Does Leon Draisaitl Deserve More Respect From His Peers?

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

Mitch Marner has been the subject of trade rumors even before the final buzzer sounded in Game 7 against the Habs. Yesterday, Auston Matthews scoffed at the idea of trading Marner and GM Kyle Dubas called it “foolish.”

Maple Leafs President, Brendan Shanahan also weighed in on the notion of breaking up their top four (Tavares, Matthews, Marner, Nylander).

“I’ll say this about our top four: I think any team would love to have any one of them,” Shanahan said. “But we like them, we want them here. They’re special players. They’re all deeply, deeply committed here to win in Toronto.” (NHL.com)

(LINK)

BLH’s Thoughts: There’s one thing that Shanahan didn’t say that should perk the ears of Maple Leafs fans and rumor mongers like myself, he didn’t say that the team was committed to keeping the big four together going forward. He simply stated that the club likes them and they “want” them in Toronto…

Wanting and keeping are very different terms in hockey speak and those quotes from Shanahan give me the feeling that changes are coming in The Big Smoke…

Two Teams That are Likely to Make a Run for Jones

Philadelphia Flyers: This team has openly said they need to improve their blue-line and Seth Jones would do that and more. I believe the Flyers have the most to offer the Jackets in a trade. All packages would need to start with a first round pick. In the case of Philadelphia, it depends on if they win the lottery on Wednesday. Let’s say they don’t, I am thinking a first round pick, Nolan Patrick, and Shayne Gostisbehere with salary retained.

Dallas Stars: Jones is from Arlington, Texas and it would a nice move to have a hometown kid anchor the Dallas blue-line. The Stars seriously need help on defense and have cap room to accommodate Jones’ current $5.4 million hit. I am just not sure what the Stars are willing to give up to get him. It starts with their first round pick, which like Philly’s is a lottery selection. Would Radek Faksa even move the needle for Jarmo Kekalainen? This is a tough package to comprise, but the interest will be there for Jones at the draft. (LINK)

BLH’s Thoughts: I won’t say there’s no way that Columbus accepts a package of wantaways from Philly for an elite defender like Seth Jones, but man the odds are slim.

I mean, think about it, would you take that deal? A forward who’s career could be in doubt, an overpaid 3rd pair one-way defenseman, and a draft pick that’s slated to be mid-first rounder… No way. Not in my books.

As if Columbus isn’t asking for Joel Farabee and Travis Konecny to starts. I’d be. Then they’d probably want a prospect on top of that like Cam York and maybe a draft pick as well…

Philadelphia isn’t getting a discount deal on Jones.

As for Dallas, there are rumors that they’re going to move on from John Klingberg because they need the salary room to sign Miro Heiskanen… So how’s that going to work? Also, they’ve got $16M in cap room going into next season with half of it most likely going to Heiskanen and only 14 players signed through 2021-22… Seth Jones isn’t going to Dallas unless the Stars are ready to go through a proper rebuild or Jamie Benn and his $9.5M contract waives its NMC… Even then…

What about LA or NY though? Could one of those teams steal the summer and acquire both Jack Eichel AND Seth Jones? What about Buffalo? Would it make sense to offer Columbus a package that includes Rasmus Ristolainen and Sam Reinhart for Jones and another player, prospect, or pick?

From Oilersnation

Help me understand how Sidney Crosby was the third finalist for the Ted Lindsay along with Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews.

Crosby finished 10th in points. He was 42nd in 5×5 scoring. Brad Marchand, Nathan MacKinnon and Leon Draisaitl had better seasons.

Points:
Draisaitl: 31-53-84
Marchand: 29-40-69
MacKinnon: 20-45-65
Crosby: 24-38-62

Draisaitl had the most points. He was also +22 at 5×5 on a team that was -1. The Oilers were -23 when he wasn’t on the ice. Crosby was +11 at 5×5 and the Penguins were +15 when he was off.

Crosby did not have a better individual season than the other three. This award isn’t for more valuable to their team. It is who was the most outstanding. Now maybe the players know McDavid is winning, which he will, so they gave a respect vote for Crosby. I get it. I likely won’t matter who was the third, because McDavid is the easy winner, but I disagree with Crosby being third.

(LINK)

BLH’s Thoughts: I think Jason Gregor is onto the true reason there in that McDavid is going to win so why not throw old man Crosby a bone there. He didn’t have a lot to work with in Pittsburgh and managed to find a way to get his team to first in their division this year.

That said, it is pretty bloody ridiculous that Leon Draisaitl isn’t getting the respect he deserves from his peers. He was no.2 in league scoring by quite a margin and until the playoffs, he was doing it from his own line too. A line that had a right winger who went near half the season without scoring a goal and a revolving door of skaters on his left wing.

This is a player that should be in the running for the Hart and the Ted Lindsay every year and for him not to even get a nomination this year is a joke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIh8g6AnaSg