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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- Management has constructed the roster we’ll see for the next four seasons. What general manager Ken Holland needs to do, has room to do, is find players who can help an NHL team win for less than $1 million a year. Is there anybody out there?
- Edmonton’s cap situation is fine for this year, the roster is set. Next year? If there’s a plan to sign Jesse Puljujarvi and get an upgrade in net, there’s going to be some offloading of overpriced veterans. Zack Kassian would be the logical candidate, maybe Klefbom’s contract gets dealt. If we assume Yamamoto is signed for $2 million this summer and everyone else gets $1 million or less, there will be room for extensions next summer.
- The Oilers are about five signings behind. I’ve been waiting for activity. Suspect we’ll see Slater Koekkoek, uncertain after that addition. Holland used to be aggressive with college recruitment, and maybe there’s a Euro out there who will get a late summer contract. The cupboard is a little bare at forward.
BLH’s Thoughts: Well, they signed Perlini yesterday, so that leaves four signings behind according to LT. I wonder if they’ll actually go ahead and bring Koekkoek back. The Oilers have a lot of dmen who are right at that age where they should be getting a shot at the NHL level like Markus Niemelainen and Dmitri Samorukov as well as Kris Russell and William Lagesson already on the main squad.
Wouldn’t it make a little bit of sense to see what they could squeeze out of Russell and Lagesson and then add at the trade deadline instead of spending every available penny before the season starts?
That’s this season, what about next season? It’s too early to tell. Russell and Turris probably move on, Josh Archibald could earn himself another contract since he’s yet to turn 30yrs old, Koskinen and Stalock most likely will find employment elsewhere, and so that should open up around $8M to re-sign all of the RFAs and to bring in a goalie. In theory.
Oilersnation (Cam Lewis)
ON’s 2021 Prospects Countdown – No. 20: Markus Niemelainen
- “Markus Niemelainen has really been an unheralded story this season. He’s fantastic in his own end, he can skate like the wind for a big man, he’s chipped in offensively which is a bonus for his game… He’s a guy who has come in and really opened some eyes. His skating is really exceptional, I think, and defensively he’s been rock steady back there. He’s learning from guys like Gravel and Stanton who have been around the game for a long time, especially what it takes to get to the next level, I think it’s going to benefit him… I think Niemelainen has a chance, I don’t know if it comes this year or into next year, but he’s on that cusp. He’s a solid defenceman who’s going to grow here in the American Hockey League, and you can put him in the William Lagesson bucket if you will.” – Bakersfield Condors’ PxP man Ryan Holt (TSN1260)
Position: Defence
Shoots: Left
Nationality: Finland
Date of Birth: June 8, 1998
Drafted: 2016, No. 63 overall (EDM)
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 203 lbs
- Niemelainen has gone from a forgotten draft pick overseas to a legitimate contender to earn a call-up to the big league squad in 2021-22.
- Niemelainen has never produced much offence at any level, either in junior or as a professional, so the upside here is realistically a bottom-pairing shutdown defender at the NHL level. Given his physical package, a large body with strong skating ability, and his stable, physical style of play, he could thrive in that role.
- In the event of an injury, Niemelainen’s name will be in the mix for a call-up, along with Dmitri Samorukov, Filip Berglund, and Philip Broberg.
- That’s quite the swing for a prospect who most of us had forgotten about a little over a year ago.
BLH’s Thoughts: Niemelainen broke his arm near the end of last season and that’s why he didn’t play out the year. Quite a tough way to end such a promising debut in the AHL. That said, he opened up enough eyes that some local pundits are comparing him to Toronto Maple Leafs defender Justin Holl.
However, management has a guy up in Edmonton who was excellent in the AHL, just like Niemelainen, but has run into wrist problems in the NHL and that’s Wild Bill Lagesson. So, I think it would be fair to say that there’s a modicum of caution present and the big Finn is going to have to show the club that his arm (or any other body part) won’t be presenting any problems now or in the future.
The Oilers are moving into a phase in their build where they need impact players on the cheapest contracts moving forward. Is Niemelainen a candidate to be one of those all-important pieces?
The Daily Goal Horn
NHL Trade Bait Tracker: The latest buzz surrounding the top names on the block
Jack Eichel (C), Buffalo Sabres
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: Rangers, but who really knows
Notes: All that is known is he will be traded. Buffalo overplayed their hand here.
Vladimir Tarasenko (F), St. Louis Blues
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: Capitals, Islanders, Golden Knights, Devils, Hurricanes
Notes: He wants out, but there is no one wants to give anything up for him unless the Blues retain salary.
Alexandar Georgiev (G), New York Rangers
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: Sabres
Notes: His agent denies he requested a trade to be starter, but apparently the Rangers are ready to move on.
Phil Kessel (F), Arizona Coyotes
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: Golden Knights
Notes: Kessel has asked for a move to Vegas, but they can’t take him on right now.
Christian Dvorak (C), Arizona Coyotes
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: Bruins, Rangers, Devils
Notes: Arizona is still cutting costs and Dvorak is wanted.
Evgeny Kuznetsov (C), Washington Capitals
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: Rangers, Kings, Blue Jackets
Notes: The Caps are walking back talk that they want to trade him.
Evgeny Kuznetsov (C), Washington Capitals
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: Rangers, Kings, Blue Jackets
Notes: The Caps are walking back talk that they want to trade him.
Evander Kane (F), San Jose Sharks
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: TBD
Notes: Some Sharks players don’t want him back. SJ is trying to move on as Kane deals with gambling accusations.
Ryan Strome (F), New York Rangers
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: Senators, Kraken, Sabres
Notes: Strome will only get moved if the Rangers trade for Eichel
Joonas Korpisalo (G), Columbus Blue Jackets
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: Oilers
Notes: Elvis Merzlikins appears to be their #1, Korpisalo now expendable.
Rickard Rakell (F), Anaheim Ducks
Trade Status: Available
Destinations: TBD
Notes: He was wanted at the trade deadline, but the price was too high. Maybe it will come down now.
