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!
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The Athletic (Daniel Nugent-Bowman)
Can the Oilers add another goaltender? A new deal for Darnell Nurse? What I’m hearing about the Oilers offseason, 4.0
- “The only way I can get into the goaltending market is if I trade a goalie,” he said. “Mike Smith’s got a two-year deal at $2.2 (million) and Mikko Koskinen’s got a one-year deal at $4.5 (million). I could not get into the goalie carousel if you wanted me to because of contracts.”
- First, some of that was self-inflicted. Smith was signed just last week. Koskinen could have been bought out if Holland desired…
- Second, It’s clear he did try to get into the goalie carousel. The Oilers attempted to pry Darcy Kuemper loose from Arizona.
BLH’s Thoughts: Fack… Still, the bitter tone… Almost pouty to some extent…
Now, I’m here for the chaos, but I’m worried about this path that DNB is choosing to go down. The ego can make us do very regretful things in life and I don’t see how writing these pieces with that unsavory feeling behind them is going to benefit him down the road.
- The Oilers are comfortable enough with their goaltending even though they were clearly trying to upgrade the position. It’s not impossible that a change is made in the days or weeks ahead before next season starts, but it’s unlikely now.
- Though trading Stalock is still possible, I’m told by a team source that the preference is to hold on to Stalock and have him attend training camp in September.
BLH’s Thoughts: If the Oilers are intending to keep Stalock, I do wonder if that means they’re trying to rid themselves of Koskinen’s contract without taking anything back. Maybe with an eye on the trade deadline where they could use Stalock as trade fodder whilst targeting someone in net on an expiring contract like Elvis Merzlikins (CBJ), Braden Holtby (DAL), Darcy Kuemper (COL), or MA Fleury (CHI). In Fleury’s case, it’ll obviously depend on if the guy decides to play or retire.
- It’s possible the Oilers make another impactful move, but don’t get your hopes up.
- PuckPedia projects the Oilers have slightly more than $2.3 million in cap space. That’s with Turris in the minors and all but $525,000 of his $1.65 million cap buried. It also includes three goalies, which, as mentioned won’t be the case… The projection also doesn’t include having Oscar Klefbom’s $4.167 million cap hit on LTIR, which is where it’ll start the season and almost certainly remain all year
- Barring a trade and the deduction of money off the salary cap, a team source said the Oilers probably have room to add one player in the $1 million-$1.25 million range. Holland said Wednesday he might be interested in adding another blueliner.
BLH’s Thoughts: I’m fully expecting to hear an announcement saying Slater Koekkoek has returned for another year with the Oilers. He’d be a perfect bottom pairing defender to share the duties with Kris Russell and/or William Lagesson and the coaching staff trust him. He’d come in on the cheap too.
- The No. 1 priority, I’m told, is a new deal for No. 1 defenceman Darnell Nurse, who is a year away from unrestricted free agency… Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported earlier this week there have been discussions about a four-year term… My understanding is the Oilers want to go much longer, perhaps as far as the maximum eight years.
- I’m told the Oilers do not plan to engage in contract talks with Jesse Puljujarvi’s camp this offseason… The Oilers want to see what Puljujarvi can do for an encore before deciding on their next contract offer.
BLH’s Thoughts: No secret why the Edmonton Oilers would want to maximize the term on Nurse’s next deal. They hope to get that AAV down as much as possible, right? I mean, they’d have him under control for the next eight years and it would help them to plan out their future financially, right?
With Zach Hyman coming in, I expect Pulju to lose his spot on the first unit PP. How that will impact his production, I’m not too sure. Almost all of Jesse’s points came at even strength (21pts out of 25pts were ES), so maybe getting pulled off the PP won’t be such a terrible thing after all.
NHLTradeRumor.com
ALEXANDAR GEORGIEV REQUESTS TRADE FROM RANGERS
Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff is reporting Georgiev has placed a trade request with the Rangers, hoping to break out from behind Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers have sought a first-round pick for him. But that won’t be happening – not after the return for Alex Nedeljkovic set the market price.
There is no word on what teams are interested in Alexandar but it appears the Rangers would like to trade the toxic teammate and have a fresh start this coming season in the hopes of making the playoffs.
BLH’s Thoughts: If the Nedeljkovic deal set the market price for acquiring a goalie via trade, it shouldn’t take the Edmonton Oilers very long to close a deal for this fella, but those comments about him being disruptful in the locker room will reverberate league-wide. That said, if Tony DeAngelo can get another job in the NHL, Georgiev shouldn’t have any problems.
NHLRumors.com
- Eric Stephens of The Athletic: The Anaheim Ducks are a little light down the middle. They’ve been looking to move Adam Henrique, and have had some interest in Buffalo Sabres Jack Eichel.
- The Ducks can afford his $10 million cap hit, but the asking price is another question. Holding on to Trevor Zegras is the Ducks preference. They have their 2022 first-round pick.
- Jeremy Rutherford: Quick thoughts on the St. Louis Blues signing Brandon Saad for five years at $4.5 million.
- “Getting him at that price ($4.5 million AAV) might make Army more willing to retain some of Tarasenko’s salary.
- Perhaps teams who were in on Saad might pivot to Tarasenko, especially if the Blues are going to retain salary.”
- Amanda Stein: New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald:
- “I’d like to add a top-six winger. They’re hard to come by.”
- David Pagnotta: The New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes were in on Saad.
- Do those teams turn to Tomas Tatar and Vladimir Tarasenko?
