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
Buffalo Sabres trying to create a trade market for Jack Eichel
Elliotte Friedman was on The Instigators on WGR550 in Buffalo today and discussed Jack Eichel.
“How many teams have you heard of behind the scenes are showing real interest in trading for Eichel,” host Andrew Peters asked Friedman. “I think there’s a few,” he responded with a hint of uncertainty. This only reinforced what I believe is mostly buzz being generated out of Buffalo to drum up more interest.
“It’s a negotiation,” Friedman tried to explain. “What the Sabres are trying to do is say ‘we’ve got eight teams interested in Eichel’, I’m, just throwing a number out there, and they are trying to pit these teams against each other.” He went on to say that these “teams” are basically not buying it. “I think Kevyn Adams is being told you got trade him,” he concluded. “But he has to create the market place.”
“They also say you guys are not exactly dealing from a position of strength here,” Friedman continued. “It’s a big poker game.” Then the hosts said, “well the Sabres don’t have to trade him”, but Friedman responded, “Well, yes and no. The Sabres at the end of the day don’t want him back and want to move on.”
BLH’s Thoughts: Sweet Jesus! That is one helluva bomb to drop! Have you ever heard an NHL insider say publicly that a team doesn’t want their best player like that?
What does that sort of quote do to a player’s trade value? I don’t imagine it would help it any and with the way things have gone to date and how they seem to be getting worse with every passing week, who is going to pay a premium for Eichel?
Clayton Keller for Jack Eichel, who says no at this point?
From nhltraderumors.me
Colorado Avalanche to Trade Nazem Kadri
According to a source close to Avalanche operations, the team warned Kadri about his playoff past when they acquired him and now will listen to trade offers this summer.
Kadri has been linked to several teams already, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets. While he sets up nicely as a #2 center, the Wild and Blue Jackets need someone for their first-line and could be a task for Kadri.
(LINK)
BLH’s Thoughts: If for only a year, I’d have him on the Oilers. The ability to send out both Nazem Kadri and Zack Kassian at the same time would have endless entertainment tied to it. Put Josh Archibald on the other wing and that’s a line I really wouldn’t want anything to do with if I were the opposition.
It’s also the kind of third line you find on Stanley Cup contenders…
Free-Agent Taylor Hall Not Worried About The Money
Taylor Hall on his next contract:
- “I’m not looking to absolutely maximize value.”
He noted that he’s made some good money in the league already, and that a “good fit” might be the priority on his new deal.
- “You want to find a home for the next few years.”
Hall wants the best situation possible and by all accounts that could be back with the Bruins. Their management team has done some hard-bargaining and Boston has one of the best financials when it comes to their roster.
Other teams that will be calling Hall’s agent are likely to include the Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and LA Kings. As Hall mentions, these teams better get a multi-year offer prepared or else he’s not going to be interested.
(LINK)
BLH’s Thoughts: Bob Stauffer threw out a very subtle scenario on Oilers Now yesterday that falls in-line with the “Expect the unexpected” line I was given the other day. What he suggested was the possibility of the Oilers signing both Zach Hyman AND Ryan Nugent-Hopkins this summer to twin $5M deals.
Odd, how that gets suggested the day after I write about it here…
Meh. Chew on this though, what if instead of Nuge it was Hall?
As if. Hall’s going to sign in Boston. I had a source basically confirm that for me two days ago. The fit is too good and it’s a team Hall really wants to play for.
From Oilers Now
Host Bob Stauffer and NHL pundit Kevin Weekes had an interesting conversation on Stauffer’s radio show yesterday and the name of all-star netminder John Gibson came up…
- “I just think it’s wearing on him playing there in Anaheim. It’s not the lifestyle, it just seems to be a perpetual rebuild without any traction.” – Weekes
- “If I was a that’s contending or on the brink of contending, I would certainly be looking at trying to acquire him via trade.” – Weekes
- “If it’s Anaheim and a team like Edmonton came calling and I’m Bob Murray, “You’re giving us a no.1 and you’re giving us (Philip Broberg) and that’s the starting point. Possibly even adding Yamamoto. I think the acquisition cost would be more in Edmonton and maybe they take Koskinen back in that scenario.” – Stauffer
- “I’ve heard the inference that maybe he’d (Gibson) would be open to going to a place where there might be a bit more immediate success.” – Stauffer
BLH’s Thoughts: If there’s an opportunity to acquire an 2x All-Star goalie who’s still in his prime, you have to go for it, right? John Gibson would absolutely be that missing piece for this team’s core and bringing him in would complete the rebuild I believe. The only thing left for Holland to do would be to bring in the complimentary pieces.
For what it’s worth, Gibson shares the same agent with current Oilers Kyle Turris, Mike Smith, Jujhar Khaira, and Filip Berglund.
Remember, despite Stauffer qualifying his proposal by saying it’s just something from 50,000 feet, expect the unexpected…
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