Will the Oilers be Shopping in Arizona this Summer?

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 The Cult of Hockey

Are Edmonton Oilers really interested in Oliver Ekman-Larsson? How might that make sense?

This in, a speculative talk on Oilers Now between Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and host Bob Stauffer about the future of Arizona d-man Oliver Ekman-Larsson, where the possibility of the Oilers inquiring about trading for OEL came up.

As for Edmonton and OEL, Friedman said, “I’m sure you guys have kicked tires around that one again.”

Stauffer pushed back on that notion, noting that with OEL, the Oilers would have two $8-million per year left d-men in OEL and Nurse. “I’m sure the coaching staff would love it. Because they have got history with Ekman-Larsson. Both Tippett and Playfair have had him before. Edmonton is most likely going to have to replace Oscar Klefbom. But, again, they’re going to have to pay Darnell Nurse long term.”

Friedman then wondered if the Oilers could make a deal where OEL was not an $8-million per year d-man.

“I see little chance that OEL will end up as an Oiler. For such a trade to happen, OEL would have to approve it and Arizona would have to eat an enormous portion of OEL’s annual pay. Edmonton can afford to pay Darnell Nurse as much as $8 million per season over the long-term, but it can’t afford to have two d-men on the left side earning that money.” – David Staples

BLH’s Thoughts: Is it time maybe we took the keys to the car away from the coaching staff and put some more trust in the pro scouts and the GM?

What does that deal look like anyhow? ROR’s trade saw the Sabres get Patrik Berglund ($3.85M), Tage Thompson (925k), Vladimir Sobotka ($3.5M), a 2019 first round pick (Ryan Johnson), and a second round pick in 2021 in return for the all-star forward.

For the Sabres to come out of this trade with a modicum of success Tage Thompson is going to have to turn into a top-six center, Ryan Johnson an top-4 point producing defender, and whatever they do with the 2nd rounder this year has to, at some point, contribute to a Stanley Cup in Buffalo. It’s not impossible for all of those things to happen, but as things stand with the Sabres, I wouldn’t hold my breath hoping even one of them will.

Bringing this back to the Oilers…

Ken Holland loves his vets and OEL, he’ll turn 30 next month, it’s not like he’s 38 years old. Could Edmonton be looking for their own Shea Weber in Ekman-Larsson? A lot of people thought Marc Bergevin lost that trade when he sent PK Subban to NSH for Weber…

What would Edmonton need to send to ARI to emulate the return Buffalo got for ROR in that trade?

Zack Kassian, James Neal, Caleb Jones, the rights to Dominik Kahun, and Tyler Benson

I don’t know, I’m just throwing stuff out there but that point about Ken Holland looking for his Weber… I think that’s something worth thinking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NF9d68to9Q

From Spector’s Hockey

BLUE JACKETS OUT OF THE EICHEL SWEEPSTAKES?

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports of rumors the Columbus Blue Jackets are heavily involved in trade discussions with the Buffalo Sabres for Jack Eichel. However, his sources claim it doesn’t appear they’re in hot pursuit of the 24-year-old center.

BLH’s Thoughts: Buffalo is looking for ‘A’ grade futures and that is something the Blue Jackets are short of. Unless the Sabres were willing to take one of CBJ’s top dmen (which they should be) and future draft picks as well as someone from their top-six, they don’t have the tickets to trade. The other thing that has to be considered is if they did make the deal, the cupboard would be that much emptier thus robbing the team of its future…

From NHLRumors.com

Ekman-Larsson may not be the only Coyote on the move this offseason

Sportsnet: Friedman on his 31 Thoughts Podcast said that he believes Ekman-Larsson and Kessel will be traded, then we’ll need to keep an eye on Kuemper and Conor Garland. Garland is a 25-year old RFA who will be looking for a raise.

BLH’s Thoughts: We know that Ken Holland has been in contract with The Coyotes over the last 12 months or more considering his interest in OEL and Kuemper. How much do you want to bet that Phil Kessel was a topic of conversation as well as Conor Garland?

If it wasn’t for the clause in his contract, I would consider Kessel more seriously as a target for the Oilers. Even at his advanced age, how many more goals would he score taking some shifts with McDavid or Draisaitl or sitting on the left-wall of the PP?

Fantasy talk aside, would it shock you if someone from the Coyotes organization ended up in Edmonton this summer? My hope is that it’s Garland and/or Kuemper, your mileage may vary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx7EecN_xKY

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