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

Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Latest NHL Speculation feat. Simmonds, Letang, Hall, Gunnarsson and More! (9/9/2020)

Today’s NHL news, rumors, and speculation feature the likes of Wayne Simmonds, Kris Letang, Carl Gunnarsson, Taylor Hall, and more!

If you missed our latest post on what TSN insider Frank Seravalli said about Jesse Puljujarvi recently, click that link below or right here.

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The News and Rumors

  • Dan Kingerski (Pittsburgh Hockey NOW) citing an Edmonton Journal report says that the Edmonton Oilers are OUT on goalie Matt Murray and won’t be engaging in any more trade talks with the Pens regarding the netminder.

BLH’s Thoughts: Probably for the best. It’s my understanding that Murray’s fancies weren’t that great and the acquisition cost for this player is high. Ken Holland is not the kind of GM that’ll blow a chunk of his salary cap on a goaltender nor does the team need a $6 or $7M goalie right now. Koskinen plus another netminder like Philip Grubauer or Thomas Greiss would serve the Oilers quite well in my opinion. That said, they could go even cheaper if they wanted. 

  • Pierre LeBrun (TSN/The Athletic) believes that Vancouver Canucks will reward head coach Travis Green with an extension at some point after the draft.
  • LeBrun also reported that the Carolina Hurricanes will want to approach Rod Brind’Amour at some point this summer to “feel him out” on the future. He’s one of the lowest-paid coaches in the league and deserves a raise but he also doesn’t want to coach anywhere else…
  • The TSN insider says that things with Rick Tocchet and the Arizona Coyotes are up in the air until a new GM is hired.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to explore an extension on their own head coach before next season begins.
  • LeBrun states in his latest for The Athletic that John Tortorella and his entire staff are in the final year of their contracts but given the unique situation the league finds itself in, the Blue Jackets are in a bit of a holding pattern that will get clarification once the season begins.
  • In addition to all of that coaching news, LeBrun stated that be thinks it would make more sense for a playoff contender to take a swing at UFA forward Wayne Simmonds. Maybe someone like the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was told that the Buffalo Sabres haven’t closed that door on circling back on the former 30-goal man but it depends on how the next few weeks play out.
  • Simmonds himself said in that article, “Whoever is willing to take a shot at me, I can undoubtedly say that they’re going to get a lot more than what they’re going to pay for. I can guarantee you that.”

BLH’s Thoughts: Remember all those years ago when the Oilers were going to trade Jordan Eberle for Wayne Simmonds? Those were fun years. 

I’m not totally against the idea of Edmonton bringing Simmonds in. I think he’s still got some gas left in the tank and he’d be a fantastic addition for the playoffs but unless he’s coming over on a team-friendly deal, I can’t see it. 

  • Rob Rossi of The Athletic says that despite being told by Penguins GM Jim Rutherford that he won’t be traded, Kris Letang has told those close to him he expects to be traded this fall or next season.
  • In a Jim Matheson article, Oilers GM Ken Holland said this year that the trade chatter will pick up in late September leading up to the draft and that stuff will get done in October.

BLH’s Thoughts: Letang has a couple of years left on his contract that pays him just over $7M/yr. Now, we know that the Oilers and Penguins have been talking about Matt Murray recently, I wonder if Letang’s name came up? Do you think the Oilers could make it worth Pittsburgh’s while to move a player like the top-pair right-shot defender?

  • The Athletic’s Scott Burnside says a source close to the Ducks told him that they’re looking to up the talent quotient on the blueline in Anaheim and a skilled right-shot defender without a contract for next season might be on their radar. Think Kevin Shattenkirk or Tyson Barrie.
  • Jeremy Rutherford (The Athletic STL) speculates that the St. Louis Blues could trade Carl Gunnarsson in the right scenario and that there’s been some thought into buying out Alex Steen.

BLH’s Thoughts: All of these defensemen should be on Edmonton’s radar. A player like Carl Gunnarsson would fit right in if the club moved on from Darnell Nurse. He wouldn’t bring the offensive production that Nurse does but I believe the defense would improve. 

I whole-heartedly think that Edmonton will have discussions with the agents of Tyson Barrie and Kevin Shattenkirk regarding short-term deals in Edmonton for next season. 

  • In Minnesota, there’s a belief that the Wild could pursue a goalie like Braden Holtby or Cam Talbot to split starts with Kaapo Kahkonen next season according to Michael Russo (The Athletic MIN).
  • Steve Simmons (Toronto Sun) says that the Colorado Avalanche could potentially pursue goalie Jacob Markstrom if he hits free agency.
  • The Province’s Patrick Johnston is of the opinion that emerging goalie Thatcher Demko may be a very good trade piece for the team if they opt to move him this offseason.

BLH’s Thoughts: The merry-go-round with goalies is going to be something we’ve never seen before. Get your popcorn ready folks!

The Oilers Speculation

  • Do you think it would be a good idea for the Oilers to sell off some of their cap space for draft picks? I know they don’t have a lot there but if there’s a team that really wants to move a player who has a higher cap hit or is paid more than his cap hit, maybe Edmonton could recoup some draft picks that way or even move a contract of their own that works better for another club.
  • It won’t be long before we hear that Tyler Benson is on his way to Europe. It wouldn’t shock me if he also made it over to Sweden to join Evan Bouchard and Rafa Lavoie.
  • So I’m curious. There’s this overwhelming belief that Jesse Puljujarvi is wasting his potential playing in the SM-Liiga from certain members of the Oilers media. Does that mean that the players that are going over to Europe to play will also be wasting precious development time? Will they regress as hockey players because they’ll be playing on the bigger ice surface and in leagues that are equal to or inferior to the AHL?
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