Speculating from an Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest NHL news and rumors feat. Nikita Zadorov, Mikhail Sergachev, Tuuka Rask, Devan Dubnyk, and many more!
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— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) October 3, 2020
The News and Rumors
- 31 Thoughts Podcast: Some Rumblings about Colorado potentially being interested in Corey Crawford. Nikita Zadorov is probably going to be traded.
BLH’s Thoughts: How would you feel about Zadorov in Oilers silks? I would love it but my only concern is the player he was partnered with. Ideally, you’d like him playing with Ethan Bear because he can move the puck better and would be the Yin to Zadorov’s Yang. The problem with that would be it leaves Nurse playing with Larsson, and that’s simply not going to work. But maybe Larsson is moved out and Tyson Barrie comes in… That would change the equation a bit.
- More 31 Thoughts Podcast: The Detroit Red Wings could have interest in Islanders defender Andy Greene. They also may have interest in goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
BLH’s Thoughts: I really dig older vets like Andy Greene. He’s the kind of guy I’d love to have across from Evan Bouchard mentoring him over the course of a season on Edmonton’s 3rd pair.
There’s been some chatter that the Oilers are interested in Markstrom. Not. So. Sure about that. He’s going to be somewhere upwards of $6M/yr and last season he was really not much better than Mikko Koskinen.
- Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet): Could see the NJ Devils being interested in Tampa d-man Mikhail Sergachev if he’s available. In theory, a deal with him for a 1st at minimum makes sense. NJ is going to be very active.
BLH’s Thoughts: Now this is the kind of wild card I was talking about yesterday. Could Edmonton send their 14th overall to Tampa for Sergachev? That would be better than drafting Kaiden Guhle, in my opinion. With Oscar Klefbom out for the year, the Oilers would be able to fit Sergachev in under their cap.
- More Friedman: The Florida Panthers are interested in Ryan Donato and Luke Kunin (MIN) as well as defenseman Mark Borowiecki. They could try to get Ryan Murray (CBJ) and they’ve spoken to Evgeni Dadonov about a return.
BLH’s Thoughts: David Staples (The Cult of Hockey) recently spoke about a thing called “sweet tooth syndrome” and what he was talking about was GMs and coaches going after players they had in other clubs and whether or not that was a good idea or not.
Florida had Vincent Trocheck and now they’re going after Kunin? They’ve got Stralman and Yandle, now they’re after Murray? WTF is going on down there?…
- Friedman Again: The Wild and Sharks are working on a deal to send goalie Devan Dubnyk to San Jose. Talks are picking up quickly.
BLH’s Thoughts: Are there folks out there that believe DD can catch lightning in a bottle again? To me, he doesn’t sound too enthused about playing hockey these days.
- Frank Seravalli (TSN): Multiple sources indicate Bruins GM Don Sweeney has initiated conversations with teams about Tuuka Rask’s market value over the last number of weeks.
BLH’s Thoughts: You want an acquisition from way out of left field for the Oilers? Tuuka Rask would be exactly that and we know Holland and Sweeney have been talking… If the Bruins are considering bringing in Taylor Hall and one of OEL or Alex Pietrangelo, they’re going to need some cap space. Dealing Rask and DeBrusk to Edmonton would accomplish that to some extent.
- More Seravalli: With limited UFA centers available, Nashville is believed to be exploring trade options for any one of their centers (Johansen, Duchene, Turris, and Bonino).
- John Vogl (The Athletic): Brandon Montour has been featured in trade talks, but teams know there’s a chance the Sabres decline to issue him a qualifying offer and make him a UFA.
BLH’s Thoughts: The Sabres are in the same boat as the Oilers with Montour. That trade has been a disaster for Buffalo… Who gives up a 1st rounder and a top-prospect for a 3rd pairing defender?
- Vince Mercogliano (USA Today): The New York Rangers re-signing forward Jesper Fast could happen soon. They’re also looking for a trade to address the center and left-defense positions. Pick #22 will be in play and don’t expect a big free-agent signing.
BLH’s Thoughts: Edmonton has had interest in Fast in the past, but that was maybe two years ago. I would think if Oscar Klefbom was healthy, maybe he would’ve been a candidate to be headed to the Big Apple for a package that included that 22nd overall pick.
- The Fourth Period: Several teams are believed to be eyeing Braden Holtby as an option to become their #1 goalie; including the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Colorado Avalanche.
BLH’s Thoughts: I haven’t heard, but I wonder what Holtby is asking? If he would sign for $4M or a little bit more, would the Oilers be in on him at that price point? Surely, he’s asking for much more than that though.
I love the idea of bringing in a goalie with a pedigree like his. He’s older, he’s won, and he’s prime for a bounce back.
- David Pagnotta (The Fourth Period): Calgary Flames d-man Erik Gustafsson is going to hit the free-agent market on October 9th unless the team gives him more money.
BLH’s Thoughts: It doesn’t sound like he’s willing to sign for the $1M I was hoping for. Hmmm. Maybe he would take what he made this past season ($1.3M)?
The Oilers Speculation
We’re days from the NHL entry draft and there’s very little being talked about with regards to who the Oilers will be taking this year which is in stark contrast to last year when basically everybody knew that Philip Broberg was going to be Holland’s selection in the first round.
Wisconsin forward and former AJHL MVP Dylan Holloway is probably the name that’s been out there the longest in connection to the Oilers. More recently Portland Winterhawk star Seth Jarvis and Price Albert Raider defender Kaiden Guhle have been the names brought up more often than not.
The Oilers are in a weird place at 14th overall, in that, the top-7 is more or less settled.
- Alexis Lafreniere – LW
- Quinton Byfield – C
- Tim Stutzle – C
- Jamie Drysdale – RHD
- Cole Perfetti – LW
- Lucas Raymond – LW
- Marco Rossi – C
Even to me, a guy like Rossi isn’t guaranteed to stick in the top-7. It’s really dependent on what Ottawa (#5), Anaheim (#6), and New Jersey (#7) do with their selections as there are rumors that the Senators could take Yaroslav Askarov or possible Jake Sanderson. The Russian netminder’s name has also been connected to the Devils at 7th overall and do we ever really know what Steve Yzerman is going to do with the 4th overall pick. He could hop up and call Seth Jarvis’ name for all we know.
Now from #8-14, the list might look like this,
- Alexander Holtz – RW
- Jake Sanderson – LHD
- Anton Lundell – C
- Dylan Holloway – C
- Connor Zary – C
- Dawson Mercer – C
After that, we could have up to four players who’ve been ranked lower in the past hop into the top-14. Players like skiller Seth Jarvis, goal-scorer Jack Quinn, elite goaltender Yaroslav Askarov, Tough d-man Kaiden Guhle, and Shea Weber 2.0 Braden Schneider.
The point I’m making is that there’s massive potential for anything to happen before the Oilers pick, when the Oilers pick, or after they pick, but they’re in a very unique position.
My personal feeling is that they really want Jarvis. They’re looking for players who have white-hot burning intensity in their games, high-character, can skate very well, and are very very skilled; which Jarvis has all of and if he’s not available perhaps they trade down and grab an extra pick or two with the intentions of selecting this year’s uber-pest Ridley Greig.
I’ve read Greig being a mix between Brendan Gallagher and Matthew Barnaby. He’s a player that pulls guys into the fight and he has the potential to impact the game in so many different ways. Just a very intense player on the ice.
I don’t really believe that there’s going to be a massive difference in the talent level from 14th to 28th and if Edmonton can drop down into the mid-20s and pick up a second-round pick and possibly a 3rd round pick, that would help out a ton because there are some good players that will be available there like,
- Joel Blomqvist – G (Karpat) – 2nd best goalie available.
- Marat Khusnutdinov – C (SKA) – Very Sebastian Aho-like forward when he’s on. First-round skill.
- Jake Neighbours – LW (Edmonton) – Hard-nosed leader. Shades of Dustin Brown.
- Luke Evangelista – RW (London) – Hardest worker in the draft. Versatile gritty winger.
- Noel Gunler – LW/RW (Lulea) – Bit of a lone wolf. Highly skilled goal-scorer.
- Daniel Torgersson – LW/RW (Frolunda) – Scores at every level. Big power forward.
- Emil Andrae – LHD (HV71) – Swedish Torey Krug? VERY competitive.
- Michael Benning – RHD (Sherwood Park) – Very smooth puck-mover. Like Sam Girard.
- Oskar Magnusson – C (Malmo) – Never-ending motor. Emotional player. Big skill, little body.
One kicker will be if Yaroslav Askarov falls to 14th… People are talking about him like he’s the next Carey Price or Andrei Vasilevskiy and I know a lot of folks are wary of drafting goalies that high but there’s one thing I’ve noticed over the years and that’s when the Russian federation pushes really young players like they’ve done with Vasilevskiy and more recently Vasily Podkolzin, they’re the real deal. They don’t mess around with young players over there and if one is getting lots of time in the KHL or on the international scene, that’s a really good indication the player is going to be a difference-maker, at least in my opinion.
I’d take him if he fell and work the rest out afterward.
