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 Athletic
Allan Mitchell recently posted an article looking into how the Oilers might go about constructing a proper second line if it’s Dave Tippett’s intentions to keep Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid together. Here are some of the more interesting snippets from LT’s post,
Before deciding on the right approach for adding this offseason, though, Holland and coach Dave Tippett must make a decision on the cost and benefit of using McDavid and Draisaitl together on the top line. Is splitting up the duo the best path forward? Should the coach game plan around running them together while management adds a centre and wing who can get the job done on a second line?
If the Oilers deployed the McDavid-Draisaitl line with one of Puljujarvi or Kailer Yamamoto, what would summer shopping look like? It would change markedly in one way, as Edmonton would need a substantial centre to play on the second line. There are very few unrestricted free-agent candidates, but each represents a strong solution.
- Philip Danault
- Mikael Granlund
- Alex Wennberg
There are also a few signed centres who might be available because teams are having cap trouble, though most (such as Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nolan Patrick of the Philadelphia Flyers) come with cap or health issues.
The expansion draft might be a more inviting time for Edmonton to acquire a No. 2 centre. Here are some centres who could shake loose via pre-expansion trades:
- Adam Henrique (ANA)
- Nazem Kadri (COL)
- Andrew Copp (WPG)
- Christian Dvorak (ARI)
The logical play is to run McDavid on the No. 1 line with Puljujarvi and a new left winger and for Draisaitl to play with Yamamoto on a second line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or an offseason acquisition.
It sets up summer in a way that makes sense. For instance, Ryan Getzlaf is an older centre who could work in a third-line role and win faceoffs from the right-hand side.
The list of wingers who might be available due to roster issues is even richer. Here’s a partial list of wingers who might be available in trade on a one-time-only basis due to the expansion draft:
- Anthony Beaviller (NYI)
- Dillon Dube (CGY)
- Jason Zucker (PIT)
- Nick Ritchie (BOS)
- Tyson Jost (COL)
- Ivan Barbashev (STL)
(LINK)
BLH’s Thoughts: Look, this is getting silly. One of these days a GM is going to have to go take charge and let his head coach know the roster he needs to be playing…
If Edmonton’s 5×5 scoring when McDavid is off of the ice is to improve and the team’s intention is to go deeper in the playoffs, they must keep Leon and Connor on separate lines for a majority of the season.
We’ve seen two veteran head coaches ride The Hart Foundation now to less than desirable results… It really is time to flip the switch there. Besides, what’s easier, adding higher-end wingers for the MVPs or finding a suitable 2C to play behind Draisaitl, McDavid, and Puljujarvi?
For what it’s worth, from the list of players LT suggested above, I’ve got my hopes on Philip Danault, Nazem Kadri, and Anthony Beauvillier as candidates for the Oilers to acquire. I love the passion they play the game with and how they turn up in one way or another when all the chips are on the table. In Kadri’s case, you hope he learns from this latest suspension because there’s a difference maker there.
I look at how the Montreal Canadiens are defeating the likes of Toronto and Winnipeg and in my eyes, the Oilers could use some more of what they have and that includes an elite goalie. But aside from Price, the Canadiens have skill in their lineup but that skill also has a very high work rate and an excellent post-season attitude.
If Ken Holland brought Corey Perry in, I wouldn’t complain about that…
From NHLRumors.com
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: Toronto Maple Leafs pending unrestricted free agent Zach Hyman will get interest from around the league if he hits the open market.
He’ll likely get a five-year deal at $5 million a season and it won’t be from the Leafs.
Kevin McGran of The Toronto Star: It’s sounding like Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas and president Brendan Shanahan plan to basically bring the same team back next with hopefully different results.
Forward Zach Hyman could get $5 million on the open market and would have to Leafs a hometown discount on a long-term deal if they want him back.
(LINK)
BLH’s Thoughts: Interesting… The numbers getting tossed around for Zach Hyman’s next deal seem to be going down. Do you think that’s the local media in Toronto doing management a favor or is that possibly the market value for him? I mean, given the current economic landscape across the league, how many players are going to 3x their current salaries until the salary cap begins to rise again?
If that $5M/yr is accurate, that’s might be more digestible for the Oilers…
Give us a follow on the socials!
- Youtube: Beer League Heroes Channel
- Twitter: @beerleagueheroe
- Instagram: @beerleagueheroes
- Facebook: Beer League Heroes
