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 Oilersnation (Jason Gregor)
The Layers of the Duncan Keith Trade
Edmonton needed to upgrade its left defence. They did that in this trade, however, they also took on a lot of cap space. Far from ideal. Now, someone could argue if Keith plays poorly at $4.4m or $5.5m it doesn’t really matter. Fair point. So maybe I’m stuck on the optics of it, but my main critique of the deal is no retention.
What if Father Time has caught up to Keith, and he struggles mightily this season and decides to retire? If he opts to walk away rather than play when he is owed only $1.5m in actual money, then Chicago has a massive recapture penalty.
There are some things that are irrefutable. Keith turns 38 on Friday. Every player slows down eventually. Some sooner than others. The question I have is how poor was Keith in Chicago?
The Blackhawks were arguably the worst 5×5 team in the NHL last season. Here is where they ranked as a team in these five categories.
| CF% | FF% | SF% | GF% | XGF% |
| 30TH (45.8) | 31ST (44.9) | 31ST (45.6) | 24TH (44.4) | 31ST (43.9) |
It would be difficult for any player to have solid numbers based on those team totals.
Edmonton was middle of the pack in xGF% and GF% last season. Keith should have better partners in Edmonton and for sure will have better centres to play with.
Duncan Keith is better than William Lagesson, Kris Russell or Jones. Jones is the only one who might become better, but that is unlikely. I have a bigger concern Keith won’t give you value at his cap hit, rather than Jones being better than Keith the next two seasons.
The Keith trade presents one valid concern — value equal to the cap hit. Some will hate the deal. Others will call it risky. Others will say ballsy and some will like it.
Only time will tell who is right.
BLH’s Thoughts: Does anybody else find it funny that Edmonton could screw over the Blackhawks in the event that Duncan Keith retires after next season? I mean, all that hullabaloo over not retaining salary wouldn’t really matter, would it? It’s a clever play on Edmonton’s part.
Nothing against Caleb Jones, but I don’t see him being a top-pairing defender, a Norris Trophy winner, or a gold medal winner at any point in his career. If he was that good, we would’ve seen that sort of quality already. I’ve read some people compare him to Jordan Oesterle and I think that’s a fair comparison. So a career bottom-pairing defender similar to Andrew Ference?
Yup! I just did that.
From The Edmonton Sun (Jim Matheson)
OILERS NOTES: Keith will fill the big hole in Klefbom’s continued absence
- “We used a variety of guys with Adam. Kris Russell, (Dmitry) Kulikov, Caleb (Jones), (William) Lagesson, (Slater) Koekkoek. We need a strong player in our second pairing, it’s an impact position, matchup-wise. Darnell (Nurse) has developed into a top-notch player and he’ll get his icetime but we need Keith,” said Tippett.
How will Keith help Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl?
- “He’s won three Cups and there’s wisdom and knowledge that comes with that. He can pass that on at a critical time in a game. Maybe he can stand up and say, ‘This is the way we have to approach this.’ When you’ve been through a lot of wars, you recognize what it takes. We need more players who know how to read and react in critical situations, the ability to stay in games and not crack,” said Tippett.
THE BOOK ON JONES
- “Caleb did a lot of things right. He’s got some bite to his game. But his game wavered. It’s a maturity thing. He’s gone through some trials and tribulations and, hopefully, he goes to Chicago and blossoms,” said Tippett.
While Seattle gets first crack to convince unrestricted free agent Larsson to sign there, Philadelphia is hot to trot, trying to get a right-shot D to play with Ivan Provorov after Matt Niskanen retired
BLH’s Thoughts: Shocking that a veteran head coach would be over the moon at the news of his team acquiring a future hall-of-famer and 3-time Stanley Cup champ.
Man, I hope that Adam Larsson re-signs with the club. What a wrench that would thrown into Holland’s plans if Philly got their meat hooks into him.
Now, that said, would they then turn their attention to throwing that extra money at Dougie Hamilton or possibly re-visit Tyson Barrie. David Savard is an option as well and I think the club would definitely have time for the likes of Travis Hamonic or Tucker Poolman too.
LeBrun on Insider Trading says UFA G-Chris Driedger is looking for $3.5M AAV on his next deal. #SeaKraken are believed to be interested.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) July 13, 2021
SERAVALLI UPDATES NHL TRADE TARGETS LIST
STLTODAY.COM: Jim Thomas wondered if the Blues might package their 2021 first-round pick (16th overall) with Tarasenko. He believes the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Washington Capitals and possibly the New York Islanders might have an interest in the former 30-goal scorer. He also pondered the possibility of the Blues bundling that first-round with defenseman Vince Dunn and another sweetener to the Calgary Flames for winger (and St. Louis native) Matthew Tkachuk.
THE ATHLETIC: Rick Carpiniello reports it’s uncertain if Drury is shopping Buchnevich or if teams are making inquiries. The Rangers have over $22 million in projected cap space and will get more when they buy out Tony DeAngelo.
However, Drury must spend that cap room wisely because he must ensure he has sufficient space over the next couple of years to re-sign Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, Kaapo Kakko and Igor Shesterkin. Carpiniello also suggested the possibility of acquiring Jack Eichel from the Buffalo Sabres but dismissed the notion of swapping Buchnevich for Vladimir Tarasenko. They also have two promising wingers in Kakko and Vitali Kravtsov.
BLH’s Thoughts: Je-sus… Why would the Flames accept a first rounder, Vince Dunn, and a prospect for Matthew Tkachuk when they know St. Louis needs to move Vlad Tarasenko? It should be Tarasenko and Dunn (at least) for that rat, Tkachuk.
With regards to the Rangers, why wouldn’t they try to flip Buchnevich and futures for a no.2 center? It’s obvious that their young wingers are going to overtake the Russian sooner than later and there’s a good chance Buchnevich prices himself out of NY. What about a deal for Sam Reinhart as opposed to Jack Eichel?
Hearing LAK will be in on Suter if available on 28th. WASH too
— Adrian Dater (@adater) July 13, 2021
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