Edmonton Oilers Talk: Who Replaces Chiasson/Neal on Edmonton’s Top PP Unit, Hyman or Puljujarvi?

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Oilersnation (Brownlee)

Waiting on Kailer

Is it possible there’s an NHL GM out there who would consider submitting an offer sheet to Kailer Yamamoto of the Edmonton Oilers? Sure, it’s possible, but it’s only slightly more likely than me ending up on the cover of GQ Magazine.
Yamamoto, 22, doesn’t hold the cards, Holland does. That much has been duly documented. Yamamoto tallied 8-13-21 in 52 games last season, but he scored just one goal in his last 25 games. He’s coming out of his entry-level contract, one that held a $1.24 million AAV. He doesn’t have arbitration rights.
Going into training camp, Yamamoto is in the mix on the left side with Jesse Puljujarvi, Josh Archibald and Zack Kassian. Where he fits is up to reasonable debate.
With three weeks remaining before training camp opens, the best thing Yamamoto and Barry can do is get the ink done and eliminate any distractions well before players filter into town.
Common sense says a two-year bridge deal gets it done. Spend two seasons showing Holland exactly why the next deal should include bigger numbers and a longer term.
My sense is the shelf life for stories about Yamamoto’s contract status, offer sheets included, is another week at most.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’m in agreement with Mr. Brownlee. The longer Killer waits to get this deal done, the more adverse of an impact it could have on his season and he really needs to have himself a good year so that he can cash in on his next deal, right? Selfishly, I’m getting tired of talking about the reasons why he hasn’t signed yet too.

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The Cult of Hockey (Staples)

Edmonton Oilers newcomer ranked as a top “sleeper” of the year in the NHL

Pete Jensen (NHL.com) on Zach Hyman going into the 2021-22 NHL season:

“Hyman is coming off the highest points-per-game average (0.77) of his six NHL seasons for the Toronto Maple Leafs and has even more fantasy appeal after signing a seven-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers.”
“He will likely play on one of the first two lines with exposure to one of the top five fantasy players in either center Connor McDavid (led NHL with 105 points in 56 games last season) or Leon Draisaitl (second in League with 84 points).”
“Hyman, mostly an even-strength scorer for Toronto, has untapped potential if he lands a first power-play role with the Oilers and brings strong hits coverage (1.4 per game in NHL career).

David Staples Take:

The Sports Forecaster has Zach Hyman at 61 points in 78 games this year.
If he’s going to reach 61 points, he’ll have to get power play time as well. But he’s at the front of the line for such a role in Edmonton.
Edmonton’s top-level power play has been powered, in part, by two unsung players, net front wingers James Neal and Alex Chiasson.
With Neal gone and Chiasson possibly on his way out, Hyman is the top candidate to get their power play minutes, though Jesse Puljujarvi will also push hard to claim that power play spot.
The success of Edmonton’s power play hinges on finding someone else who can bring all that Chiasson did. That player doesn’t have to score a lot but he’s got to be a master of every trick of net-front battles and have an acute understanding of his real role, which is to do copious amounts of dirty work so that McDavid and Draisaitl can shine bright.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’ve voiced my concerns about Puljujarvi losing his spot on the first unit PP with the addition of Hyman to the lineup, but maybe I’ve been a tad impatient with my opinion. What very well may end up happening with that net-front role is that Jess and Hyman share the duties. Correct me if I’m wrong, but did James Neal, Alex Chiasson, and Pulju not share that role this past season?

Spector’s Hockey

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: With Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier and Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov getting new contracts last week, George Richards wondered if Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov could be next to sign a lucrative long-term extension.

It’s believed he’ll get more than the $7.75 million per season that Couturier and Svechnikov will receive.

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple looked at what other moves could be in store for the New York Islanders after officially announcing new contracts yesterday for Anthony Beauvillier, Casey Cizikas, Kyle Palmieri and Ilya Sorokin.

Staple points out general manager Lou Lamoriello still hasn’t replaced Nick Leddy on the left side of the Islanders’ blueline.
The Seattle Kraken has a surplus of left-handed defensemen but there hasn’t been much discussion between the two clubs.