Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Montreal has Done their Due Diligence on Puljujarvi says Murphy

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Oilersnation

What’s left on Ken Holland’s checklist?

Sign both Yamamoto and McLeod
Trade one of Puljujarvi, Foegele, or Barrie
Sign a veteran defenseman

BLH’s Thoughts: As you’ll read below, the market on Pulju has heated up a bit now that he’s signed to a deal. Personally, I still feel like he won’t make it past training camp, but is there a scenario where Holland holds onto as many of these guys possible until the deadline or next summer when he’ll want to open up cap room for that FA crop? I mean somebody will have to go so that the Oilers can get under the cap for the new season but they’ve got until the end of training camp to get that done and actually, one option might include burying somebody in the minors to do that. Devin Shore and Slater Koekkoek come to mind in that regard.

Lowetide

SETTING FREE THE BEARS

Warren Foegele, Ryan McLeod, Kailer Yamamoto, Jesse Puljujarvi and Tyson Barrie should be on the ‘certain’ list. However, one of them is likely to be traded in the coming days, and until we know, they’re all on the outside looking in.
Ken Holland is a veteran general manager, a group who universally value their own procurement pieces over what came before them. So, names like Warren Foegele and Tyson Barrie, whose arrival came during Holland’s time in office, may be protected because of it.
The other side of the coin is Holland’s tell. He has zero fear of older players. One of the older players currently available is Phil Kessel. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to create a scenario where Holland trades Jesse Puljujarvi is dealt for an asset with zero dollars attached, and then signs Kessel.
The other item stopping Holland from dealing Puljujarvi is possible return. The general manager took significant heat over the Duncan Keith trade, and people still remember the Andreas Athanasiou deal. Trading Puljujarvi for a fourth-round pick will send echoes down the canyon.

BLH’s Thoughts: Just to add a little context, LT has listed out who he feels are certain roster players next season and who are on the outside looking in.

Still a lot of talk on Phil Kessel, eh?…

I honestly don’t feel like Ken Holland cares about public perception when it comes to his roster moves. Why would he? At the end of the day the team is still over .600 since he took over, he’s still got the best 1-2 center punch in the league, his team just made it to the Western Conference final, the club’s never had this much depth coming through the pipeline, and where there’s a Keith trade, there’s a Hyman signing. I’m pretty sure he couldn’t give two shits what Jack the Blogger or Debbie the Ultimate Oilers Fan thinks about how he does his job because at the end of the day he can only control what he can control. An entire season could be lost at the hands of a bad bounce or a poor call from the refs…

Trade Rumors

Spector’s Hockey

Greg Wyshynski examined seven potential destinations for Nazem Kadri.
- The New York Islanders, Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames are among Wyshynski’s proposed destinations based on recent speculation, followed by the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Detroit Red Wings. He also doesn’t rule out a possible return to the Colorado Avalanche.
Eric Stephens recently reported Anaheim Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek isn’t done making additions to his rebuilding roster. Having signed forwards Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano, Verbeek said he’d like to add another forward and a defenseman.

NHLRumors.me

Jimmy Murphy of Montreal Hockey Now: A source said that the Montreal Canadiens have been doing their due diligence on Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi since before the draft.
- One scout said that Puljujarvi is still available and is even more attractive to teams after he signed his one-year, $3 million deal on Tuesday.
- Could the Canadiens send the Oilers one of the contracts they are looking to move and a third or fourth-round pick?

BLH’s Thoughts: The Habs are reportedly looking to clear cap space so they can re-sign Kirby Dach. The Oilers are reportedly looking to clear cap space so they can re-sign Kailer Yamamoto in addition to adding one or two more skaters. Not sure these two clubs are a fit unless Ken Holland unloads Warren Foegele and/or Tyson Barrie.

With Anaheim, I wonder if they might call up Calgary and inquire about the services of one Milan Lucic since Nic Deslauriers signed in Philly. Gotta protect the kids…