July 22, 2021 /

Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Ullmark, Hyman, and a Stroll Down Memory Lane

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 Sportsnet (Mark Spector)

Oilers’ potential long-term deal with Zach Hyman not pretty, but necessary
  • In an effort to keep the Annual Average Value as low as possible, Holland is planning to offer Hyman maximum term. That move defines trying to win a Stanley Cup in the nearer future, as the lower AAV will leave Holland more cap space with which to build.
  • As a free agent suitor, Edmonton can sign Hyman to a maximum seven-year deal, which would come in with an AAV of around $5.5 million.
  • But if the Leafs — who can not afford to sign Hyman — trade him to Edmonton, then Holland can offer an eight-year deal with an AAV of closer to $5.125 million — exactly the deal signed by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on June 29.
  • But if you are someone who expects Holland to go for it at every opportunity — someone who is constantly reminded of the wasted seasons of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — then these are the kinds of things you had better come to accept.
  • At this time, the Oilers are believed to be the decided front runners in the race to sign Hyman.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’m not 100% on board with the Hyman signing, at all. BUT! If the Oilers can keep that AAV down to around $5M, I can accept it. I feel like if they structure the deal so that there’s less of a financial impact down the road, it will allow the team to transition him down the lineup with RNH to create an excellent veteran 3rd line. 

That said, I’m still very concerned about the bottom-six and now with Adam Larsson leaving, the defense is going to go through a bit of a facelift. I’m also very curious as to how Ken Holland will choose to deal with the netminders. 

From the Edmonton Sun (Jim Matheson)

Edmonton Oilers hoping to net new deal for Mike Smith soon
  • No NHL goalie helps out his defencemen like Mike Smith, who loves to play pucks, but it’s also about bucks for the Edmonton Oilers unrestricted free-agent, who could be getting a two-year deal.
  • “Obviously, he had a great year. He brings a lot of dimensions to our team,” said Holland. “I like his leadership. He’s got a swagger to him, a presence, and he’s like a third defenceman with his ability to move the puck,” said Holland.
  • “I don’t believe he can play as much (75 per cent of the starts from February on) as he did last season,” said Holland
  • Smith had a 2.31 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 32 games last season.
  • Was that an anomaly at his age, or can he put up terrific numbers once again? His birth certificate says 39, but he’s one of the fittest guys in hockey, like newcomer Duncan Keith on defence. Smith has the body of a 29-year-old, but goalies still get hurt.
  • Smith’s teammates love him. He’s brash, but backs it up. He’s a leader without a letter on his jersey. He wants to play every game, he gets mad when he loses. He’s competitive as all hell.
  • So, Holland wants him to return; there’s no goalie out there in free agency or available in a trade who would have the same impact with his teammates as Smith today.
  • If they go to free-agency, Buffalo’s Linus Ullmark, who turns 28 on July 31 and has played 111 games, could be the No. 1 target.
  • They’ve been shopping Mikko Koskinen, who just turned 33, with no takers at his $4.5 million price tag, even if the Oilers were to eat a portion of the one year he has left…But right now, the market for Koskinen seems non-existent.
  • Holland needs a goalie in the 26- to 28-year-old range to play with Smith, then take over. That would likely come in free agency, although he could try and trade for Tristan Jarry ($3.5 million) in Pittsburgh or Joonas Korpisalo ($2.8 million) in Columbus.
  • Ullmark might be the best bet. He has had ankle issues but over his last 54 games over two seasons in Buffalo, he has a .916 save percentage on a poor team.

BLH’s Thoughts: Put me down for Team Ullmark! I’ve got no problem bringing Mike Smith back for two years though. Two million dollars isn’t a back breaker and there are no bonuses on that contract, it’ll be a deal that can be buried in the AHL if need be, and most importantly, he can still play the game. I think it’d be a different story had he been a starting goalie for his entire career and his workload was heavier earlier in his career, but with his work ethic and attention to health, Smith could be a unicorn of sorts. Meaning, he might be better late in his career than he was in his late-20s.

It’ s not unheard of and I’m a little surprised the fanbase is so shook given the success of the last greybeard that did it for the Oilers. Dwayne Roloson ring a bell to anyone?

Anybody else notice that Elvis Merzlikins’ name isn’t coming up anymore… For obvious reasons, but I wrote before that I’d be surprised if he was moved after the unthinkable tragedy involving his good friend and teammate. Teams will have concerns over his mental health and Ideally, you’d think he might want to step away for some time to heal. 

From Oilersnation (Zach Laing)

The Edmonton Oilers had H.O.P.E. Now, they have nothing.
  • A decade ago, the Oilers had H.O.P.E. Now, there’s nothing left of it.
  • Hall, Omark, Paajarvi, and Eberle presented the Edmonton market with a new hope. Now, 10 years later, the last link to H.O.P.E. departed.
  • Nonetheless, Larsson marked the last link to those original four players and was connected via Taylor Hall and the famous 2016 one-for-one trade. The Hall trade tree was simple and died with Larsson leaving.

BLH’s Thoughts: Nothing says Oilers fan like living in the past, am I right? All joking aside, the entirety of Zach’s post here is an entertaining look down memory lane as he goes over the individual trade trees from the H.O.P.E. boys. 

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CategoriesArmchair GM Beer League Hero Edmonton Oilers NHL Rumors

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Beer League Hero Written by:

I'm the Beer League Hero! I am from Camrose, Alberta but I make my home in Taipei City, Taiwan. I've been through the ups and downs and the highs and the Lowes, the Bonsignores and the McDavids, the Sathers and the Eakins but I'll never leave my Oilers, no matter what! They're with me until the end and then some. GO OILERS GO!