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Nugent-Bowman on Ethan Bear: “Bear shouldn’t be untouchable…”

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 The Athletic

Five offseason scenarios that could upend the Oilers’ best-laid plans

Here are five moves Oilers management has to guard against this summer.

  • Selling low on Ethan Bear

There’s a lot to like about the 24-year-old defenceman, and I don’t get the sense management is eager to trade him — nor should they be. He could easily step back into his old role with Nurse on a full-time basis and play well if Barrie doesn’t return.

However, Bear shouldn’t be untouchable since he’s one of the few tradeable assets of value on the roster. Being right-handed, having a $2 million cap hit for next season, and still three years away from unrestricted free agency could make him coveted by other teams.

BLH’s Thoughts: I respect the advanced analytics that Bear puts up in the regular season but I’m very concerned about what happens when the game tightens up in the playoffs with him. He doesn’t have Bouchard’s playmaking, Broberg’s skating, or Nurse’s snarl. Bear is very smart though and doesn’t panic often.

All of that being mentioned, this is a pivotal season for Bear but I’m not convinced dealing him would end up being a day of regret for the club in the same way it was when Jeff Petry was traded. 

  • Bringing back Ryan Nugent-Hopkins at all costs

RNH can still centre a second line when needed — allowing coach Dave Tippett to put Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together — and he’s an important part of both special teams. Simply put, he’d be a tough player to replace.

That said, they have to be willing to walk away if the price gets too high.

BLH’s Thoughts: There are only two players who need to be retained at all costs and they’re already signed to long-term deals. There’s a line in the sand for everybody else. RNH is good, and we all love him, but he’s not unreplaceable. 

  • Re-signing Tyson Barrie to a long-term deal

The understanding is Adam Larsson is expected to re-sign. Bear is on a cheap deal and shouldn’t be moved unless the return warrants it. Retaining Barrie would likely give the Oilers the same four right-handers, which proved to be a problem this past season.

Perhaps someone can move over to the left side for a couple of years. Anything too long — if at all — could create major headaches.

BLH’s Thoughts: I’m in agreement here. His AAV might come down if Edmonton offered him a max-term deal, but they only need him for maybe two more seasons, three at the most. At that point, the right side of the defense should be Evan Bouchard’s to lead. After that they’ll have Phil Kemp, Michael Kesselring, Filip Berglund possibly… Maybe Ethan Bear and Adam Larsson are still there, who knows?

  • Leaving Oscar Klefbom unprojected in the expansion draft – and then watching him excel in Seattle

But what if something drastically changed with Klefbom’s status in August or September — after the Kraken had selected him? Well, that would arguably be the worst scenario for the Oilers when it comes to the expansion draft.

BLH’s Thoughts: I would be shocked if something happened where Klefbom magically returned. I’ve always held out a bit of hope that he’d pull a Kucherov this year and come back after the playoffs, but the chances of that happening are getting slimmer every day according to the likes of Bob Stauffer and Jason Gregor. 

  • Losing another game of goaltending musical chairs

The doom-and-gloom outlook is they re-sign the aging Smith, punt out Koskinen, but then miss out on their top goalie choices and end up with an expensive or unproven Plan F – or worse.

That has the potential to be catastrophic for a team trying to vault closer to contender status next season.

BLH’s Thoughts: Goalies are the most unpredictable beings in the game of hockey. So, I don’t think that netminding problems are something that only the Edmonton Oilers should be worrying about f*cking up. Unless they’re going out and getting John Gibson, basically anybody they put in net (that’s available on the market) will come with question marks. Ideally, you’d like to limit the amount of perceived frailties within your roster though. 

From NHLRumors.com

On Ducks Henrique and Getzlaf

Eric Stephens of The Athletic: (mailbag) If Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf decides that he not coming back next season, the odds of Adam Henrique returning improve.

BLH’s Thoughts: Former Edmonton Oilers defender turned media man Jason Strudwick recently brought up the idea of the Oilers acquiring Henrique in a salary retention deal that would see Kyle Turris head back to Anaheim.

  • “Henrique would be a $2.9m cap hit for three years as the Oilers third line centre. Both players were on waivers last season, and Edmonton will take on salary, but I am confident Henrique will rebound. I’m betting the COVID situation played a part.”

It’s probably close to a given that Getzlaf won’t be joining the Oilers unless he can convince the family to give up on everything that Anaheim offers and migrate north to… Edmonton… 

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