Edmonton Oilers Talk: Nurse’s Next Contract and An Oilers Decision on Klefbom is Looming

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 NHL Trade Talk

Oilers’ Oscar Klefbom Ruled Not Exempt from NHL Expansion Draft

The Edmonton Oilers will have to make a decision on Oscar Klefbom during the NHL Expansion Draft. He was not ruled as exempt.

Holland will have to gamble on whether or not the Kraken see Klefbom as a selection risk because of his health. If the Oilers don’t think Seattle will risk it, they can leave Klefbom unprotected. If Seattle feels like it’s worth a shot because of a healthy Klefbom upside, the Oilers could lose him.
The feeling seems to be that the Oilers, will, in fact, not protect Klefbom. Doing so would mean potentially losing Caleb Jones.
This is good news for Oilers fans as Klefbom may be back next season, even if it’s too soon to confirm that.
We’ve seen this past season how players with “season-ending” injuries come back just in time to make a huge difference for their respective teams.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’ve got my eye on Klefbom pulling a Kucherov this year and not starting the year for the Oilers but joining them during the playoffs when his salary won’t matter and when the team will need defensive depth the most.

I don’t reckon he’ll be protected because he wants to be an Oiler and if Seattle take the chance of picking him, he might just say he’s done and the Kraken would’ve wasted a selection. Then they’d be on the hook for 100% of the remainder of his contract since it’s not insured.

Asking Price For Jack Eichel “Just Crazy” Says NHL Executive

One NHL executive has said the Buffalo Sabres are asking for the sun, moon and stars when it comes to Jack Eichel. He called it “crazy.”

“I get that Kevyn is in a really tough spot and needs to make sure he can get as close to Jack’s worth as possible, but this is just crazy. … In this market and with so many teams trying to build from within because of the cap, how is he going to get that? Then, you don’t even know how Jack’s back will hold up.”

The Chicago Blackhawks were rumored to be in the running and could have offered Kirby Dach and the 11th pick in this year’s draft. Anaheim might be in the mix, offering the third-overall pick and Trevor Zegras. The Columbus Blue Jackets might have made a strong pitch too.

BLH’s Thoughts: Reckon the source misspoke about Eichel’s neck ailment or is he dealing with some back issues too? That’d be a game changer if he was dealing with two serious injuries.

If I was Kevyn Adams and the Blackhawks were offering Kirby Dach AND their first rounder, I might be willing to accept that on the spot. I don’t think there’s much point in asking for more unless there’s a chance I can get Quinton Byfield and the 8th overall pick from the Kings.

Having Dach and Dylan Cozens as your 1-2 down the middle or possibly on the same line is dreamy. Then again, the 3rd overall and Trevor Zegras is quite good too…

All that said, I don’t think Byfield, Dach, or Zegras are on the table in any Eichel trade offers. As much as LA, Anaheim, and Chicago want to get themselves back into the tier of teams who are playoff contenders, they’re not that close yet in my eyes.

From Oilersnation

WWYDW: Getting Darnell Nurse signed long-term

How high would you go on Nurse’s contract extension? Is this summer the right time to get a deal done? Has Nurse proved that he’s worth top-pairing defenceman money?

“The biggest deal signed by a defender last off-season was Alex Pietrangelo, who got a seven-year deal worth $8,800,000 annually from the Golden Knights. Torey Krug signed a seven-year deal worth $6,500,000 annually with the Blues and Jonas Brodin re-upped with the Wild for $6,000,000 annually over seven years. Nurse won’t command what Pietrangelo got, but he’s better than both Krug and Brodin and should land somewhere in the middle.”

How much would you offer Nurse on a long-term deal? Has he proved that he can be Edmonton’s No. 1 defenceman long-term? I think a seven-year deal worth $7,000,000 annually would be a win for the Oilers, but I imagine Nurse will be looking for more. What do you think?

BLH’s Thoughts: I reckon Nurse will get a little more than what Cam Lewis here thinks but definitely less than Pietrangelo’s deal. I’m sure Ken Holland will try to get him to take a little bit less like the other members of the Oilers leadership group did on their latest deals. So I’ll go on record and say Darnell gets $7.5Mx8 on his next deal.