Today’s edition of The Scoring Touch‘s latest NHL rumors and speculation features Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Oilers, and more.
First things first, there are some rumblings that Max Domi and Ryan Poehling are done in Montreal and that got me thinking. Do the Habs still need a left-shot defenseman? Would they trade Domi and Poehling for Nurse or Klefbom? Would you?
Let us know in the comments at the end of the post!
- Elliotte Friedman on SN590’s Hockey Central: When asked if today’s Kapanen trade is a prelude to perhaps a bigger deal, “I think so.”Asked if Toronto will make a big defensive splash this off-season, “I do think that’s gonna happen. I absolutely think they’re going to do something.”
On if he expects the Leafs to be in the goalie market: “The honest answer right now is I don’t know. After today, I don’t sense that (getting Matt Murray) is a path they‘re going to go down. I could see them sticking with Andersen, but it’s not guaranteed. They really believe in Jack Campbell.”
As long as Crosby and Malkin are in Pittsburgh, they’re in it to win it. They need a little bit of a reload, but they’re going for it.
Friedman thinks the Arizona Coyotes will investigate the trade market for Oliver Ekman-Larsson, with the player’s will. They had a good deal on the table for him a couple of years ago, but they wanted to keep their best players for the fans.
- James Mirtle on TSN1050 says we’ll probably see 5-7 new faces in the Maple Leafs’ opening day lineup when next season begins. “There’s more coming.”
BLH’s Thoughts: What was Jim Rutherford thinking with this trade? I get that the Pens want to keep things going, but Kapanen isn’t worth the first-rounder Pittsburgh gave up for him let alone an additional high-end prospect like Hallander.
I’ll be very curious as to how the Maple Leafs use that first-round pick. They’ll definitely get a good player if they keep it at the draft but my suspicions are that Kyle Dubas might be trying to package it in a deal for a real top-pair right-shot defender or a goalie.
Can you turn over a third of a hockey team and expect the same amoutn of success the next year? I mean, isn’t that what a rebuild looks like?
As for OEL, I hope the Oilers stay away from him. His stats are really no better than Darnell Nurse’s and he makes over $8M a year… No thanks. Maybe a team like New Jersey steps up for him or what about an OEL/Jeff Skinner swap?
- Ottawa Senators RFA Connor Brown on extension talks with the club: “There’s been a couple of chats for sure and both sides are optimistic we’ll get something done. I’m just leaving that up to (my agent Jeff Jackson). I’m sure that will all get sorted out. There’s lots of time with all this stuff going on. No rush.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Edmonton have had an interest in Connor Brown for a good three seasons I’m going to say. They almost acquired him for Jujhar Khaira and Matt Benning too. Seeing that Jeff Jackson also represents Connor McDavid, is the door still open for Brown to get moved to Edmonton?
- The Athletic: Ways Marc Bergevin and the Canadiens can take advantage this off-season: Trade for players on cap-strapped clubs – some options include Alex Killorn, Stephen Johns, and Markus Nutivaara.Trade the 16th overall pick for immediate help. Marc Bergevin on Saturday offered his thoughts on that option: “Yes, it’s a possibility. It depends on the player we get back. If it’s a player who can be a part of the organization for many years and the contract can slide into our cap, then we’ll definitely look at that closely.”
BLH’s Thoughts: What about using that 16th overall pick as a sweetener in a Carey Price trade? Then deal find a way to make a Domi/Murray trade with Pittsburgh… Those two moves alone would probably expediate the Habs’ “rebuild”.
- Philip Danault on his new defensive role for the Canadiens in the playoffs (in French): “I don’t know if I’m ready to accept this. I like to contribute offensively, and I know that I can still reach another level offensively. I don’t know if I want to limit myself to strictly a defensive role.When asked if his role with the team will influence his decision to sign an extension, he replied: “Yes.”
“In the playoffs, the coaches wanted to see what the younger players could do and they shuffled the (lineup). My role became strictly defensive, and I’m repeating myself but I know I can bring more than that.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Gotta love when a player speaks honestly. I, for one, would love to have Danault on the Oilers but if he’s looking to play a more offensive role, Edmonton probably wouldn’t be a good fit.
I wonder what the future of Claude Julien is? Will his health allow him to return and in the even that it doesn’t, does that mean the team turns to Kirk Muller?
The Habs should do whatever it takes to keep Danault happy. He may very well be the heir apparent to Patrice Bergeron as the league’s best defensive forward and we’ve seen how important Bergeron has been to the success of the Bruins.
- Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford on his pending free agency: “I would like to be back. I think we still have a lot of great pieces on this team. To win another Stanley Cup in Chicago would be unbelievable.”Per Mark Lazerus, Crawford will meet with GM Stan Bowman later this week, but says there are other guys to sign first and have a higher priority due to the flat cap. “We have a bunch of guys we need to sign, that’s something that we’ll discuss in our meetings. Salary, that can be discussed. That’s something that is not as important at this time.”
“I’m leaning toward staying in Chicago and I want to win another championship and play a ton. I don’t want to play half the games and sit on the bench for stretches at a time. I think my value is just not as good doing that. I’m way more valuable playing games and playing consistently. It really depends on how much I’m going to be used.” (that essentially squashes the Montreal rumors)
- Lowetide: Lists 10 free-agent options for the Edmonton Oilers this off-season if they use trades and buyouts to make more cap space… Mike Hoffman, Robin Lehner, Torey Krug, Dylan DeMelo, Jesper Fast, Anton Khudobin, Tyler Ennis (if he doesn’t re-sign before his contract expires), Patrick Maroon, Thomas Greiss, and Tomas Nosek.“Holland won’t solve all of his issues in free agency but there are some quality options available… Perhaps Edmonton offloads Adam Larsson for a two-way winger or a No. 3 center and signs DeMelo away from prairie competitor Winnipeg.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Out of this group, I hope the Oilers really kick the tires on Patrick Maroon, Tyler Ennis, and Anton Khudobin. If the Big Rig comes back, surely one of Edmonton’s other big boys would need to be on the move. Don’t forget about Sam Gagner either. Glue guys folks! Glue guys!
As for Larsson, unless there’s a defenseman coming back either via trade or free agency who can play 18-20 minutes a night and not hurt the club on the ice or the salary cap, they’ll be worse off. Lots of talk about Tyson Barrie and I totally endorse a move like that IF they can keep the amount of money he’s paid within reason.
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