Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

(11/3/2020) BLH Trade Rumors and NHL Speculation feat. Byfuglien, Hall, Reinhart, Laine, and More!

Speculating from an Edmonton Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest NHL rumors featuring players such as Dustin Byfuglien, Taylor Hall, Sam Reinhart, Patrik Laine, and many more!a

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The News and Rumors

  • James O’Brien (NBC Sports): The Buffalo Sabres could shop Taylor Hall and Sam Reinhart around the trade deadline if they aren’t in a playoff spot.

BLH’s Thoughts: At first glance you see the Sabres shopping high-end talents and you think that they’ll be going through a rebuild of a rebuild. Not so much in this case though. If the Sabres decided that they weren’t close enough to a playoff spot by the trade deadline and started shopping Hall and Reinhart, I think they’d be looking for “hockey deals” as opposed to picks and prospects. 

What’s to stop the Columbus Blue Jackets from offering up one of their prized goalies and a good winger for Hall if they’re playoff bound and still have all that cap room?

  • Ryan Dixon (Sportsnet): The Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and LA Kings could target cap-strapped teams looking for some financial flexibility.

BLH’s Thoughts: It makes perfect sense for any club to weaponize their cap space. Next season, the Oilers will have well over $20M in available cap room and there’d be nothing wrong with getting some high-end picks/prospects in exchange for taking on a bad deal as long as the term wasn’t debilitating to Ken Holland’s plan. 

  • Michael Russo (The Athletic): The Minnesota Wild are a really good fit for defenceman Dustin Byfuglien, but him returning to hockey is a “long shot”.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’m sad that we don’t have anymore Big Buffs in the league anymore. The NHL is so much more entertaining when there’s a behemoth running around that scares the shite out of every player in the league in addition to being an actual outstanding hockey player.

  • Championat: Mitchell Miller could be an option for SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL if he wants to continue his playing career.

BLH’s Thoughts: I haven’t said much on this because there’s only really been one side of the story that’s been revealed and I’d like to hear from the other side if possible before making a call.

From what we’ve read and heard though, it’s not good at all. But what I will say is that it’s probably best that this happened to him as an 18 year old than as a 33 year old with a family and roots with an NHL organization.

His best bet if he wants to be a professional hockey player is to head to Russia. Going there would also give him some desperately needed space from what’s transpired in the US and some time to work out a plan to rehabilitate and educate himself. 

It’s not right to cancel an 18yr old boy for what he did as 14yr old. Give it his his parents all you like, but Miller deserves a reprive (in due time) if he’s willing to show he’s worthy. If not, maybe he spends the rest of his life in Russia and makes the best of it. 

  • Quinn MacLean (The Hockey Writers): Flyers defenceman Shane Gostisbehere could be a “good option” for the Los Angeles Kings.

BLH’s Thoughts: Would LA really a good option for Gostisbehere? I feel like adding him to that defense would be kind of redundant. They’ve got Kale Clague, Sean Walker, Drew Doughty, and Mikey Anderson. 

Could he help? Sure, of course he could. But would bringing him in to LA’s rebuild right now be the best option?

  • Zach Leach (Pro Hockey Rumors): Potential suitors for UFA defender Sami Vatanen include, the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers.

BLH’s Thoughts: I like the idea of Vatanen going to Boston. He’s not going to replace Torey Krug, but he’s a pretty solid middle-pair defender who can move the puck. He’s a vet too, so he’d fit into Boston’s scheme with ease. 

  • Ken Wiebe (Sportsnet): Doesn’t believe the Winnipeg Jets will trade winger Patrik Laine unless they’re blown away by a big offer in the next couple of weeks.
  • Murat Ates (The Athletic): Thinks the Jets COULD trade Laine before the 2020-21 NHL Season begins but says they shouldn’t because he believes this upcoming year will be a career-best for the high-scoring Finn since he’ll be playing with one of Mark Scheifele or Paul Stastny. The Jets would be better served waiting until next off-season and cashing in Laine’s increased value.

BLH’s Thoughts: That basically sums it up eh? This guy says yes, that guy says no… I like what Ates’ is selling though and that’s what I would do if I were Kevin Cheveldayoff. You never know what’s going to happen over the course of a season and who may become available because someone has emerged and made another player expendable. 

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