Recently, Elliotte Friedman was on Vancouver sports radio and they were discussing a possible direction that the Chicago Blackhawks might be going in and Friedman had this to say,
“I think they’re selling. I do,” began Friedman. “I think the problem is you’re not trading Kane, you’re not trading Toews, Seabrook is a tough one to do. I think at some point in time they will ask Duncan Keith would he be willing to do it, I just don’t know if that time is going to be now.”
For whatever reason, I remember Friedman speaking about Chicago before but I can’t put my thumb on where it was.
I did go ahead and ask around about this and unfortunately, not a whole lot was revealed. But there was a quote later on in the interview that turned the light bulb on,
“Before Peter Chiarelli got fired, I heard they were talking about something potentially big with Edmonton. But I don’t even know if that’s still on the map anymore. But I don’t know what they would have to give up that would really make Edmonton a ton better.”
I wrote this back on Dec. 16th, 2018,
The Oilers have been talking with Chicago for the last month or so about Duncan Keith. It’s something to keep an eye on.
I immediately had to contact my sources to see what was up and it seems that despite Chiarelli not being the general manager in Edmonton anymore, the negotiations haven’t stopped. I asked one of my sources if this rumor was connected to the one we talked about way back in December and I was told this,
Yes and I think Lucic was part of it too. I know that PHI has been sniffing around Looch.
Whoa! Chicago and Philly have both been talking about a deal wherein they’d acquire Milan Lucic? That’s VERY interesting. Then the final message before signing off for the evening was thus,
That (Chicago) might be where looch ultimately goes…
Crikey partner! That might be where he “ultimately” goes? Does that mean he could go through a couple teams the same way that Sam Gagner did when he was dealt out of Edmonton? First, he was traded to Tampa Bay and then he was flipped to Arizona, right?
This kind of trade falls in line with the tweet below. Bob Stauffer and Mark Spector spoke of this on Oilers Now! yesterday morning. Stauffer confirmed that up to TWO teams can retain salary on a player.
Lucic w/ $2M eaten + 2019 2nd + 2020 3rd to ARI for UFA Richard Panik. ARI then eats $2M & flips $2M Lucic to PHI for 2020 2nd?
ARI gets two 2nds & a 3rd to eat $2Mx4yrs, EDM gets out of Lucic with just $2Mx4 in dead $, PHI gets a $2M Looch to be the new Broadstreet Bully.
— Ross Creek Nasty (@akaRCN) January 29, 2019
I do find it intriguing that Richard Panik is finding his way into Oilers trade talk these days though. He’s represented by local agent Gerry Johansson, who also reps Lucic…
Now I can’t speak to what kind of sweeteners the Oilers would have to include to move Lucic as well as retain salary on him but RCN’s proposal is a bit too rich for my blood. Both Stauffer and Spector agreed that a 2nd AND a 3rd is too much to incentivize such a deal.
I’d rather move one of the prospects that are coming in next season so that Bakersfield isn’t just stocked with 20-year-olds.
Conclusion
The Oilers might very well find a creative way to open up cap space AND move Lucic before this year’s trade deadline expires. I haven’t the foggiest as to why Chicago and Philly would want him but that’s not my concern. If names like Simmonds and Keith are showing up in Oilers trade rumors, that’s encouraging I feel.
Which player would you rather have? Wayne Simmonds, who is on an expiring contract, or an aging Duncan Keith?
Let us know in the comments below!
