Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Heinen, Ritchie, Granlund, and More!

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!

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Edmonton Sun (Jim Matheson)

OILERS NOTES: Still waiting to see if James Neal gets bought out

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland hasn’t bought him out yet with free agency opening Wednesday but likely will if he can’t trade the winger to a team with lots of cap room and adding a deal sweetener.
If bought out at two-thirds of Neal’s number, the Oilers will save about $3.8 million this year and next to give Holland extra money to spend on a free agent Wednesday. Maybe he can use it on a third-line centre.
Holland has to re-sign second-line right-winger Kailer Yamamoto in the next while (maybe in the $2-million-a-year range on a bridge deal) and give his best defenceman, Darnell Nurse, a big bump on an expected eight-year contract, starting in 2021-22, along with winger Jesse Puljujarvi.
The Mikko Koskinen goalie buyout/trade/bring-back situation remains very fluid. Holland has investigated a trade, likely eating some of his $4.5 million. There don’t appear to be any current takers.
The list of UFAs now includes Blackhawks forward Pius Suter, who had 14 goals and 27 points last season as an NHL rookie, but couldn’t agree on new deal. Newly added Duncan Keith would have the scouting report, up close, on the Swiss player.
Also Anaheim, not surprisingly, didn’t qualify winger Danton Heinen at his $2.8 million. How about him at $1 million for the bottom-six here? Good shot, decent skill, not a grinder type.
Boston didn’t offer winger Nick Ritchie.
Before the Oilers gave up the 20th-overall pick to Minnesota for No. 22 and the 90th pick, Holland told Wild GM Bill Guerin he had to see who Nashville took at 19 first. When they took Russian forward Fedor Svechkov, Holland called Guerin to green light the trade of No. 20. So, maybe the Oilers were looking at Svechkov at 20?
One name to keep an eye on in free agency: Nashville’s Mikael Granlund plays wing or could be a 3C.

BLH’s Thoughts: Well, the good news about today is that we’re either going to get a trade (which fans probably won’t like) or we’re going to get a buyout.

Things could always change, but it sounds like the Oilers are going to put the goaltending issue on the backburner for the time being as the market for Koskinen has cooled significantly.

Pius Suter’s agent will definitely be getting a call from Ken Holland as he’d be a fine third liner for the Oilers. I do see him as more of a winger though given how poor he is on the faceoffs (42.6% last season).

The Oilers have had interest in Danton Heinen for years and I think he also will garner some interest from the Oilers given he’s a quick bottom-sixer who up until his trade to Anaheim had excellent advanced metrics.

Nick Ritchie… Not so sure on that one. I suppose if the Oilers decide to deal Zack Kassian to the Rangers, they could swing around and talk to Ritchie. He might sign in Edmonton as his brother is a member of the Calgary Flames. The only thing with him is that he’s a bit of a sleeper when it comes to enforcing as opposed to Kassian who is very proactive when it’s time to tune in the opposition.

With Mikael Granlund, I’d think he’s going to cost a pretty penny. How did his brother enjoy his time in Edmonton?… He’d be an excellent add, mind you. I love his two-way game.

Sportsnet (Mike Johnston)

Top five UFA goalies: Will Grubauer stay with Avs or help new team?

Philipp Grubauer – The German is the clear top netminder set to hit the open market after going 30-9-1 with the Colorado Avalanche this past season. Among goalies with at least 25 appearances, his .922 save percentage ranked sixth, his seven shutouts were tied for first and his 1.95 goals-against average was best in the entire league.
Petr Mrazek – The 29-year-old’s 2020-21 campaign was marred with injuries, however he fared rather well when he did see action. Mrazek went 6-2-3 with a .923 save percentage, 2.06 GAA and three shutouts. He suited up for two playoff games against the eventual Cup winners, stopping 35 of 37 shots in an overtime win in one game then getting lit up for six goals in the other.
Frederik Andersen – Andersen signed a five-year, $25-million deal with the Maple Leafs back in 2016 after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks. In his five seasons with Toronto he posted a 149-74-36 record but 2020-21 was his worst statistical season, posting career lows in games played (24), wins (13), .895 save percentage and a career-high 2.96 GAA.
Jonathan Bernier – There weren’t many bright spots on the 19-27-10 Detroit Red Wings last season. Bernier was one of them, though. The 32-year-old went 9-11-1 with a .914 save percentage and a 2.99 GAA. Any team looking for an experienced 1B type goalie or a quality backup might be well served to give Bernier’s agent a call.
Tuukka Rask – Rask went 15-5-2 with a .913 save percentage and 2.28 GAA in 2020-21 and performed admirably while battling through his hip injury in the playoffs, posting a 6-4 record, .919 save percentage and 2.36 GAA.

BLH’s Thoughts: If the Hurricanes fail to sign one of Petr Mrazek or Jon Bernier, I think there’s a slight possibility the Oilers could reach out and see what they’re asking for. But again, it will all really depend on what happens with Mikko Koskinen and if it’s still nothing, the Oilers might be forced to wait until the trade deadline or next summer to address the pipes.

Oilersnation

The Adam Larsson Hole

Jason Gregor on Adam Larsson’s departure:
- Maybe he did love the team and city, but couldn’t get over the loss of his father in Edmonton and the fact his mother had only visited once since. He was clearly torn in his decision. It wasn’t an easy decision. Life isn’t static. Things change. He had just lost a series where the team had played well, but couldn’t win. At that moment I believe he meant what he said. Two months later after some time to think and analyze every situation, he changed his mind. He is allowed to do it. I wouldn’t take it personally.

BLH’s Thoughts: That is a far cry from what he wrote on Twitter the day that it was announced Larsson had signed with Seattle.

“Larsson didn’t leave for money. #Oilers should ask why? Why did the player want to leave? Usually UFAs leave for more money, a few want to play close to home or team didn’t have cap space to sign them. That wasn’t case with Larsson. I’d look internally as to why he left.” (source)

I have it on good authority that this tweet infuriated MANY inside the Oilers organization and I was told that at least one of the members of Edmonton’s leadership core reached out to Gregor to let him know what they thought of him and his opinion and it wasn’t pretty.

The Fourth Period

BUSY DRAFT COULD LEAD TO BUSY WEEK

Eichel Watch 2021 will carry out into the week. There’s chatter teams want to know if they have a shot at acquiring him by the start of free agency. Calgary, Los Angeles, Anaheim and Vegas have continued to go back and forth. I’m not convinced the New York Rangers are paying the price, and I don’t think Minnesota wants to, either. Florida and Boston poked around, along with other teams.
Columbus started doing its due diligence over what the market could look like if Laine were up for grabs, again, in case contract negotiations go sideways.
The San Jose Sharks have taken calls on winger Timo Meier. Whispers of his availability got louder over the NHL Draft and there was some belief they were willing to move him for a high first-round pick.
The Montreal Canadiens are trying to find someone to step into Shea Weber’s spot in the lineup. Two pending free agents they will be in on are Dougie Hamilton and David Savard.
The New Jersey Devils have been active around the NHL looking for a veteran goaltender to add to their roster to push, or split the duties with, Mackenzie Blackwood. There have been some rumblings the Devils spoke with the Vegas Golden Knights about Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner, and the Vancouver Canucks about Braden Holtby.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’m hearing that the New Jersey Devils have some real big moves up their sleeves. Trading for Timo Meier and signing Dougie Hamilton would definitely be a major moves for that club. Who knows, maybe they’d have interest in Kassian since they’re young tough guy got claimed by Seattle.