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 Sportsnet (Mark Spector)
Will Kraken look to Oilers for depth, prospects or surprise with UFA deal?
- The Kraken may surprise in the next 48 hours and ink a guy like Barrie as their Edmonton component. If not, however, you can bet the discussion regarding the Oilers’ list will wait for late in Seattle general manager Ron Francis’ selection process.
Possible Seattle targets
- Jujhar Khaira – He typifies the kind of player Seattle will be selecting from this Edmonton roster… If they feel they need to beef up a bit with their last few picks, he’s likely their best bet here… A fresh start in Seattle would favour him.
- Tyler Benson – Benson has nothing left to prove as a playmaking winger — in the minors. What he does have to prove is that he can skate well enough to create the same space at the NHL level that he did in the minors, so his skills can shine at that level as well.
- Kris Russell – This is the kind of player the Kraken would take if they assess that there just aren’t enough intangibles among the other available names on Edmonton’s list… Francis may value a player of Russell’s ilk in the short-term, with an eye to move him at the deadline to a contender seeking some depth on its blue line.
Salary Cap Outlook
- Holland and Larsson’s agent J.P. Barrie have spoken on a regular basis over the past two months. Various contract scenarios have been borne of those talks, and it is my understanding that a four-year deal with an AAV in the range of $3.9 million awaits Larsson, to be signed after the expansion window closes.
- Alex Chiasson is also a UFA, and will be a second-week signing for someone. A depth right winger who will likely see his $2.15-million AAV cut down by 40-50 per cent. If the Oilers buy out James Neal, we could see them having some interest in bringing Chiasson back, a solid veteran who works nicely down low on the power play.
BLH’s Thoughts:
From Lowetide.ca
Draft 2021: Moonlight Mile
- Kevin Prendergast said a couple of decades ago that the scouts needed to score in the first round without fail, and needed to find at least one more NHL player in the other rounds. His nine first-round picks brought five successes (Ales Hemsky, Devan Dubnyk, Andrew Cogliano, Sam Gagner, Riley Nash), a little better than 50 percent success rate.
LOWETIDE MOCK (MCKENZIE LIST)
- No. 19 overall: LC Nikita Chibrikov, St. Petersburg. Smaller forward with high-end skill (Red Line has him No. 22), RLR says he has “a combination of great stick skills, imagination, vision, speed and offensive instincts.” He’s a one-dimensional player but will be the best offensive prospect on the board if still available at No. 19 overall. I had him at No. 7.
- No. 116 overall: LW Eric Alarie, Moose Jaw Warriors 6.01, 196. I have him No. 24 (RLR has him early third round) and Mr. McKenzie doesn’t list him. I’ve checked, speed is good and he has all the PF tools including skill. I don’t know where he’ll go in the draft, but Alarie is a good prospect.
- No. 180 overall: LC Joshua Roy, Sherbrooke Phoenix 6.01, 191. I have him No. 36 overall, RLR has him late third round. An August 2003, he barely qualifies for the draft. Lethal shooter, average foot speed, he landed just outside my first round due to 22 goals in 35 QMJHL games.
- No. 186 overall: RC Connor Lockhart, Erie Otters. I have him at No. 41, RLR ranks him late third round. Fine playmaker, he is undersized and will need to improve strength. Has a great release on his shot.
- No. 212 overall: LC Lorenzo Canonica, Shawinigan Cataractes. I had him No. 51, meaning all five of my picks are done with players I ranked in the first through middle second round. What a crazy year. I was finished my Button draft by selection No. 32 of my list, so things are looking up! A September 2003, great skill. RLR has him fifth round.
BLH’s Thoughts:
From The Fourth Period
DANAULT MOVING ON FROM CANADIENS?
- According to Le Journal de Montreal, Danault plans on testing the free agent waters and will not sign a new deal with the Habs.
- The paper reports Danault is looking for a five-to-six year contract worth around $5.5 million per season.
- In September 2020, Danault turned down a six-year, $30 million offer pitched by the Canadiens.
BLH’s Thoughts:
From NBC Sports
Which Players Might the Kraken Flip after the NHL Expansion Draft?
- Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues
- The Kraken could pick and eat a portion of his salary in a trade to remove some of that risk for another team that wants him. Or, the Kraken could just keep him and hope he is healthy and bounces back and plays like the All-Star player he is for the next two years.
- Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames
- He is still really good and would improve a lot of team’s blue lines. He is still a positive possession-driver and can chip in enough offense to make an impact with a very manageable salary cap number. The fact he is on an expiring contract should also be attractive to other teams (including the Kraken).
- P.K. Subban, New Jersey Devils
- This is a situation where the Kraken could weaponize their salary sap space and eat some money to facilitate a trade. They can not do that a lot, because eventually that cap space will run out and you can only retain salary on so many trades, but if the Kraken were willing to eat 50 percent of Subban’s deal there will no doubt be a handful of teams that would take him on a $4.5 million salary cap hit. He would probably be worth that for this season.
- Calle Jarnkrok, Nashville Predators
- Jarnkrok, though, could be somebody they could flip. He has an affordable contract and could be productive in a middle-six role that you could probably pencil in for 15 goals in any given season.
- Adam Henrique, Anaheim Ducks
- He is just one year removed from a 26-goal season with the Ducks (in only 71 games). But he also still has strong underlying possession numbers and it could serve him well to be on a better team with more offensive talent around him.
- Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers
- Gostisbehere has not blossomed into the top-pairing, No. 1 defender the Flyers hoped he would when he first arrived in the NHL seven years ago, but he still has some value and can contribute, especially if put into a sheltered role.
BLH’s Thoughts:
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