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!
From The Cult of Hockey (Kurt Leavins)
Zach Hyman: The perfect player-type to help the Edmonton Oilers reach the next step?
- Zach Hyman doesn’t have the flash of some of his current and (potentially) future Oilers teammates. But on a club often accused (and so, I might add) of having too many of the same type of player Hyman would be one “of these things that’s not like the other” in Edmonton. His skill comes along with an abundance of sandpaper and a nose for the tougher areas of the ice surface. And he’s very good defensively. Very.
- If Hyman joins them in a regular shift, plus a Power Play and a PK, then you quickly start to recoup value on the dollar: A 20+ minute a night man who is on the ice in the final minute of a game whether you are a goal up or a goal down.
- Chris Kunitz was 29 when he joined the Penguins in 2008. Over the course of his stay he reeled off 4 consecutive 20-goal seasons including 35 in 2013-14 and was a part of 3 Stanley Cup Championships.
BLH’s Thoughts: I have a feeling that as soon as Hyman signs on the dotted line with Edmonton, Jesse Puljujarvi’s time on the first unit PP will officially be over and there is a part of me that wonders if perhaps after a couple of seasons of getting his numbers alongside McDavid if Holland will look to “cash in” on him instead of re-sign him.
Goalie Sebastian Cossa would create buzz as first-round pick for Oilers
- They have Edmonton Oil Kings goalie Sebastian Cossa very high on their list, along with agitating left-wing shooter Brennan Othmann, who played in Switzerland this winter with the OHL shut down because of COVID-19.
- In their first-round area, they also have rangy right-winger Oskar Olausson, who played on Sweden’s world junior team last Christmas here) or any of three Quebec League forwards—Zach L’Heureux, Zach Bolduc or Xavier Bourgault.
- With no second or third-round picks, maybe they trade back from 20 for a later first-rounder and somebody’s second-round selection. Then you’ve got Swedish winger Simon Robertsson whose dad Bert played briefly here or maybe Shane Doan’s son Josh, a forward off to Arizona State.
BLH’s Thoughts: If you check the Oilers’ website in their 2021 draft area, you’ll find the names of the players they’re looking at in the first round. They have profiles posted for Cossa, Othmann, Aatu Raty, Francesco Pinelli, and Fabian Lysell.
The names I’ve heard most often are Cossa, Olausson, Lysell, Othmann, and this week, Raty. So since the goalies will be gone by then, it’ll be a forward and I’ll be honest, they may want to go with Jesse Puljujarvi’s old Karpat teammate. Aatu Raty is solidly built, he’s got speed, the hands on this guy are lightning fast, and he’s got that skip Eric Lindros had when he was building up speed. To me, he’s got a bit of a Mark Scheifele look, but I watched him early on in the season too, so things might’ve changed since then.
From Lowetide.ca
ZACH HYMAN
- The numbers I pay attention to (and have for years) suggest Zach Hyman is a solid target for the Oilers. The two concerns are AAV and term. I think Oilers fans will be able to live with the AAV (a little over $5 million) and it sounds like an eight-year deal so that’s going to mean a buyout down the line.
- Holland is gathering as much talent as he can, and is willing to give term in exchange for lower cap. I don’t think we’ll see four additions to the roster, but three is possible.
Hyman vs elites five on five: 300 minutes, 46.7 percent of his overall time. 53.8 DFF%, 5.68 DFFRel, 17-6 goals.
Hyman five on five pts 60: 2.14
Hyman five on five pts 60 without Matthews: 2.01
Hyman five on five Corsi pct: 52.6
Hyman five on five shot differential: 54.0
Hyman five on five goal differential: 66.7
Hyman five on five expected goals: 60.0
BLH’s Thoughts: I have my reservations about this player too, but it’s important to realize he’s not being brought in to be the next Jari Kurri. I think the best we can anticipate for with him is something close to Chris Kunitz, like Leavins and Stauffer are saying, or maybe even Ryan Smyth. He’s a heart and soul kind of player, so what I’m hoping is that Hyman wins over the fanbase with his work rate and he stays relatively healthy for five years. If he can do that, the blue collar fans in Edmonton will grow to love him when he’s scoring and when he isn’t. Even the analytics types who are writing him off already.
From Sportsnet (Elliotte Friedman)
Blackhawks pushing for Seth Jones, Ryan Suter nearing decision
- According to several sources, Chicago and Columbus are taking another run at a Seth Jones trade…What the two teams are trying to do is find common ground without including either of them (Dach/DeBrincat); finding another mix of Chicago’s young players, prospects and high draft picks.
- Ryan Suter is a popular man. Possible he makes his decision by Monday. Among interested parties: Boston, Colorado, Dallas, Florida and the Islanders.
- A unique, but valuable case could be newly-minted Stanley Cup champion David Savard, because word is he’s more willing than some of his peers to consider Canadian destinations. One GM said Thursday that he’s hearing more and more from players that they prefer not to play in Canada. “It’s a real thing,” he said, mentioning taxes, social media and tighter pandemic restrictions.
- Vancouver has stepped-up efforts to find a landing spot for Braden Holtby. I think there’s a lot of this going around the NHL these days, but word is the Canucks have given his representatives permission to aid in the search.
BLH’s Thoughts: That part about the players not wanting to go to Canada because of the taxes, SOCIAL MEDIA, and tighter pandemic restrictions should hit fans in Edmonton incredibly hard.
The Oilers have a hard enough time getting players to come in from other markets but there’s a very loud portion of that fanbase who haven’t been helping at all. They complain and berate players who Edmonton is looking at and then do the same when the players they do have are having a tough go.
The whole “fan how you want to” is a complete crock of shit. If you’re a supporter of the club, SUPPORT IT! It’s not just about the money you spend to go to the games or buy the merch, you have to put yourselves in the shoes of the athletes. How would you like it if a thousand people took to social media and rated your performance at work and made it extremely difficult to go out in public? There are so may hypocrites that’ll pump out the mental health promos and initiatives and then shit all of the players, coaches, scouts, and GM of the club online… WTF?…
As a SUPPORTER, you’ve got to ask yourself, how can I help the team? Am I helping it by going on Twitter and calling player X a piece of shit or player Y a useless hockey player? Would I be a better partner to the club if I found more productive and positive ways to show my frustration?
It’s a pipe dream, I know. The mob will always mob…
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