Sportsnet’s Luke Fox on Duncan Keith: “He can still contribute on the ice.”

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

Quick Shifts: Does a Duncan Keith trade make sense for Oilers?

Perhaps the three-time champ could find his footing in a more sheltered role.
On the defensively weak Chicago Blackhawks, Keith has continued to log an excess of 23 minutes per night, often against the opposition’s most talented forwards.
Keith can still contribute on ice, and an acquiring team could benefit from his mentorship and experience attributes. (What we don’t know: Is Keith willing to accept a reduced workload, the way Zdeno Chara did in Washington?)
Connor McDavid has openly expressed a desire for stronger veteran presence in the past. And with Darnell Nurse establishing himself as one of the best at his position and Oscar Klefbom hopeful to return healthy, adding Keith makes for a formidable left side.
The trick here would be to convince Chicago to eat some of Keith’s cap hit and/or the final year of Mikko Koskinen’s $4.5 million deal, allowing Edmonton to re-sign Adam Larsson and take a run at some free-agent wingers. (*Cough, Zach Hyman, cough.*)

BLH’s Thoughts: As I’ve said on multiple platforms, if Chicago won’t budge financially on this, Edmonton is fine walking away. They’d love to have Keith on the team but not at any risk.

Now, that said, remember when Ken Holland mentioned during his year-end avail that he’d speak with the leadership group (McDavid, Draisaitl, RNH, Nurse, Larsson) about the team moving forward? I’d be willing to bet that they brought up bringing in some older vets after the peaks and valleys they experienced with Caleb Jones and Ethan Bear this year. It wouldn’t shock me either if they talked about Tyson Barrie coming back… \

So, if Keith is acquired by the team, will the fanbase direct some of their shade at the Oilers leadership or will it still be Ken Holland’s fault? The same Ken Holland who found a way to get RNH to sign that sweetheart deal, no less.

From Spector’s Hockey

LATEST ON SETH JONES

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline recently reported Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has heard from “just about every GM in the league” regarding Seth Jones. The Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers are believed the front-runners to land the prized defenseman.

Portzline brought up the Erik Karlsson trade in 2018 as a possible comparable. While Jones is a better all-around defenseman, Karlsson had a more impressive career at that point with two Norris Trophies on his resume. He anticipates the Jackets will get a smaller return for Jones than what the Senators got for Karlsson.

BLH’s Thoughts: So, the Senators got Dylan DeMelo, Rudolf Balcers, Chris Tierney, Francis Perron, Josh Norris, and a draft pick that turned into Tim Stutzle. That’s fantastic! A potential superstar and two top-nine forwards so far, plus who knows what Balcers and Perron end up developing into. DeMelo was a very solid piece for Winnipeg this year as well.

I think it’s a safe assumption to make that Columbus might not get the same return for Jones. The landscape and the current NHL economy probably has something to do with that too. That said, Columbus is in a pretty good position to have all those teams lining up to trade for Jones.

From The Athletic

Landeskog talks expected to begin soon

Talks have yet to pick up between the Avalanche and Landeskog but are expected to soon, per a league source. The 28-year-old winger, who finished with 52 points this season, is looking for a long-term deal.
If Landeskog is looking solely for the most lucrative contract possible, it might not come from Colorado. Other teams around the league face less of a cap tightrope walk.

Grubauer’s status

Contract talks between Grubauer and the Avalanche, though, also have yet to pick up steam, another league source tells The Athletic.
Recent goalie contracts include the Blues’ Jordan Binnington and Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, both of whom got six-year deals with $6 million AAV. Playing behind a stellar Avalanche defense, Grubauer outperformed both this past season.

BLH’s Thoughts: I remember Grubauer being on Edmonton’s radar previously, although, at this point in time, I’m not sure if that’s still the case. However, if Holland was willing to give Jacob Markstrom big bucks on a long-term deal, what would stop him from doing the same with a Vezina trophy nominee?

On Landeskog, if he goes to market, you’d have to think the Oilers would have MASSIVE interest in this player. I know I would. The guy is a f*cking bulldog on the ice and he puts up 60-70pts a year. You could be sure he’d get a max-term offer from Holland to boot and ageist Oilers fans would be happy to know that he’s still in his 20s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smLFZfwUiIk

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