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 Lowetide
Lowetide has six moves that he believes Ken Holland will make this summer and also a non-Holland version of the roster that could feature on opening night in 2021-22.
- Run Smith/Koskinen for one more year
- Sign Adam Larsson and Dmitry Kulikov
- Sign Barclay Goodrow
- Sign Nugent-Hopkins and Tatar
Lowetide’s Guestimated 2021-22 Roster
- Tatar—McDavid—Puljujarvi
- Nuge—Draisaitl—Yamamoto
- Holloway—Goodrow—Archibald
- Benson—McLeod—Kassian
- Nurse—Bear
- Kulikov—Bouchard
- Jones—Larsson
- Smith (Koskinen)
The Non-Holland Version
- Hall—McDavid—Puljujarvi
- Holloway—Draisaitl—Yamamoto
- Armia—Getzlaf—Archibald
- Benson—McLeod—Kassian
- Nurse—Barrie
- Jones—Bouchard
- Russell—Bear
- Linus Ullmark (Antti Raanta)
BLH’s Thoughts: I really dig LT’s first roster but the second one has some notable holes in it.
There are some out there that feel pretty strongly that Ryan Getzlaf will play the rest of his career in Anaheim and I look at that second roster’s defense and can tell you right now they’re going to struggle against a team who imposes their physicality on them. They’ll have trouble breaking up cycles and in turn, those two new netminders aren’t going to have the greatest of seasons.
What about a combination of the two rosters?
- Tatar—McDavid—Puljujarvi
- Nuge—Draisaitl—Yamamoto
- Armia—Goodrow—Archibald
- Benson—McLeod—Kassian
- Nurse—Bear
- Kulikov—Bouchard
- Jones—Larsson
- Smith (Raanta)
What do you think? Holland would leave himself some money to spend at the trade deadline where he could really bulk up and add some serious depth.
From NHLRumors.com
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Recent notes on the top 12 NHL free agents.
1. Alex Ovechkin – Reports from Russian have the Washington Capitals GM Brian MacLellan offering three- to five-year contracts to the soon to be 35-year old with a cap hit between $9.5 and $10 million.
2. Dougie Hamilton – He’ll likely use Alex Pietrangelo‘s $8.8 million per as a comparable with others maybe using Torey Krug‘s $6.5 million.
3. Gabriel Landeskog – If he goes to free agency he could be looking at a $7 million payday.
4. Tyson Barrie – Oilers may be more interested in re-signing Adam Larsson first. A team that loses out on Hamilton may then turn to Barrie.
5. Philipp Grubauer – His next deal could be over $6 million a season.
6. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – High end comparable is Brendan Gallagher‘s $6.5 million a season. Mark Spector would offer him $5.6 million for five years and see if he comes back at six years and $6 million.
BLH’s Thoughts: On Oilers Now yesterday, host Bob Stauffer said that he wouldn’t be surprised if RNH re-signed with Edmonton on a multi-year deal at market value. He thinks there’s a deal to be done there and the Oilers are still in the driver’s seat.
7. Taylor Hall – There is mutual interest between Hall and the Boston Bruins.
BLH’s Thoughts: Mr. Stauffer had this to say on Hall,
- “It would not surprise me at all if Taylor Hall signed 3, 4, or 5 year extension with the Boston Bruins at market value.”
8. Zach Hyman – Hard to see the Toronto Maple Leafs being able to re-sign Hyman.
BLH’s Thoughts: Interesting… El Stauffo has heard the opposite I guess,
- “It would not surprise me at the end of the day if Zach Hyman re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs at Less that what people think. At less than market value.”
9. Kyle Palmieri – Has turned his game around in the playoffs. Islanders RFAs Anthony Beauvillier and Adam Pelech should come before any deal with the Islanders.
10. David Krejci – The Bruins may look to get younger next year. That said, Krejci wouldn’t been looking to break the bank.
11. Phillip Danault – A strong playoff is increasing his value. Reportedly turned down a six-year, $30 million offer last offseason.
BLH’s Thoughts: Geez, with all this big name free agents re-signing with their current teams, would it surprise you if Danault stayed in Montreal?
12. Tuukka Rask – He’ll be having offseason surgery and out until January or February. Has talked about retirement before. Would only want to play for the Bruins.
A list of all pending NHL unrestricted free agents (Scroll right on the chart to see the adv. #s):
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