July 16, 2021 /

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Hall, Schwartz, or Hyman?

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 Oilersnation (Zach Laing)

Report: Edmonton Oilers one of three front runners for UFA Zach Hyman
  • The Edmonton Oilers are one of three front runners to sign UFA forward Zach Hyman, The Star’s Kevin McGran reported Thursday.
  • According to McGran, the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks are believed to be the other two in the lead for the 29-year-old, while the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, and Detroit Red Wings have also inquired.
  • Earlier today, Hyman reportedly gained permission to speak with other teams about a sign-and-trade allowing the possibility of a team acquiring him to go as long as eight years on an extension.
  • McGran also reported that Hyman’s ask is in the $5-million a year mark over that max term.

BLH’s Thoughts: If Hyman signed for $5M on the dot for 8 years, I might be able to handle that. By the time he starts to fall of the cliff, the salary cap should be going up and the structure of the deal should see him earning less as the years carry on, making it a more palpable contract to move if need be. 

I am of the hope that if he does sign in Edmonton, Holland doesn’t give him more than RNH. That would be a swift kick in the nuts to a guy who just took a hometown discount to remain with the team. It’d be a different story if it was Taylor Hall getting more than Nuge because there’s a prior relationship and Hall’s scoring record is better.

For what it’s worth, Jaden Schwartz has put up comparable numbers to Zach Hyman over the previous three years and I’m certain he won’t be getting a contract close to what Hyman eventually does. Hat tip to Jason Gregor for bringing that up on Twitter yesterday.

From The Athletic

Lowetide: Oilers must apply lessons from previous drafts in 2021, from intel gaps to trade opportunities

The lessons:

  • 1. Changing management so close to the draft and free agency had a major impact on the 2015 draft and free agency.
  • 2. Trade targets, or sudden trade opportunities, should involve having recent inside intel. If the information is lagging, it is best to stand pat unless a trusted resource has recently viewed a player.
  • 3. Trust the scouts. Although the Oilers sat for more than 100 selections, they drafted four NHL players that day (McDavid, Caleb Jones, Ethan Bear and John Marino). What if management had kept all picks? What if the organization had kept Craig MacTavish as general manager for the draft?
  • 4. Edmonton should use intel gaps to its advantage, especially this summer. If the Oilers were scouting Evan Bouchard when he played in Sweden’s Allsvenskan early in the 2020-21 season, there were several draft-eligible players in that league. The top talent (Oskar Olausson is an example) will be known to all teams, but there might also be late-round gems available.

Draft and develop isn’t an easy formula, but the organization has found the right group. Adding a pick or two this week would benefit the Oilers’ future.

BLH’s Thoughts: Hard to argue with that advice. The feeling I get is that LT doesn’t feel like the Oilers are in “win-now” mode like Ken Holland does and thus the man managing the Oilers is a bit more willing to move some futures to build the team he feels will take him further to another Stanley Cup. 

That said, Tyler Wright was on Oilers Now this week and the message I took away from that interview (aside from thinking that Wright and Holland sound a lot alike) was the scouts were at the mercy of the video and the analytics for the most part. 

As it pertains to the Oilers at this year’s draft, the two names that I’ve heard, and I’m sure you have too, most mentioned are Edmonton Oil Kings netminder Sebasatian Cossa and Lulea’s Fabian Lysell. A lot of mock drafts have sharp shooting physical winger Brennan Othmann going to Edmonton too. 

From Spector’s Hockey

NHL Rumor Mill – July 15, 2021

DAILY FACEOFF: Cam Lewis cited The Athletic’s Arthur Staple recently reporting two league sources said the New York Islanders are shopping Nick Leddy. They’re hoping to get something for the 30-year-old defenseman rather than lose him in next week’s expansion draft to the Kraken for nothing.

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: Sam Carchidi reports Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher is willing to trade his first-round pick (13th overall) in this year’s draft if it’ll fetch a player who can help the club over the long term.

BLH’s Thoughts: On a fantastic team the last few seasons, Nick Leddy had some of the worst fancy stats amongst his peers in the entire league. Lou Lamoriello will probably get a fantastic return for the swift-skating defender and his team will be better for it, but I feel a bit of pity for the team that picks him up. 

If you’re Chuck Fletcher and you want to rid yourself of Jakub Voracek’s contract, wouldn’t that expendable first round pick be better used trying to trade the veteran winger’s ticket?

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CategoriesArmchair GM Beer League Hero Edmonton Oilers NHL Rumors

TagsEdmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers Rumors NHL NHL Rumors

Beer League Hero Written by:

I'm the Beer League Hero! I am from Camrose, Alberta but I make my home in Taipei City, Taiwan. I've been through the ups and downs and the highs and the Lowes, the Bonsignores and the McDavids, the Sathers and the Eakins but I'll never leave my Oilers, no matter what! They're with me until the end and then some. GO OILERS GO!