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 Spector’s Hockey
KEITH TRADE BETWEEN BLACKHAWKS AND OILERS FALLING APART?
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers are reaching a point of “Does it happen or not” regarding a Duncan Keith trade. The Oilers have rejected most of what the Blackhawks sought in return, which may have include Ethan Bear and/or Ryan McLeod.
DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli said the Blackhawks don’t want to retain any portion of Keith’s $5.53 million annual cap hit. The Oilers’ interest has waned and they’ve pulled back on the assets they were willing to send to Chicago in return. Seravalli believes Caleb Jones was part of it. He also said the Oilers have tabled a “take it or leave it” offer and there’s only a certain price they’ll pay if the Blackhawks won’t retain salary.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Looks like Oilers general manager Ken Holland is taking a firm approach here. He’s under no pressure to acquire Keith. The Oilers could use a second-pairing left-side defenseman but they can find more affordable options if the Hawks won’t retain salary. There’s also no indication the Hawks will take on someone like James Neal or Mikko Koskinen for the purpose of buying them out. If the Blackhawks won’t bend, this deal falls apart.
BLH’s Thoughts: Tick Tock, folks!
The fact of the matter is, the Oilers have choices whereas the Blackhawks don’t really. If Keith says he’s not waiving for anybody but Edmonton, Stan Bowman has to comply or risk fracturing a long-standing relationship with a player whose number is surely to be retired by the club.
I do believe it was Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek who wondered if Chicago might just have to take the ‘L’ with this deal to do Keith one last solid after all these years of him doing the team a favor with that team-friendly contract of his.
From NHLRumors.com
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: The Canadiens and pending UFA Phillip Danault maybe $500,000 to $750,000 per season apart on a multi-year extension. He averaged the most minutes per game among the forwards during the playoffs.
- John Lu: Danault admitted that their contract talks that were stalled earlier were related to potential usage: “I was scared (Suzuki) and (Kotkaniemi) would take more minutes but if you see around the league you need two-way centres … I found my game. I know what I am and I know what I can give.”
- John Lu: Danault also admits that the leaked contract terms really affected him: “I wasn’t playing that good; I wasn’t playing my best hockey at that time. It was tough mentally but I got way stronger mentally and I believe that’s why I could play that type of (shutdown) hockey in the playoffs.”
Eric Engels: Canadiens pending UFA forward Corey Perry: “Yes, I intend to play hockey next year. There’s still a lot of good hockey left in me, and I would love to come back to experience Montreal for what it’s like really being in Montreal.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Does anybody else think that the Habs are going to need to make some really tough decisions shortly as to what to do with Danault, Suzuki, and Kotkaniemi? I mean, that’s a helluva trio down the middle for the club but will they be able to build around that and what happens when Danault is transitioned to the 3C but is being paid like a 2C?
Also, is it too early to start thinking about a post-Weber/Price era in Montreal? There might not be a better time to try and move one of those future hall-of-famers than right now.
Question, as an Oilers fan, would you rather spend on a 3C like Phillip Danault and go cheaper on the top-six LW or the other way around?
NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 590 on the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi.
- “One of the guys I’m kinda wondering about is Bertuzzi from Detroit. I think that’s a guy they’ve had some interest in and he was hurt last year at the deadline. I’m wondering if he’s one of the guys they’re going to look at.”
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: Unless there is a major swing, it doesn’t appear that Zach Hyman will be back with the Maple Leafs next year. The Red Wings will be among the teams having an interest in the pending UFA.
Rick Tocchet has been linked to an assistant coach position with the Maple Leafs. If Luke Richardson becomes available, he would make sense for the Leafs.
BLH’s Thoughts: Do you reckon the writing would be on the wall for current Maple Leafs head coach if he’s got Rick Tocchet and Luke Richardson on his bench looking over his shoulder…
If the Red Wings move on from Tyler Bertuzzi, surely that would be a sign that GM Steve Yzerman would go LW hunting and given that it’s a buyer’s market this year, perhaps Zach Hyman would go back to Michigan to play out his career where he played his college hockey.
Give us a follow on the socials!
- Youtube: Beer League Heroes Channel
- Twitter: @beerleagueheroe
- Instagram: @beerleagueheroes
- Facebook: Beer League Heroes
