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!
From The Cult of Hockey
The Edmonton Oilers are front runners in the Duncan Keith stakes
The latest from Kurt Leavins at The Cult of Hockey has some interesting tidbits in it. One might say that some of what he’s said has already been shared with the oilogosphere.
- The Edmonton Oilers are going to have to proceed in this off-season as though Oscar Klefbom will not be able to play in 2021-22.
- I believe Edmonton’s #1 target in that regard is Duncan Keith, and that the interest between Keith’s camp and the Oilers is mutual.
- Well, Keith considers the Okanagan “home”, near where he spent his teens in Penticton, British Columbia. He has family out by me in Vancouver, an easy flight from Edmonton. There are a handful of North and Western-based NHL teams that would be able to accommodate him, geographically including (but not limited to) Edmonton.
- Keith recently changed agents, from Ross Gurney at R.W.G. Sports management to Edmonton’s Gerry Johansson of The Sports Corporation.
- No one who tried to fill the Klefbom slot last season “stuck the landing”. Deadline acquisition/UFA Dmitry Kulikov was “just o.k.”. Caleb Jones broke camp with the job and lost it. And at this stage in his career, Kris Russell is more like a good 5-6.
- The Black Hawks are not re-building. They will be trying to bring in a big-name defender. As such, the amount of money that they might be willing to retain is probably on the limited side.
- If one looks back in Ken Holland’s resume, one of his most common card tricks was to add a solid, top-4 D-men to help get his club over the hump. Matthieu Schneider. Larry Murphy. Brad Stuart. Chris Chelios. Acquiring the likes of Duncan Keith would fit the Holland pattern.
- Oh, and one final note, related or not: Gerry Johansson also represents UFA goaltender Chris Drieger of the Florida Panthers. Just sayin’.
BLH’s Thoughts: It’s not that I don’t believe the Oilers are the front-runners for Keith, I’m just skeptical that Keith is high up on their priority list. That said, this is what I’ve been told, the Oilers nor the Blackhawks want to add salary. So read between the lines… Either this trade doesn’t come to fruition or things get creative to sort out the financial end of it.
Now, don’t misconstrue what I’ve said about. Edmonton isn’t going to get Keith for free, obviously. What I mean is that it’s my understanding that the club doesn’t want the veteran Blackhawk dman on his current ticket if they can help it.
I’ve noticed a lot of Twitter GMs shitting all over this potential move while using spreadsheet and fancy graphics as their ammo. I just want to ask, how many times has Ken Holland made a move like this and had it blow up in his face? Now, take that number and compare it to the number of times he’s acquired a player in his mid-30s (or older) and it’s worked out wonderfully for his club. The latest example, Mike Smith…
Lastly, the Blackhawks have been connected to some pretty big name defensemen lately. Would it surprise you if they brought in not one, but two substantial additions to their blueline this offseason and trading Duncan Keith is just part of that whole plan? It wouldn’t surprise me.
From The Athletic
Trade packages for Seth Jones: What the Blackhawks, Avs, Kings and Flyers could offer the Blue Jackets?
Potential trade package: Forward Philipp Kurashev, defenseman Nicolas Beaudin, left-wing prospect Lukas Reichel, and a first-round pick in 2022
Portzline’s thoughts: Reichel is a bright prospect and the first-round pick next season is highly desirable, especially if it’s not lottery protected. Both Kurashev and Beaudin are 21-year-olds who are just starting to get NHL time.
BLH’s Thoughts: Is it just me or does that group of players lack at least a little bit of size? I suppose that could be addressed with the first rounder. Other than that, there’s lots to like there from a skill perspective. Personally, I’d be asking for higher quality prospects, that’s just me though.
Potential trade package: Center Tyson Jost, forward prospect Sampo Ranta, defensive prospect Justin Barron and a first-round pick in 2021
Portzline’s thoughts: Barron is a very promising prospect. Scouts drool at his size and skating combination, which is rare. He got a taste of the AHL last season and did not disappoint. Jost is an established bottom-six NHL player. Ranta had a great career at Minnesota and just turned pro last year. A fourth first-round pick this year? Why not?
BLH’s Thoughts: Sampo Ranta? Really? This package doesn’t move the needle for me at all… I’d be finding a way to get Martin Kaut included.
Potential trade package: Center Adrian Kempe, center prospect Akil Thomas, defenseman Tobias Bjornfot and a first-round pick in 2022 (lottery protected).
Portzline’s thoughts: Thomas put up huge numbers in junior and had a very good rookie AHL season this year. Bjornfot stuck in the NHL this season and shows promise. Kempe, 24, is an established middle-six center, probably best suited to a third line. The lottery protection takes all the fun out of this trade, though.
BLH’s Thoughts: This is the first decent offer, Kempe is a player that can help right now and I’m very confident that Thomas and Bjornfot will turn into top of the lineup players. I think this would be an acceptable offer in my eyes. Obviously you’d like a Quinton Byfield or Alex Turcotte, but you’re risking the entire package asking for those players and that is a tasty group of players being offered.
Potential trade package: Defenseman Philippe Myers, forward prospect Zayde Wisdom, center prospect Morgan Frost and a first-round pick in 2022
Portzline’s thoughts: Underwhelmed. Frost is a strong prospect, but he missed the final three months of the season following shoulder surgery. He should be ready for camp in the fall, but that’s a red flag. Myers is a stay-at-home type, and Wisdom looks solid but unspectacular. They’d better nail that first-round pick in this scenario.
BLH’s Thoughts: No. For Seth Jones, this isn’t enough. Frost and Wisdom are not terrible prospects, but for me, that’s not the quality I want back for a top-pairing defenseman like Jones. I’d be asking for a package built around Travis Konecny.
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