Edmonton Oilers Trade Talk: “If the Oilers wanted to make a “hockey trade”, he’s the most likely candidate…”

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!

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!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

Oilersnation

Off the Top of My Head

There’s no mystery to the big picture here. Smith is 39. Koskinen’s contract is done after this season. Now is the time for Skinner to get after it. There’ll be other nights of course. This isn’t a one-and-done deal, but when you’re facing a team you swept in nine games last season, you’ve got to be better than this. A lot better.
While Archibald’s health obviously is the first consideration, there’s no question the Oilers could use what he brings in their bottom six and as a penalty killer. “I love the way he plays,” GM Ken Holland said. “He can skate, plays bigger than his size, kills penalties.
Mike Babcock’s name has come up more than once along with the usual suspects – Paul Maurice, Jay Woodcroft, Glen Gulutzan, to name three — in recent weeks when fans have discussed the idea of getting rid of Tippett and finding a replacement.
For all of his accomplishments behind the bench (a Stanley Cup ring with Detroit in 2008 and two Olympic gold medals), I don’t think Babcock, who is now 58, is the right guy at this point in his career.
Babcock has made all the money he’ll ever need, so working at Saskatchewan, where he is close to his sisters and where his son Michael is an assistant coach, is a perfect fit at this point in his life.

BLH’s Thoughts: Skinner’s a rookie, a netminding one at that. So, he’s got a built-in excuse until he’s been in the NHL for at least three years. It’s tough for any goalie to win a game let alone when his teammates have left him out to dry on numerous occasions against one of the league’s bottom-dwellers. It’s still the highest level of hockey on the planet after all.

Until I hear that Josh Archibald is officially done for the year, I’m going to go with the notion that he’ll be back before the season is out. If Marco Rossi can do it, Josh Archibald can too and boy, do the Oilers need him in their bottom six.

As for the coaches, should this team miss the playoffs and the house gets cleaned, meaning Nicholson, Holland, and Tippett, I reckon nobody is off of the table.

Now, if Holland survives but Tippett doesn’t, I would actually put my money on Woodcroft and Manson getting promoted with Gulutzan sticking around if he wants.

I’d be torn though because I like the idea of Paul Maurice and Charlie Huddy on that bench too…

The Hockey Writers

Holland Just Made Tyson Barrie the Oilers’ Most Likely Trade Chip

Barrie is a productive offensive defenseman on a decent contract with term remaining. If the Oilers wanted to make a “hockey trade”, he’s the most likely candidate because an acquiring team knows what they’ll be getting. Not every team will be interested, but there would be a market for the blueliner if a team that has a need can move another player at a position they have a surplus.
Barrie has often been a whipping boy by the analytics community, but he’s also been more reliable defensively than he’s often given credit for and in the right situation, he could be a big addition for a team that has plans to use him in a top-four role.
As for what Holland could get for Barrie… that’s another story. Part of it would depend on the team(s) he’s talking to. Part of it would depend on when the trade takes place. If there are more pieces, there are more options and if Holland can locate a reclamation project or player who needs a fresh start, perhaps there’s a deal to be made that offers the Oilers a valued piece moving forward.

BLH’s Thoughts: Look no further than Seattle where, if you listen to Bob Stauffer, players like Carson Soucy ($2.75M for another year) would be a good fit on the Oilers. He’s also mentioned Kraken goaltender Chris Driedger ($3.5M/yr for another two years) in the past so somebody HE’D be interested in.

So, could the Oilers use Mikko Koskinen and Tyson Barrie to bring the physically assertive left-shot dman and the former Florida Panthers Uber-backup to Edmonton? Ron Francis would be asking for more, but what do you want him to do, give those guys away for free?

NHLRumors.com

Eric Engels: The Anaheim Ducks are scheduled to interview Mathieu Darche later this week about their vacant GM position.
Jimmy Murphy: Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy praised Jake DeBrusk‘s effort and commitment to the team but as far as Cassidy knows, DeBrusk hasn’t changed his mind about wanting a trade from the Bruins.
Rangers GM Chris Drury has spoken with Montreal Canadiens ‘GM’ Jeff Gorton about Artturi Lehkonen according to sources. Talks were preliminary. Pending RFA wouldn’t be cheap and is owed a $2.3 million qualifying offer.

BLH’s Thoughts: Depending on where the playoff-less Canadian teams sit in the standings in March, I have a feeling if the Oilers are buyers that they’ll be shopping in Canada. So that’ll make a lot of Montreal Canadiens targets should Ken Holland be in a position to be a buyer because there’s no way that club is making the post-season this year.