Speculating from an Edmonton Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest Oilers news as well as the freshest NHL speculation featuring players such as Corey Perry, Taylor Hall, Alex Pietrangelo, Anthony Duclair, and many more!
Bob Stauffer getting the news that Tyson Barrie is joining the #Oilers pic.twitter.com/RoygBZO0E3
— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) October 10, 2020
The Oilers Speculation
What an interesting day it was yesterday. The Oilers make a MASSIVE signing in Tyson Barrie and then go back to the well with Mike Smith. Can you believe the Canucks offered Barrie $6M? That’s a Chiarelli-Esque overpay.
It’s my belief that who they picked in net was being driven by if Barrie was going to sign with them or not as earlier in the day they nearly signed Thomas Greiss to a 2yr deal worth $3.5M/yr. I had a source get in touch with me to say that the Oilers had the paperwork all drawn up and ready to send to the league when the Detroit Red Wings swooped in and offered Greiss 100k more. The rest is history and Ken Holland was allegedly furious.
But maybe that was a good thing?
Over the past three years, Greiss might have a slight edge over Smith in save percentage but Smith has him on GAA, starts, wins, points, etc. The 39yr old was only pulled three times in that time frame compared to the eight times Greiss was.
Honestly, though, I believe bringing back Smith had more to do with Mike Smith the person and less so with the goaltender. He’s a battler and he doesn’t take any shit from anybody, teammate or otherwise. He also goes to bat for those he’s lining up beside. In the past, the Oilers have let go of players like Matt Hendricks and Sam Gagner and it left a void in the locker room, keeping Smitty avoids that and he’ll also help Coach Tippett keep some of the cliquey players humble.
Next season the schedule is going to be compact, teams could be playing every other day, so the Oilers having three (don’t forget they signed Anton Forsberg) capable NHL goalies is going to be so important. Injuries happen too.
I think it is fair to question the Smith signing. I sense organization is valuing wins and vocal leadership. Smith went from potential $3.7m last year down to $2m this year. I get concern over SV% XG etc. Valid. I sense Holland/Tippett preferred guy they knew over remaining UFAs.
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) October 10, 2020
As for Tyson Barrie, I LOVE that signing. I love that he can bring some true offense from the point and that he’s a little guy with some “f*ck you” to his game. He’s not just a skiller.
The deal, it’s only for one year but it’s under $4M! That’s bloody outstanding work done by Ken Holland. It’ll give him one more year to develop Evan Bouchard and also to evaluate Barrie and Adam Larsson.
Now, Barrie will not replace Klefbom. Not even close and I’d be willing to bet that Edmonton is still on the hunt for someone to share those minutes with Darnell Nurse. The key here is that Barrie gets all of the PP1 TOI if possible.
I just want to riff on the powerplay next season for a sec.
How will Edmonton’s top PP unit change its plan of attack with Barrie, a right-handed shot, as its QB? Will RNH, McDavid, and Draisaitl swap sides? The reason I ask is that the club hasn’t had a righty on the PP for an eternity. How they break out of the d-zone and how they set up in the o-zone will change. Will Barrie be used as a bumper like Klefbom was or will he be a shooting threat from the point? TB has a VERY good shot and it would be a waste if he didn’t have the green light to bomb a few from the blue, right?
Back to the post.
Another question I have is, how will Tippett divvy out the ice-time if Edmonton plans on going into 2020-21 with the right-side of its defense as is? You’d like to have Barrie and Bear out with one of McDavid and Draisaitl at all times, no? So, with that said, does Larsson get knocked down a pair or two to make that happen? That would be tough for Larsson after playing as much as he has and always against the other team’s best players. He’s Edmonton’s best shut-down defender and if he’s playing that role, he’ll need another defenseman capable of handling the best NHL forwards night in, night out? I don’t think Caleb Jones is that guy (yet) and we know that Nurse and him do not play well together so that only leaves Kris Russell.
Nurse/Bear
Russell/Larsson
Jones/Barrie
Lagesson
How’s that look to you? I’m concerned about Bear getting that kind of promotion in year two. I would be more comfortable with Bear/Nurse on the 2nd pair and Larsson with a new partner on the top-pair.
For months we heard that Larsson was heading to Toronto for Andreas Johnsson. Well, scratch that because Johnsson was traded to NJ. We also heard that the Senators were looking to beef up on the wing and Edmonton could’ve had some players they were interested in. Nope! They acquired Austin Watson yesterday so no need to deal with the Oilers anymore. And lastly, Boston was another team that the Oilers were rumored to be making a deal with because they needed a bigger right-wing and wanted to move a left-wing. Them signing Craig Smith makes short work of that rumor…
So Who’s left to make a trade with?
Quickly, one moment on the Bruins.
I guess they had a big (like multi-player deal big) deal break down over retained salary with the Oilers. The Bruins wanted Edmonton to eat some $ on one of the guys heading to Boston and Holland didn’t want to, so it was nixed. That trade most likely would’ve sorted out Edmonton’s wing depth and possibly added a top-4 left-shot defender.
One more rumor before the NHL speculation. IF, and that’s a big IF right now, the Oilers can shed some money and open up a bit of cap room, I’ve heard Anthony Duclair is a player they’d like to add to the club.
I know, I know… Holland said he was done adding up front but there’s one thing that you should know by now, things change and they change all of the time. For what it’s worth, Duclair has a history with Dave Tippet from their time in Arizona together.
The News and Rumors
- Mark Zwolinski (Toronto Star): The NHL is considering opening the season on January 1st, with an outdoor game to be played at the iconic Lake Louise outdoor rink in Alberta.
BLH’s Thoughts: Very cool! The Mystery, Alaska movie comes to real life.
- TVA Sports: The Montreal Canadiens have an interest in UFA forward Corey Perry and could take a look at him in the next couple of days.
BLH’s Thoughts: Oh great! That’s all they need is one of the greatest pests in league history… With all the time he spent in the Oilers locker room during the playoffs, Ken Holland should be seeing if he wants to spend a little more time there… Perry isn’t much a regular season producer anymore but he brings it in the post-season still. Edmonton could use that kind of experience.
- Brian Witt (NBC Sports): Tyler Toffoli is a potential free-agent target for the San Jose Sharks this off-season.
- Aaron Portzline (The Athletic): Some options for the Columbus Blue Jackets include; Mike Hoffman, Taylor Hall, Tyler Toffoli, and Evgenii Dadonov.
BLH’s Thoughts: Is anybody else wondering why Tyler Toffoli would leave Vancouver? He fit like a glove on that roster during the playoffs.
As for Columbus adding another LW, aren’t they kind of deep on their wings? They’ve got Nyquist, Atkinson, Foligno, Jenner, Foudy, Bjorkstrand, Texier, Bemstrom, Nash, Robinson, etc…
- Chris Johnston (Sportsnet): The Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets are potential landing spots for defenseman Travis Hamonic.
BLH’s Thoughts: Now with Barrie in Edmonton, unless they move out Adam Larsson, I can’t see the Oilers being in on Hamonic. I think he lands in Winnipeg.
- Pierre LeBrun (TSN): The Vegas Golden Knights are the clear front-runner for Alex Pietrangelo.
BLH’s Thoughts: I hope for the love of Christ that Pietrangelo picks Toronto or some market out East. I can’t handle the Pacific Division getting this competitive. As it is, Vegas need to clear out more salary so I’m not too too worried yet.
- Adrian Dater (Colorado Hockey NOW): Heard Buffalo and New Jersey have kicked the tires on Namestnikov.
BLH’s Thoughts: I can’t see him getting the $4M he made before but maybe. Buffalo and NJ have A LOT of cap room to overpay mediocre free-agents with.
- David Pagnotta (The Fourth Period): As Taylor Hall narrows down the list of teams he’s interested in signing with, I’m told UFAs like Mike Hoffman & Tyler Toffoli are still being patient and might end up waiting until Hall finds a new home before they make their decisions.
BLH’s Thoughts: That’s what I’d be doing if were those boys. Whenever Hall makes his decision, the teams that missed out on him are going to spark a run on wingers. Hoffman, Toffoli, Dadonov, etc. should all be in line to make some serious money. Well, serious in this market.
- More Pagnotta: Avs were in the mix for Barrie & reached out on Pietrangelo. Seems Avs still want to add a vet blueliner? We’ll see.
BLH’s Thoughts: Is this the team that goes out and signs BOTH Taylor Hall AND Alex Pietrangelo for only one year? There are a couple of clubs that have opened up a lot of cap space recently and signing a couple of superstars for the year could very well put your team over the hump.
