July 28, 2021 /

Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Kuemper to Edmonton Rumors Growing Louder

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!

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The Athletic (Daniel Nugent-Bowman)

Oilers buy out James Neal: How it eases cap issues and helps turn the page on past mistakes
  • When it comes to Neal’s payout, this isn’t about any type of Holland misstep. It isn’t even really about the performance of Neal, who was a couple of months shy of his 31st birthday when he signed a bloated contract with Calgary he never should have been offered… The criticism for this costly choice can be aimed at an egregious wrong — or wrongs — by Holland’s predecessor, Peter Chiarelli.
  • After buying out Neal, all Holland must do now is decide if — or how — he can ditch the last year of Koskinen’s contract. That will finish the job of washing his hands of past mistakes. That deal was Chiarelli’s parting gift, an unforced error, granted with a big assist from Bob Nicholson and the hockey operations department.
  • The Oilers have roughly $12.8 million in cap space after Neal’s buyout, according to CapFriendly. That total is fluid since the likes of Kyle Turris, Philip Broberg, William Lagesson, Mikko Koskinen and Alex Stalock are listed on the roster, as is Oscar Klefbom, who projects to start the season on long-term injured reserve. PuckPedia indicates the Oilers have $14.8 million in cap space if Turris is in the minors and Broberg isn’t on the roster.

BLH’s Thoughts: If I recall correctly, Bob Stauffer was saying the Oilers could go up to $85M on the cap and then put Klefbom on LTIR to become compliant. That means they should be able to play around with about $18M as things stand today and if Koskinen is moved for futures or considerations or bought out, that will increase. 

Ten of that $18M sounds like it’ll go to Tyson Barrie and Zach Hyman and Edmonton will still need to get another defenseman, left winger, and a third line center. Sounds bleak, right? Well, keep in mind there are trades being worked on as we speak.

Lowetide.ca

WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOING ON
  • The (Koskinen) trade route is going to require a sweetener, the Koskinen buyout makes no sense at all. The rumours running around town currently are fairly wild and include a complete turnover of the right side of the defense (only Evan Bouchard returning).
  • Pierre Lebrun has Edmonton interested in Darcy Kuemper, but the Koskinen contract needs to be offloaded first and that’s going to take a sweetener. Holland needs a sweetener and the media is telling you what is being contemplated. I’ve seen all kinds of rage directed at media members for mentioning specific names, but that’s them telling you what they’re hearing.
  • The Oilers are turning over a bunch of this roster in an effort to add experience and to improve overall quality and depth. I don’t believe trading any of the young players on the roster currently (Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Bear, McLeod) as those represent both the future and the bulk of the value deals. This is about to get interesting.

BLH’s Thoughts: Darryl Katz gave Bob Nicholson the green light to hire a GM who’s M.O. in his contender years with the Red Wings was to turn young players into proven NHLers in order to help them become champions. So I hope none of you are shocked when Holland starts moving promising young hockey players, prospects, and draft picks in order to improve the team in the now because that’s his bread and butter and he has decades of experience building perennial playoff contending teams. 

As for Kuemper, I thought earlier in the week that Edmonton’s interest had cooled but I was wrong. Quite the opposite it seems now. I’m curious to see if the Oilers end up sending Koskinen, Bear, and another pick or prospect to Arizona for the Coyotes’ netminder. 

Cult of Hockey

Ken Holland’s greatest challenge right now? Replacing critical “one-for-one” defensive ace
  • For the first time since Andrej Sekera was fully fit and healthy in 2016-17 the Oilers have a true No. 1 d-man in Darnell Nurse, with an opportunity this summer to lock up Nurse long-term.
  • What Edmonton doesn’t have are other d-men who are sure things in the Top 4.
  • It’s Nurse at No. 1, then an endless number of question marks.
  • Help is coming soon and help is coming in numbers, but to compete this year Edmonton needs to fill Larsson’s spot, preferably with a cycle-busting, shut-down d-man.
  • On Oilers Now, host Bob Stauffer mentioned a number of candidates including puck mover Tyson Barrie and shut-down types Travis Hamonic and Jari Hakanpaa.
  • If Barrie were to re-sign in Edmonton — and he’s looking for at least three years at $5 million per year according to the well-connected Stauffer — an alternative plan might be to bring in a cycle-busting d-man on the left side.

BLH’s Thoughts: The Oilers are going to have to make due for a few seasons while Bouchard, Broberg, and Samorukov transition to the NHL. One might be inclined to say that process will take upwards of three years, but I think these three defensemen are really special and I could see at least two of the trio being regulars on the team by 2023 and Edmonton’s top-four set for the next decade. 

Now, hopefully Ken Holland’s work this summer has him signing veterans on 1-3yr terms (maximum) in order to lessen the risk of blocking one or all three. 

NHLRumors.com

(By the time you read these, most of them are going to be obsolete. So just keep that in mind. Thank you! – BLH)

Kevin Paul Dupont: Zdeno Chara is back in Europe right now and he hasn’t decided if he’s going to play next season or not.

John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor: The Los Angeles Kings are close to signing a new deal with Andreas Athanasiou and it should be done soon.

Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic: Both the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders are interested in free agent Ryan Suter… The Bruins could offer Suter top pairing minutes beside Charlie McAvoy.

Aaron Portzline of The Athletic: The tragic passing of Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks has changed their goaltending plans for this offseason. Their plan had been to trade one of Joonas Korpisalo or Elvis Merzlikins but now they are both likely to be back next season.

Ben Pope: The acquisition of Fleury likely means that Nikita Zadorov or Calvin de Haan are likely done in Chicago.

Pierre LeBrun: With the Vancouver Canucks buying out the final year of Braden Holtby‘s contract, they need a back up goaltender and could have Jaroslav Halak on their short-list of targets.

Ryan Rishaug: What happens with Dougie Hamilton affects who could be interested in Barrie.

Max Bultman of The Athletic: The Detroit Red Wings are likely still looking to add a left-handed defenseman.

Sheng Peng: San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson said they are looking for a third or fourth-line winger, a third-line center, a goalie and a veteran defenseman that can play some tough minutes.

Bob McKenzie: Arizona Coyotes forward Michael Bunting is a Group VI free agent. The Toronto Maple Leafs are among the interested teams. Bunting played Junior with the Soo Greyhounds under Kyle Dubas and Sheldon Keefe.

Bob McKenzie: “CHI’s leverage here is that it could absorb MAF’s full cap hit and the Hawks were NOT on MAF’s 10-team no-trade list. So, given that MAF did NOT want to play anywhere other than VGK, here’s a question: Will he report to the Hawks? Or, at age 36, might he contemplate retirement?”

Daniel Nugent-Bowman: Arizona Coyotes Darcy Kuemper would be a good option for the Edmonton Oilers to pair with Mike Smith.

The Oilers wouldn’t want to give up much for a rental player but Kuemper may be worth it. They could quickly try to sign him to a contract extension.

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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!