Edmonton Oilers Talk: “Two interesting names who could impact things are…”

Quotes taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs, BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including Lowetide, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

Give us a follow on the socials!

Lowetide.ca

MAN OUT OF TIME

If we can agree that the top two lines, top two pairings, starting goalie and No. 3 center are the heart of the order, then these Edmonton Oilers are complete. Are they better? I think they are if you believe forwards drive the results, and smart people tell me that’s the case.
I’m fascinated by the bet on defense. Management and coaching decided last year’s six were not enough, and made significant changes to the second and third pairings.
The two interesting names who could impact things are Kyle Turris, who is apparently lifting cars over his head on Jasper Avenue is preparation for training camp, and Samorukov.
If Turris shows up healthy and moving the puck well, as center or right-winger, it could change the dynamic on the No. 3 line.
Samorukov could force his way into an opening night assignment, but it would take outstanding performances in preseason and an injury to one of Russell, Koekkoek or Lagesson.

BLH’s Thoughts: Kyle Turris’ problem wasn’t that he didn’t have the strength to play last year, it was because he lost a step and was almost always behind the play. I’m not sure if he’s going to be able to regain a step via time in the gym this offseason, he just needs to find a way to anticipate the plays better so that he has a head start on where to go on the ice, right?

Samorukov could outplay Koekkoek and Russell, but then again, so could Broberg and we know that Holland and Tippett LOVE the Swede… I don’t think it’d shock anybody if Broberg or Samorukov made the club out of camp on merit. If I’m not mistaken, did Dima not partner Evan Bouchard in Bakersfield for a short time?

The Hockey Writers (Couch)

Oilers Bring in Much-Needed Help Up Front

There have been multiple seasons of a revolving door on the top line alongside Connor McDavid. This seems to have ended with the acquisition of Zach Hyman this offseason on the left side and the continued growth of Jesse Puljujarvi on the right wing
The second line is set and will most definitely stay together if they can find the success they had playing as the top line in the 2019-20 season while McDavid was out with an injury.
The Oilers also added some depth wingers that they hope will pan out in Warren Foegele and Brendan Perlini. These two players, along with the emergence of Tyler Benson into the bottom-6, will create competition and hopefully raise the level of play.
There are bound to be injuries or games missed at some point by the wingers on the Oilers’ team, so these players will look to take advantage of any opportunity given in 2021-22.

BLH’s Thoughts: Holland has signed up his lunchpail gang, now it’s time to go to work. Will the strategy pay off? That’s the question, isn’t it?

I’ll say this, there’s nothing wrong with adding more competitiveness to this roster, especially in positions where it’s required. In the past, when the Oilers have had great teams, the club always had gritty wingers who’d run through a wall to score a goal AND stop one and personally, I think having these sorts of character players on the team are great for the younger skaters coming up.

NHLRumors.com

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: The Ottawa Senators would like to add a veteran center or another forward.

- Defenseman Erik Brannstrom could be used as a trade chip for the forward.
- The Senators kicked tires on Buffalo Sabres Jack Eichel but the asking price was too high and his contract may have forced them into other moves.
- There has been some speculation that the Senators have spoken with the San Jose Sharks about Tomas Hertl.
- Ryan Strome could become available and would make sense. His brother Dylan in Chicago is available and the Senators have shown mild interest.

Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal: RFA Kailer Yamamoto still needs to be re-signed. It’s not known yet if he can become a top-six winger. He only scored eight goals last season. Valeri Nichushkin’s deal with the Colorado Avalanche may be too high of a comparable (two years, $2.5 million per) and may more along the lines of Max Comtois‘ deal with the Ducks (two years at $2.04 million per). That said, thinks Yamamoto will come in under $2 million, guessing two years at $1.75 million per.

Mike Heika of NHL.com: (mailbag) One of the questions surrounding the Dallas Stars this season will be if Ben Bishop is able to return at some point.

- The Stars and defenseman John Klingberg have been talking about a contract extension…The Stars have Heiskanen, Esa Lindell and Ryan Suter signed, and Thomas Harley is close, so extending Klingberg is tricky.
- With Joe Pavelski, Alexander Radulov and Klingberg UFA after the season, and the Stars may wait to see how this year plays out.
- Don’t believe the Stars are interested in trading any goaltender before the season.

BLH’s Thoughts: Julius Honka, Victor Mete, Sami Niku, Erik Brannstrom… I was always under the impression that undersized defensemen with skill were more valuable than the bigger bodied cycle-breakers… I Imagine you could add Caleb Jones and Ethan Bear to that list too…

Which version of Killer Yamamoto are we going to see in 2021-22? The one who scored at a point-per-game pace two years ago or the one that only scored 8 goals last season? If the Oilers put him on the third line, I’m betting we’ll see the PPG version by season’s end…