In true Cult of Hockey fashion, late Saturday night, Edmonton Oilers insider Kurt Leavins posted his weekly “9 things” blog, and aside from pointed social commentary and some news on Kyle Turris and the reason he signed with the Oilers; there were two bits of speculation that caught my eye.
- The Ethan Bear contract talks have stalled.
- The Oilers could trade a winger to help out somewhere else in the lineup.
“Where does Ethan Bear’s contract status sit? Last word I had from sources closer to the club, there was no news…nothing at all on the horizon.”
I haven’t heard much on the Bear stuff. I’ve asked my sources and the only info I’ve received is the sound of crickets. If it was nothing, I would get some comment like, “talks are ongoing” or some other kind of bland retort you’d find a GM giving a reporter when he doesn’t want to comment. So that tells me that something is up.
My feeling is that the club is waiting on Oscar Klefbom to make a decision or keeping the news on Bear quiet until Klefbom can be put on LTIR and then something will emerge.
Bear could be angling for a bit more money and term too though… Which the Oilers won’t have until their no.1 defenceman can be “iced” for the season.
What if Klef decides he wants to play though?… Would that throw a wrench into things for Bear?
Getting to the trade speculation, this is what Leavins had to say on that,
“I expect a deal this winter could move a winger in order to shore up the lineup elsewhere. But I wouldn’t put Alex Chiasson on that list. He does so many things well. Net front presence on the PP. Strong and reliable along the walls in his own zone. A good possession player (his CF% of 50.1 led all regulars). Physical when the going gets rough. And he approaches the game the right way off the ice. He’s the kind of guy you need to win the tough games in tough situations. And you don’t miss them until they’re gone.” (source)
Who’s Safe: RNH, Kahun, Yamamoto, Archibald, Chiasson, Ennis, Neal
Who’s Available: Nygard, Kassian, Puljujarvi
The Oilers need to address their defence and their goaltending (maybe) and in order to do that, they’re going to have to use higher value assets, right?
I reckon that Zack Kassian is the one that will be moved eventually. He has a bigger contract and if the play-ins were indicative of his form without fans in the stands, the Oilers can’t have a $3.5M tied up in an ineffective player when that kind of money can be used elsewhere this season. Also, I feel like the coach tipped his hat a bit during that series vs. Chicago with regards to how much he trusts the man with the mutton chops compared to Chiasson.
If there’s one place I could see Edmonton moving Kass, it’s to LA where ex-Oilers coach Todd McLellan is presiding. McLellan loved Kassian and used him a lot in different situations like the PK when he coached in Edmonton.
Does LA have any defenders or goalies that the Oilers could use though?
Adrian Kempe and Dustin Brown interest me to a degree but they are forwards, and I don’t see Edmonton dealing for Drew Doughty and his $11M/yr contract that runs for another seven years.
Jonathan Quick has three years remaining on a contract that pays him $5.4M/yr though…
If anybody, that’s the guy that makes the most sense to me if the Oilers want an upgrade somewhere on their roster. However, saying Quick is an upgrade on Mikko Koskinen is a very debatable stance to take, but how would he look with a better defence in front of him? Much like Mike Smith, the 34yr old Quick is a fitness freak and is built like a brick outhouse.
Would you move Kassian and Koskinen for Quick and Brown with some retained salary?
(Fack, that would be such a Ken Holland kind of trade eh? Bringing in some older players who’ve won the Cup just as Edmonton is emerging as an NHL powerhouse.)
Now, with that being said, if the league gets going again, there’s an All-Canadian division, and the schedule is structured in a way where teams play each other three times in four nights; holding onto Kassian might be in Edmonton’s best interests as you can bet your bottom dollar, games are going to be testy and that’s where Mr. Kassian will be needed.
Who do you think the Oilers will move and what area of the team do you think they’ll attempt to make better with such a trade? Let us know in the comments below!
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