Edmonton Oilers Talk: What’s Going to Happen with Lagesson and Benson?

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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Oilersnation (baggedmilk)

Edmonton Oilers sign Slater Koekkoek to a two-year contract with $925,000 AAV

The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed defenceman, Slater Koekkoek, to a two-year contract that carries a $925,000 cap hit.
A depth signing to be sure, Koekkoek was a guy that Dave Tippett seemingly trusted and I wonder how much of the coach’s input was taken into account for this extension.
What’s interesting about Koekkoek’s new deal is that, just like Devin Shore, Holland decided to give him a second year to stick around as a depth piece even though he will likely get passed on the depth chart by prospects like Broberg or Samorukov before this thing is over.
In 18 games played with the Oilers in 2021, Koekkoek registered a single goal and two PIMs while averaging 13:10 in TOI to go along with a 40.4 CF% and a 94.1 PDo.

BLH’s Thoughts: Woof! That PDO is awfully low… That says to me that there’s a better player waiting to get out and we’ve got some more to see from Koekkoek… Color me excited!

Holland’s just doing what he said he was going to and that’s use term as an incentive to keep AAV down. All said, this is a deal that can easily be buried or traded.

Do you reckon William Lagesson clears waivers if he’s put on?

Edmonton Sun (Van Diest)

Tyler Benson ready to make jump to Oilers this upcoming season

The Edmonton Oilers prospect has been developing in the American Hockey League for the past three years after overcoming injuries coming out of junior, and is expected to challenge for an NHL roster sport this upcoming season.
The Edmonton Oilers prospect has been developing in the American Hockey League for the past three years after overcoming injuries coming out of junior, and is expected to challenge for an NHL roster sport this upcoming season.
Benson set an Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League scoring record in 2013 with 57 goals and 146 points in 33 games. He was the first-overall selection in the WHL Bantam Draft that season and went on to play four years with the Giants.
A hip and sports hernia injury hampered Benson through his time with the Giants and spend most of his time rehabilitating heading into the pro level.
Benson’s offensive instincts were a reason the Oilers were so high on him during his draft year, yet it’ll be his defensive ability keeping him in an Oilers’ jersey this upcoming season.

BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t know folks. I have a really hard time seeing Benson make it onto this Oilers roster. His bread and butter isn’t being a defensive forward, it’s his playmaking and board work. Asking him to become Jere Lehtinen or Patrice Bergeron is paramount to asking Nail Yakupov to switch his playing style and turn into Igor Larionov and we all know how that turned out…

The Oilers have drawn their line in the sand with regards to who they want in their top-six or the foreseeable future and that’s Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Warren Foegele with Dylan Holloway coming right behind them.

I’m not saying Benson can’t or won’t make it. Perhaps Devin Shore has a bad camp or somebody gets hurt and the door opens for Tyler, but if that’s the optimistic POV, it’s not a good place to be.

I have to wonder if Holland has a deal in his back pocket that’ll include Benson heading out of town. He’s still a good prospect and there are definitely teams that have interest in him. The cupboard just seems a bit too full in Edmonton for him though.

NHLTradeRumors.me

New York Islanders: 2 Players Who Could Be Traded Next Season

Josh Bailey: Bailey is due $5 million for the next three seasons and he’s one of the only core forwards for the Islanders who doesn’t hold trade protection.
Leo Komarov: The 34-year-old is in the final season of his contract paying him $3 million and holds no-trade protection against seven teams… if the Islanders want to move him, they will certainly have to eat some of the remaining salary on his expiring contract.

Dallas Stars: 2 Players Who Could Be Traded Next Season

John Klingberg: Klingberg is a pending free agent and if a contract extension isn’t complete before the trade deadline, look for the Stars to consider some offers.
Jake Oettinger: The young netminder is now stuck behind three capable goaltenders, who if they all can get/remain healthy, may push him out the door… if any of the veterans run away with the net, perhaps Dallas considers moving the young tender for a piece up front.