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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Cult of Hockey
A lot can happen when a player changes sweaters, the Edmonton Oilers hope that’s the case with Evander Kane: 9 Things
- Provided the Oilers continue to win and look to be playoff bound, I expect that Ken Holland will be looking around for at least 2 more pieces, maybe 3.
- I think Holland will look for shut-down depth on Defence (ideally, a RHS) at a budget price. But I think he will be open to spending a prime asset and perhaps even 2 on a starting goalie.
BLH’s Thoughts: A shut-down depth defenseman on the right side, you say? Maybe a UFA at season’s end and is playing for a team that has no hope of making the playoffs this season, too?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8k7AQrSUx4
With the rumors of the team looking at Blue Jacket’s hulking centre, Kevin Stenlund, I don’t think that it’s a stretch to think that the Oilers will be bringing in a massive forward for the playoffs.
With regards to that goaltending tidbit from Leavins, Jeremy Swayman’s name is stuck in my head as somebody the Oilers might be willing to pay a premium to acquire, but for the life of me, I don’t know why the Bruins would contemplate moving him. I suppose Boston’s other goalie, Linus Ullmark, could be an option too as he’s signed to a multi-year deal already.
The other two that came up via Elliotte Friedman that might be worth giving up prime assets for are Minnesota’s Kaapo Kahkonen and Vitek Vanecek of the Washington Capitals.
Still though, unless the Caps acquire Marc-Andre Fleury or somebody else for their post-season run, I have a hard time thinking they’d move a young goalie like that for futures.
Minnesota too, seeing as they’ve got Cam Talbot for another year and then maybe Jesper Wallstedt. Why not keep Kahkonen on and then when Talbot’s deal expires, go into the 2023/24 season with the Finn as their starter and Wallstedt as the backup?
Lowetide.ca
- Music! The three line unicorn idea could mean Edmonton lands more than three names above 2.00 points-per-60, and having that kind of firepower is a big deal. This Oilers team could make some noise in the playoffs if the GM can figure out the goaltending, add a defenseman.
BLH’s Thoughts: This is great and all but the reason we’re looking at this kind of depth comes down to the Oilers taking a leap of faith with Evander Kane. What happens next year when Darnell Nurse’s new mega-deal kicks in and Pulju/Yamamoto need new deals?
Even if you trade Barrie, Kassian, and Koskinen, I don’t know if that will cover the bill for Nurse, JP, and Killer let alone adding a proper starting netminder (which tend to run in the $5M or more range) and another dman.
My hope is that Dylan Holloway comes as advertised and transitions seamlessly from the AHL to Kane’s replacement. That’s a very tough ask mind you, but if the team wants to keep the 3-headed dragon alive, it’s the price you pay.
Spector’s Hockey
- THE ATHLETIC: It’s assumed Tkachuk would join the St. Louis Blues (his hometown club) one day if he doesn’t stay with the Flames on a long-term deal. However, sources say he’d also have interest in the Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators and New York Rangers to name a few.
- CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: Steve Macfarlane believes Flames management should be in “go-for-it” mode… Trade rumors linked them to Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot and Seattle Kraken winger Jordan Eberle. There’s also speculation about a possible reunion with former captain and current Kraken blueliner Mark Giordano.
- THE ATHLETIC: Corey Masisak wondered what the San Jose Sharks will do with defenseman Erik Karlsson sidelined until at least mid-March following surgery on his forearm earlier this week.
- PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Earlier this week, Dan Kingerski examined some potential backup goaltending options for the Penguins… Affordable trade options could include the Florida Panthers Jonas Johansson, Buffalo Sabres’ Craig Anderson, Ottawa Senators Anton Forsberg and the LA Kings’ Garret Sparks.
