frugal choice.

The Ryan signing would be key, as he can both handle those minutes and won’t cost the moon. That will allow Holland to spend dollars on the wing.

Left Wing

Holland’s big purchase of summer will be a winger for his most valuable player.

Brandon Saad should be at or near the top of Edmonton’s list, he has size, skill and is a proven scorer.

Right Wing

This is where Edmonton’s cap room should be able to work for the organization. Veteran wingers on cap-strapped teams should be available for low cost in the days leading up to the expansion draft and free agency. Names like Bryan Rust of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Reilly Smith of Vegas Golden Knights, Vincent Trocheck of the Carolina Hurricanes and Alex Killorn of the Tampa Bay Lightning chould be available if Edmonton can afford to take the contract for only picks or prospects.

BLH’s Thoughts: So, for the most part, I don’t mind what LT has done here. I do agree with the goaltending angle. My feeling is that it’ll be addressed at some point during the year though.

This defense should be okay for the regular season. I suspect that Evan Bouchard will work his way up to that top pairing before the season is out and I’m fine with that as long as the Oilers have a player like Bear to be able to swap him with when he’s getting overwhelmed. But it’s when the post-season begins is where I’d have some concerns. A lot of times you’ll see a coach shorten his bench in the playoffs and I want someone on the defense that I know Coach Tippett will trust to replace Bouchard if required.

Derek Ryan would be a good signing, I don’t mind that addition at all. Brandon Saad, I think the club would need to overpay slightly for and I don’t see the Penguins dealing their 60pt $3.5M winger anytime soon. Now, if Ron Hextall wants to trade Rust for Kassian, I could have time for that, I just don’t see it happening.

Puljujarvi to the third line after the season he just had… I don’t think so.

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