Long-Time Oilers Beat Writer on the Keith Trade: “I think it’s a bad bet.”

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 (David Staples)

Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland on the price he paid for Duncan Keith: “It’s hard to squeeze people in this league”

I would have hoped that the Oilers could have found a way to get the price down on Keith. That didn’t happen. At the same time, not having seen Keith play and not having access to thorough, fair and accurate individual analytical data on the player, I’m in no place to give a sound assessment of where the player is right now. I strongly doubt most of you are either. We’ll all know a lot more after seeing Keith play for a month or two.

As a fan of the Oilers, I’m left hoping for the best, as always, that Edmonton won’t get hammered too hard by giving away a possible diamond in the rough in Caleb Jones, and that Duncan Keith’s own glitter won’t fade too much more over the next few seasons.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’ll go back to the Colorado Avalanche in 2000 when they acquired Ray Bourque as my comparison, not the Chris Chelios one that Holland likes to use. Bourque was a ghost of himself that season when Colorado traded a handful of futures and Brian Rolston to get him and as soon as #77 slipped on that Avalanche uniform, he was a man possessed and scored at a point-per-game pace for the rest of that season.

His team didn’t win that year, but they did the next year and Bourque was a major reason why as he played in every game for Colorado that season alongside the likes of Martin Skoula, Greg DeVries, Jon Klemm, and Aaron Miller for the most part. Adam Foote played 35 games that season and Rob Blake didn’t join until the trade deadline…

Say what you want about Sakic, Forsberg, and Patrick Roy, but that defense got carried by a 41yr old Raymond Bourque that year…

From the Edmonton Sun (Terry Jones)

JONES: Keith deal means time is now for Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland

Despite winning only one of eight Stanley Cup playoff games in the last two years, Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland just announced that the Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl Stanley Cup windows are now wide open.

And trading defenceman Caleb Jones and a third-round draft pick for two-time Stanley Cup champion Duncan Keith, with two years remaining on his $11.1-million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, announces no more tinkering while wearing the set of salary cap handcuffs the predecessor left for him.

Holland is obviously betting Keith has enough left in him to come close to doing what an aging Chris Chelios did after acquiring him for the Detroit Red Wings and going on to win a pair of Stanley Cups.

So, make no mistake. Holland put his butt way out the window on this one to get the defenceman, who turns 38 on Friday.

Essentially, Holland is hoping for the Chris Pronger effect from GM Kevin Lowe’s acquisition of the defenceman who played a massive role in the Oilers getting to Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.

I think it’s a bad bet. But I also think it’s his best bet to make it happen now.

BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t think anybody is saying that this trade as an easy one for Holland to make. However, he’s got to do what he feels is best for his team and it’s very apparent that he believes his club lacks the experience and compete to get past the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. I’d add that this won’t be the only player like this Holland goes out and acquires. There will be more veterans coming that have playoff histories, they might cost a pretty penny, AND they might not produce as much during the regular season too.

But, as I’ve said before, the investment in Duncan Keith goes beyond the on-ice product. He’s going help the club in many different aspects like coaching, enticing other higher profile players to join the team, mentorship, etc.

From The Athletic

Hold ’em or Fold ’em: Which NHL teams would prefer an expansion-style reboot over what they currently have?

If you’re an NHL team and faced with a choice of either starting your entire franchise over from scratch, as Seattle is about to do, or press on with your current lineup and depth chart — which would you do?

Edmonton Oilers

You have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in their respective primes, signed for a combined $21 million, McDavid for five more years and Draisaitl for four (which, for comparative purposes, is just slightly more than Dallas will pay Seguin and Benn, who’ll earn a combined $19.35 million over roughly the same term). This isn’t difficult. You’ve got the last two Hart Trophy winners signed for decent dollars and term, plus emerging star Darnell Nurse. The biggest salary-cap headache they’ve got is James Neal, two more years at $4.65 million, which, if necessary, can be bought out.

The verdict: Hold ‘em.

BLH’s Thoughts: I liked this exercise. If you’ve got a subscription, I suggest you head over and read the whole post to see what they said about the other clubs like Toronto or Calgary. That said, I bet there are some Oilers fans out there who’d love to have a do-over with this team today…

From Spector’s Hockey

Blackhawks Trade Keith To The Oilers

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Keith’s best seasons are behind him. Nevertheless, Oilers general manager Ken Holland believes his experience and leadership will benefit his club and help them get over the playoff hump. Keith will likely slot into their blueline on the left side of their second pairing.

Holland’s critics are already raging against this trade on social media, considering it a waste of cap space. Keith’s defenders, meanwhile, believe he still has enough left in the tank to improve on a better club after spending the past two seasons paired with lesser blueliners on the Blackhawks.

BLH’s Thoughts: What if, as a result of this trade, it allows the Oilers to bring in a player like Alex Killorn at a reduced salary because they’d be able to send a different prospect or draft pick over to Tampa. Remember, Killorn has to waive that modified no-move clause and traditionally, that’s been a big problem for the Oilers over the years.

What if, as a result of this trade, free agents are more willing to come to Edmonton for a little bit cheaper because they see a clear picture of what Ken Holland is doing?

I mean, the surface level analysis by some on the socials has been appalling. This ain’t checkers, people! And if you’re taking Ken Holland’s quotes at face value from that media avail, that’s on you…

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