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 Oilersnation (Cam Lewis)
Seravalli: I see no scenario that involves the Oilers signing Larsson before the Expansion Draft
- We don’t yet know if Adam Larsson is going to be a member of the Edmonton Oilers next season.
- And, according to DFO Hockey’s Frank Seravalli, it looks like we won’t be getting an answer to that question until after the upcoming Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft.
- Seravalli appeared on The Lowdown With Lowetide on TSN 1260 on Thursday and said that he sees no scenario in which the Oilers re-sign Larsson to a new contract ahead of the Expansion Draft…
- I suspect we’ll see this as Edmonton’s protected list… McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, Archibald, Khaira, Nurse, Keith, Bear, Skinner. I also suspect Larsson will be re-signed shortly after the Expansion Draft before the beginning of free agency.
BLH’s Thoughts: Over the last week or so, Mark Spector (Sportsnet) has sounded quite bullish that the Edmonton Oilers will be re-signing Adam Larsson once the expansion draft has concluded and I think that will be the case with a lot of players.
Brian Lawton said on Oilers Now this week that it was his understanding that Larsson’s been offered a very fair contract but also at the same time, the Swedish defensemen wants to see what the UFA experience is like.
According to Darren Dreger, the talks between the Oilers and Mike Smith has been positive so far, but it's a slow moving process.
With two days left for the Oilers to submit their expansion draft protection list, it's likely Stuart Skinner will be the goalie protected.
— Oilers News and Updates (@oilersaccess) July 15, 2021
From Spector’s Hockey
NHL Rumor Mill – July 15, 2021
LATEST TARASENKO SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Jeremy Rutherford reports the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers are believed on the list of trade destinations Vladimir Tarasenko provided to the St. Louis Blues.
- The Lightning are believed to be Tarasenko’s top preference but they’re already well over the salary cap for next season. The Rangers are an option but GM Chris Drury might want to move Chris Kreider in the deal. That could prove difficult, in part because of the winger’s no-movement clause.
- Rutherford thinks the Islanders could also be a possible landing spot. However, they might not be willing to part with defenseman Noah Dobson. The Bruins could be unwilling to give up a first-round pick while the Flyers might not give up prospect Morgan Frost. There’s also speculation about a one-for-one swap with the Capitals for Evgeny Kuznetsov but he’s had off-ice issues and carries a $7.8 million cap hit for four more seasons.
- It’s believed the Blues have an interest in Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk. However, the Flames aren’t on Tarasenko’s list. The Flames aren’t looking to move Tkachuk this summer but Rutherford speculates they might be forced to next summer if he doesn’t want to sign a long-term deal with the Flames.
BLH’s Thoughts: I like the Islanders here as a destination for Tarasenko. Russians love playing in the New York area according to Bob Stauffer and with the way the local media there has been throwing shade at Jordan Eberle, wouldn’t it make sense for the Isles to send Ebs and a prospect or pick to St. Louis for Tarasenko?
Don’t think a trade is coming, but as a free agent, the Oilers, Avs, Bruins are 3 teams that I know will do their due diligence https://t.co/jV5jhZ47AN
— NRD (@NHLRumorsDaily) July 15, 2021
From The Daily Goal Horn
Blackhawks interested in Marc-Andre Fleury
- In the wake of the Keith trade, Scott Powers of The Athletic noted that a source informed him the Blackhawks are interested in Marc-Andre Fleury. This was backed by another report from Elliotte Friedman that verified the interest.
BLH’s Thoughts: Is Chicago trying to rebuild this thing on the fly now that their captain is on the verge of returning? Seems an odd move to go out and grab Marc-Andre Fleury right now with a defense so young and moreso if they’re can’t pick up at least TWO elite defenders.
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