Edmonton Oilers Talk: Where’s Samorukov, Puljujarvi vs. Aho, and the Latest NHL Rumors!

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are 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 those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

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The Athletic

Markus Niemelainen winning Oilers recall battle over Philip Broberg, William Lagesson

Broberg’s ice time increased in each contest until Game 4, the game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Broberg’s confidence and natural skill got him through several games with good results, but after picking up an assist in Game 1 (and finishing 1-0 at five-on-five goals while he was on the ice), things took a downturn.
The Oilers have used Lagesson for at least part of the last three seasons as a recall option. His performances have been inconsistent and the young Swedish defenceman lacks the exceptional speed of Broberg or the smashmouth hitting ability of Niemelainen.
One of the truly entertaining Condors players over the last two seasons, Niemelainen’s bone-jarring hits recall a previous era while also being an effective deterrent against opposition forwards entering Edmonton’s zone.
Broberg is tracking as a future top four defender with possible opportunities on both special teams. His speed and size make him an exciting prospect for management and coaching staff.
Niemelainen is looking like a strong candidate for the third-pairing LH side over the next several years, although he has competition in Dmitri Samorukov (yet to make his NHL debut).
Lagesson is cast as an extra defenceman in Edmonton; he’ll need to catch a break or find another NHL home to increase his role.

BLH’s Thoughts: If it were me, I would’ve recalled Samorukov instead of Broberg. If we’re to believe what’s being said about the Russian, he’s a heavy hitter with better puck skills. So why not give him a go so everybody can get a bit of experience with the big club before settling. Unless Holland’s getting some less than savory reports from Dave Manson and Jay Woodcroft, I can’t see why Broberg, confidence down, would be the recall…

I am very excited about Niemelainen because he’s my kind of blueliner. I am wondering how long it’ll take the opposition to figure him out though and conversely, how long it’ll take him to adjust his game.

Edmonton Sun

Hurricanes the wrong team at the wrong time for Edmonton Oilers

A hard-working, highly-skilled opponent that excels in five-on-five hockey and boasts a stifling penalty kill? Even if the Oilers were at their best, the 18-6-1 Hurricanes would pose a serious problem.
The Hurricanes have a plus 23 ratio (58-35) in even strength scoring, second only to the Washington Capitals. The Oilers are minus 9.
Though the Oilers played better the last two games (the loss to Minnesota was a similar script), they’re still on a four-game losing streak and the Pacific Division standings are closing in around them.
It seems like a dark and dire time for the Oilers, but every team goes through this during a season. The Hurricanes are just three games removed from a five-game losing streak (0-4-1) of their own. Toronto lost four in a row. Washington lost three in a row…

BLH’s Thoughts: The Canes are down FOUR full-time NHL defensemen and Chip Alexander said Slavin and Bear are less than 100%. I am leaning to agree with Tychkowski that the Canes are all wrong for Edmonton tonight, but there’s a small chance the Oilers turn Carolina on their heads too… Never underestimate a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl…

Another guy who tends to show up for games against Carolina is Jesse Puljujarvi. I don’t know what it is about Pulju when he’s got to play against his buddies from that Finnish team who won the World Juniors in 2016 (I think). He’s also a tad more productive in the month of December as over the course of his career he’s racked up the most points (16) in that month.

Watch out for the Hurricanes’ third line of Seth Jarvis, Vincent Trocheck, and Martin Necas. That’s an electrifying bottom-six line if I’ve seen one…

Oh, and how about their $6M 4th line center? That offer sheet for Kotkaniemi is not looking too bright right now…

The Hockey Writers Rumors

Vancouver GM Opening: Thomas Drance and Harman Dayal of The Athletic took a look at possible candidates for the GM job and listed the following: Jason Botterill, Stan Smyl, Mike Gillis, Laurence Gilman, Hayley Wickenheiser, Marc Bergevin, Scott Mellanby, Eustance King, Chris MacFarland, Ryan Johnson, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, J.P. Barry, Josh Flynn, Mike Futa, Ray Ferraro, Craig Conroy, Ross Mahoney, John Ferguson Jr., Kevin Weeks, Alexandrea Mandrycky, and John Chayka.
Jake DeBrusk: The Boston Bruins are looking to facilitate DeBrusk’s trade request even though Elliotte Friedman has reported they will only move the forward on their terms. Part of the issue in trading DeBrusk is that the 25-year old is arbitration-eligible and that is giving some teams pause.