Coming from an Edmonton Oilers point of view, BLH provides you with 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 Daily Goal Horn
There’s been a lot of talk surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins this week. Mike Sullivan has been rumored to possibly be on the hot seat as head coach. Elliotte Friedman dispelled that notion last night.
“There’s been rumors here and there [about Mike Sullivan],” he said on Saturday Headlines. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. He’s a heck of a coach, he’s under contract for three more years, I’d expect him to be back behind the bench if anyone had any questions.”
BLH’s Thoughts: As if they’d move on from Sullivan. He’s not the problem in Pittsburgh. I get that he’s not Ron Hextall’s man, but you’ve got to give him a year to see what he does with the new additions that Hextall and Burke bring in and after that the club still can’t get out of the first round of the playoffs, maybe it’s time for a change. They need to sort out their netminding first though, be that bringing back Marc-Andre Fleury or trading for Jeff Carter’s long-time teammate Jonathan Quick, Tristan Jarry has lost the confidence of everyone at this point I feel.
The Capitals were also bounced early in the playoffs and there’s chatter that they may trade Evgeny Kuznetsov this summer. “I think we’re always open to trading people if it makes sense for what’s going on,” GM Brian MacLellan said about the possibility of moving him. “If it’s going to make our team better, I think we’re open to it.”
There were also a lot of rumors prior to this season that Chara may opt out or even retire. He obviously found the right fit in Washington but it appears the Caps may be looking to get younger for next season. Caps brass felt the team ran out of gas and they will try and address that this summer as well.
BLH’s Thoughts: As I’ve said before, the Caps looked old and slow against Boston in their first-round loss to the Bruins. They need to start implementing some youth to that roster right quick. They’ve got Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre coming at forward but their defensive prospects are really lacking quality and electricity.
Kuznetsov could be the bargain buy of the year depending on how badly the Capitals wash their hands of him.
The Edmonton Oilers need to stop pretending they don’t have serious goaltending problems. Mike Smith played admirably and GM Ken Holland would like to re-sign the pending UFA, but he can’t be the starter. There is talk they will buy out Mikko Koskinen and his $4.5 million cap hit this summer.
If the Oilers want to be a serious playoff threat they need to bring in a goaltender. This summer, Holland should pick up the phone and ask Blue Jackets GM, Jarmo Kekalainen which goaltender he wants to move. They also better do so before the Penguins get on the horn after Tristan’s Jarry’s performance against the Islanders.
BLH’s Thoughts: I feel like Scultore is overstating things slightly. I mean, how many hockey fans and pundits alike said the same thing about Edmonton’s netminding and more specifically Mike Smith going into this season? Almost all of them!
I will say this, I would be more comfortable if the Oilers went out and acquired a younger goalie with starter potential that could share the net with Smith next season but I wouldn’t put anything past the 39yr old goaltender with the shape that he keeps himself in both physically and mentally.
That being said, Edmonton will be looking to move on from Mikko Koskinen and Columbus’ two netminders will definitely be on his shopping list. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Tristan Jarry was on that list too.
As I mentioned above, Elliotte Friedman, on his latest 31 Thoughts podcast, said that with Ron Hextall’s connection to the LA Kings, maybe Jonathan Quick could be someone they’d be interested in.
The Avalanche might move on from Nazem Kadri this summer, Larry Brooks suggests the Rangers should consider trading for him. He is 30 years-old and has one more season on his contract with an AAV of $4.5 million. This season he recorded 11 goals and 32 points in 56 games, and will certainly garner some interest if he’s available. One such team would be the New York Rangers according to one top beat writer.
- “Kadri has the type of unsavory on-ice reputation the Rangers seem to make a business of staying away from at least since Daniel Carcillo’s brief 2013-14 run. He may not be of the Tom Wilson grade when it comes to lack of conscience, but each one of Kadri’s six suspensions relate to some sort of an illegal blow to the head. That includes this current one for when he blasted St. Louis’ defenseless Justin Faulk into smithereens.” – Larry Brooks, NY Post
BLH’s Thoughts: It’s going to be a busy offseason in The Big Apple, no doubt about it. What I’m wondering is where all of these supposed centers are going to be playing when they reach New York. What I mean is, I’ve read rumors that Jack Eichel is headed there, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is an option, and now Nazim Kadri.
Two more questions, is Ryan Strome getting traded or demoted because he’s been a very good acquisition from the Oilers and if they wanted a player who brings an unsavory style of play, why didn’t they try harder to keep Brendan Lemieux?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOIJoSfC9MU
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