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

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Important Dates for Oilers Fans, Nurse for Team Canada, Archibald’s Latest Status, and NHL Rumors!

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

Oilersnation

Important dates for the 2021-22 NHL season
  • In a joint announcement by the NHL and NHLPA, the league announced the dates for some key events in the schedule like the last possible day for the Stanley Cup Finals (June 30th), the NHL Entry Draft (July 7-8), the start of free agency (July 12th)…
  • While some events like the Draft and free agency are a little bit later than usual — this is the second third straight offseason with free agency not landing on Canada Day — we’re getting a lot closer to normal than we were even last year, and it will be interesting to see if any of these dates change as the year progresses.

BLH’s Thoughts: July 11th will be a date to keep an eye on if Kailer Yamamoto and Jesse Puljujarvi haven’t re-upped by then. Also March 21st is the NHL trade deadline. Hopefully May 2nd is another date that will have a significant impact on the Oilers season. 

Edmonton Sun

Oilers power play still a fright for opposing teams
  • While the Edmonton Oilers have Zack Kassian and Darnell Nurse to shoo the flies away from the stars, they really beat teams up on their power play with 107 goals in 127 games over the last two seasons—with Boston Bruins a distant second at 92.
  • …they’re doing it, even though 10 teams including Arizona and Ottawa, have somehow drawn more than their 374 power plays.
  • Over the last two seasons, the Oilers have a 28.6 success rate on the power play, almost five percent higher than Boston, St. Louis and Carolina at 23.8.
  • With the NHL cracking down on cross-checking, and inevitably calling a raft of those penalties in the early going of the season, we’ll see if the Oilers get more calls.
  • Darnell Nurse is healthy and wealthy, signing that eight-year $74 million contract, which got everybody’s attention around the NHL, now he also has to catch the eye of the selectors for Canada’s Olympic team blueline.
  • …the left is more wide-open with Shea Thedore, Pietrangelo’s Vegas teammate, Adam Pelech (Islanders), Jakob Chychrun (Arizona), Morgan Rielly (Leafs) and Thomas Chabot (Ottawa) all in the mix along with Nurse.
  • The unvaxxed Josh Archibald still isn’t a participant at Oiler practices, five days after he left quarantine… But there’s no message-sending from the team. Sources confirms he isn’t feeling right physically.
  • Defenceman Kris Russell (neck issue) was back with the experienced Oiler group Monday.

BLH’s Thoughts: As long as the Oilers have as many elite offensive pieces on their club, the power play is always going to be at the top the league. Now they’ve got two very high-end net front pieces in Hyman and Puljujarvi to add to it. 

Personally, I think Hockey Canada should take Nurse over Rielly and Pelech. Chabot and Theodore should be shoe-ins for the team though. Darnell has taken his game to the next level in a way that Rielly and Pelech haven’t. He’s truly a two-way threat now and he can play MASSIVE minutes as displayed in last year’s playoffs during that OT loss where he had over 1hr in TOI. Jakob Chychrun is going to be a direct threat to Nurse’s spot though… Keep an eye on that talented young man. 

If a player has been infected with COVID during training camp, does the club have to disclose that information or is that only during the regular season?… 

NHLTradeRumor.com

Luke Fox of Sportsnet reports the Florida Panthers should do everything in their power to sign Barkov and prevent a John Tavares situation that happened to the New York Islanders… Barkov should rightly become the highest-paid player in Panthers history. It is likely he will be looking for a $11 million/year contact… if not signed to a contract he could be playing for another team.

It was reported earlier this offseason that Tomas Hertl would rather be traded then re-sign with the San Jose Sharks. One team that had serious interest in a trade was the Ottawa Senators… It is looking like GM Wilson would like to re-sign Hertl but not to the dollar amount Hertl wants. It is likely Hertl will be traded at the 2022 NHL trade deadline.

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

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Pulju vs. Killer, Perlini vs. Benson, and the Latest NHL Rumors!

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

Sportsnet

Oilers excited to take chance on former first-round LW Brendan Perlini
  • Perlini, who played his first NHL season in Arizona under Tippett in 2016-17, is at Oilers camp on a two-way deal, vying for the left wing spot on Edmonton’s fourth line. 
  • So what was it that caused the NHL to move on from a first-rounder with great size and above average skating ability? Hockey sense, two separate scouts told us. In both ends, Perlini was not in the right places often enough.
  • Another scout said he was a bit miscast under then-Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet in his second NHL season. Perlini was not physical enough to earn the ice time he needed to produce. In the wrong place at the wrong time for a skill guy.
  • If Perlini can figure out how to be a reliable fourth-line player, his skills may allow him to be part of that support scoring that the Oilers have lacked.

“When you’re surrounded by world class players, McDavid, Draisaitl, you’ve got to provide support. Do something a little bit different (than he’s done in the past). Just play good, solid hockey.”

BLH’s Thoughts: At this point, if I were Coach Tippett, I’d probably keep Perlini and figure out who’s going on waivers between Tyler Benson and Kyle Turris. I like Perlini’s skating, his size, physicality (so far), and that shot is really something. Check out the goal below. 

Now, we’re only a few days into camp, so there’s no need to make any brash decisions, but Mr. Benson needs to pick it up and do something to impress the coaching staff otherwise he’s going to make their decision very easy. 

At the end of camp, if Perlini and Benson are still battling it out, it wouldn’t shock me if the Oilers made a trade.

The Oilers Rig

What to Expect in Puljujarvi and Yamamoto’s Next Contracts
  • The summer of 2022 is going to be interesting as it will shape the direction of the Oilers RW moving forward. Jesse Puljujarvi (JP) & Kailer Yamamoto (KY) are both in need of new contracts and the Oilers have essentially pitted the two against each other, having their deals expire the same season and for the same dollar this season.
  • Contract comparables are a terrific spot to jump in as they more than likely will provide the frame-work for the two players next deals.
    • Brock Boeser (22) $5.875m x 3yrs
    • Travis Konecny (22) $5.50m x 6yrs
    • Alex Tuch (23) $4.75m x 7yrs
    • Colin White (21) $4.75m x 6yrs
    • Kevin Labanc (24) $4.725m x 4yrs
    • JT Compher (24) $3.5m x 4yrs
  • Boeser signed his extension after posting back to back 50+ point seasons and Konecny after back to back 45+ points seasons.
  • Jesse Puljujarvi Prediction: $4,750,000 AAV x 8 years
  • Kailer Yamamoto Prediction: $3,775,000 AAV x 3 years
  • …with prospects like Holloway, Lavoie and Bourgault on the rise JP & KY will need to cement their spots in the top 6 this season or risk falling out.

BLH’s Thoughts: The feeling I get is that Pulju’s comps might fall in closer to what Joel Farabee and Drake Batherson signed for this summer (5yrs/$30M-ish). Whereas, the prediction for Yamo’s next deal sounds about right. 

That point about the kids coming up from Bakersfield, I’ve made it before and I really believe in it. That said, The Oilers don’t have to move on from Killer, they could simply transition him to the 3rd line and send the new kid up to Leon’s line. Yamamoto, to me, is the ultimate middle-six forward who specializes on the penalty kill.

If the Oilers have another young winger who’s poised to make the team, there’s not much sense in having him play 4th line RW for a year if his calling card is that of a skilled goal-scorer or playmaker. 

Spector’s Hockey

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports the Senators remain in contract talks with Brady Tkachuk’s representatives as training camp continues without the 22-year-old restricted free agent winger.

  • The issue is Tkachuk’s agents seek bonus money for their client and the Senators don’t want to go that route.

THE PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma reports Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning addressed the ongoing absence of defenseman Travis Hamonic from training camp. He expressed confidence last week that the 31-year-old would report after missing medicals and the start of training camp.

  • It’s believed Hamonic’s absence is related to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols for unvaccinated players for the upcoming season. 
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Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Oilers Send Kraken Packin’, Adam Larsson’s Reason for Leaving Edmonton, and MORE!

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

Edmonton Sun

OILER NOTES: Adam Larsson left Oilers for family reasons
  • The Oilers offered Larsson a five-year deal in the high 3s a season, along with a four-year contract for virtually the same $16 million he got in Seattle as a free-agent. But he has said he didn’t leave over money, at all. There were other much more important factors, family ones.
  • Larsson’s former hockey player dad Robert Larsson (sixth-round draft of Los Angeles Kings) passed away here in 2018 at 50 years of age, of a cardiac arrest, while he and his wife were visiting his son from their home in Sweden.
  • His boy, who talked to his dad all the time about the game, was on the ice when told of his father’s medical distress while he was out for a walk, a few blocks from the rink. That memory will stay forever with a family.

“I think of my dad all the time, every hour, every minute. It’s going to take some time. I’m not going through this alone. My mom, my brother, my sister … So it’s not only my emotions that are important. When something like this happens you have to take care of your family.”

BLH’s Thoughts: Could you imagine going to work everyday and having to walk past the spot where a loved one passed away?

I think Adam Larsson deserves a lot more praise for what he had to go through with the Oilers fanbase and some of the media (local and otherwise) from the day he was brought in for Taylor Hall, to his father’s passing, and then to his departure from the club.

The Iron Swede will forever be one of my favorite Edmonton Oilers not only because of what he brought to the team on the ice, but how he handled playing in that market. 

I wish him the best of luck in Seattle! 

Edmonton Sun

Stars shine bright as Edmonton Oilers pound Seattle Kraken
  • It was like pitting shotguns against nuclear missiles, and the mushroom clouds started early in a 6-0 Edmonton victory inside a fan-filled 13,627 at Rogers Place.
  • McDavid was in superstar form all night, finishing with a goal and two assists, and could have easily put up three or four more points. If it’s possible that he’s found another gear himself after a full summer of training, he has.
  • Hyman, who will start the season on the top line, found out early how much fun it is to be on McDavid’s wing as he scored an easy tap in late in the first period to make it 3-0…
  • Puljujarvi scored the second goal and helped set up the third as he begins what the Oilers hope will be another step in his evolution. He is quickly emerging as a top power forward in the NHL and seems to fit in seamlessly with the best player in the world.
  • Darnell Nurse opened the scoring for Edmonton with a seeing-eye shot at 5:50 of the first period and Devin Shore set up Brendan Perlini with a great pass for a sharp angle goal to make it 4-0. Perlini scored the 6-0 goal as well to give him three in two games.
  • Mike Smith played the first 30 minutes in goal for Edmonton and turned aside all 18 shots he faced. Mikko Koskinen stopped the next 16.

BLH’s Thoughts: The rosters were a tad lopsided but that was always the plan on Joey Moss night, right? 

In an interesting turn of events, Philip Broberg wasn’t manhandled by an forechecking winger last night but Kailer Yamamoto got obliterated on a couple of occasions and he missed a 10-bell sitter in the slot after a behind the net feed from Leon Draisaitl… Looks like that scoring slump wants to stick around. 

Was anybody else nervous when Mikko Koskinen took the net in the third? He got absolutely peppered but stood tall and made some real beauty saves. Here’s to hoping he keeps up that form!

Remember back a couple of seasons ago when Ty Rattie lead the league in preseason scoring and then shit the bed in the regular season? Well, don’t get too aroused watching Brendan Perlini fill the net. He’s playing well, but we’ve seen this story before in Edmonton… Keep the expectations at a moderate level. 

That said, Tyler Benson has his work cut out for him if he’s to make the club this year.

Cult of Hockey

Player grades: McDavid leads the way as Oilers’ skill, tenacity overpowers Kraken
  • #13 Jesse Puljujarvi, 8. All over the ice, and the puck. Had a couple of nice combinations with McDavid early. Took the net front role on Edmonton’s 5-on-3 and it took him all of 9 seconds to convert, tapping home Nuge’s fine pass.
  • #16 Tyler Benson, 5. 12 quiet minutes, mostly on a quiet line with McLeod and Sceviour.
  • #25 Darnell Nurse, 8. Opened the scoring with an end-to-end rush on the penalty kill, or should I say an end-to-high-slot rush, from where he surprised Chris Driedger with a wrist shot.
  • #42 Brendan Perlini, 8. Scored an excellent goal on a “give and stay” play where he drove down the right wing, fed the puck to Shore in the slot, but held his position for the return pass which he rocketed home.
  • #86 Philip Broberg, 6. Has been something of a hit magnet, both through the two rookie games and now the two NHL games as well. That came to a head in the third period when he was on the receiving end of a questionable knee from Nathan Bastian.
  • #19 Mikko Koskinen, 7. Came in midway through and shut the door the rest of the way, including the best stop of the night at either end when he robbed Morgan Geekie from close range.

BLH’s Thoughts: As I did last time the Oilers played, I’m only posting the CoH’s more notable player grades or players that I think are in a tough battle to win a spot on the roster. 

The goal with 3:52 remaining in the first was one of the nicest goals I’ve ever seen. Hyman, Pulju, and McDavid were toying with the Seattle skaters on that entire shift. To their credit, none of the five Kraken are at any level close to the Oilers that were on the ice during that goal. 

Speaking of Puljujarvi, he’s almost at full physical maturity and barring injury, the beginning of his reign of terror on NHL defensemen is about to start. He’s freakishly large and for a man of that size, there aren’t many who can skate like that. Nice goal shoveling in that net-front pass from Nuge on Edmonton’s 5v3.

Once again I was impressed with Filip Berglund’s composure and passing ability. He looked like a veteran NHLer for the most part.

I hope Josh Archibald has gotten his vaccination or gets it because Colton Sceviour simply doesn’t bring the same quickness and physicality. 

The Oilers are in Winnipeg tonight and I’m expecting a different set of players to be playing in this one. I wouldn’t be surprised if Coach Tippett started sending some players back to junior and to the AHL after this one. I think the plan is to get the roster whittled down to the regular season version for the last three games of the preseason or so.

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

Edmonton Oilers Talk: Puljujarvi Yanked Off of Edmonton’s Top PP Unit

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

The Cult of Hockey 

Is Josh Archibald’s anti-vaxx limbo going to be Kyle Turris’s gain?
  • The Oilers thought enough of Archibald to protect him in the expansion draft. But now his status with the team is unclear, as a team can include an unvaxxed player on its roster only if it is intending to bend over backwards on an ongoing basis through the season to accommodate that player. It’s hard to imagine the Oilers will do so in the case of Archibald, a fourth line player and penalty killer.
  • Turris as a replacement for Archibald on right wing? It seems an unlikely fit. Archibald is a skater, a hitter and a defensive specialist, strong on the penalty kill. Turris is more of a playmaker and offensive player. His defence last year at centre at even strength was woeful and his work on the penalty kill wasn’t much better.
  • But it’s been said that Oilers coach Dave Tippett put in a good word when it came to offering Turris a contract, and that Turris has worked exceptionally hard to get in shape for the season.
  • If Archibald is out, which forwards will the Oilers use?… Warren Foegele got 1:02 per game of PK time in Carolina last year, so he’s a possibility. Derek Ryan got 1:50 per game in Calgary, so he’s another good bet. Zach Hyman got 1:58 in Toronto, the most of any Leafs forward, but do the Oilers want him to play that role here?
  • …might it not make more sense to have Jesse Puljujarvi as a regular PK player? I’ve often thought that big, fast and long Puljujarvi would make a strong PK player.
  • “Wild” Bill Lagesson is in the second-pairing right now, with Kris Russell coming back from injury and Duncan Keith still in quarantine. But Keith will be back Friday and Russell is already on the ice. Lagesson also played well against Calgary and will get a chance in more exhibition games, at least until Keith returns.

BLH’s Thoughts: On Jason Gregor’s show yesterday, he had a lot of praise for Kyle Turris and his performances so far. Pundits in town are noting a renewed focus and energy this year from the veteran. 

Coach Tippett seems to have some time for Turris, so I reckon the veteran will have to play his way off the club at this point if Archibald remains unvaccinated. 

As for Jesse Puljujarvi, his reach and defensive smarts could have him on the PK, but I don’t think his feet are quick enough. With that said, he’s yanked off the top powerplay unit and replaced by Zach Hyman (nobody could’ve guessed that would happen…), so I feel like there’d be no pain in trying him out on the penalty kill in the preseason just to see if a fit could be found there. 

Lowetide.ca

NOTES ON A SCANDAL
  • There are times when preseason showcases a player who has not yet landed as an NHL regular, but shows enormous ability during the early games before the regular season. It’s a signal for fans, and indication that the depth chart that rolls around in their mind all day is about to get an adjustment… Ladies and gentlemen, Evan Bouchard is electric.
  • Who helped his cause the most among the bubble people? Already mentioned Perlini and man his speed is going to be tough to send away. A fourth line of Perlini-McLeod-Kassian would be fleet of foot and dangerous. Perlini’s flaws were not apparent on this night, that’s why you play him several times in the next two weeks. Players do grind out their flaws, Edmonton may have found a real player.
  • How many players will not be in Edmonton or Bakersfield opening night? Sceviour could be in another NHL town, the loser of the Benson-Perlini battle could be lost on waivers, Bourgault will be in the QMJHL.
  • Name the No. 1 priority for Woodcroft and Manson? Coach up Broberg. He was the talk of bubble camp in August of 2020, but he looked a little tentative in tight spots last night.
  • Who surprised you with their play? Kemp. I didn’t expect him to touch the puck as much, or the results to be as successful. I’m starting to think this young man has NHL quality.

BLH’s Thoughts: Perlini was getting a lot of accolades from Oilers talk radio people today. They liked his size, skating, and shot in that Calgary game. On Jason Gregor’s show, a question raised was, who should get that final spot on the 4th line LW, Tyler Benson or Perlini? Ryan Rishaug made a point to say that he didn’t think that Benson fit Edmonton’s image of that line and Perlini did. Whereas Jason Strudwick thought that Benson’s playmaking and hockey IQ could be an asset to that line. Gregor’s response was that if there’s nobody else on the line that can score a goal, what’s the point in having such a good playmaker out there?

For me, I didn’t think Perlini was noticeable aside from his goal. Benson was involved in the plays much more and therefor his visibility was way higher. Had he cashed in that chance in the 3rd period, the conversation would be a helluva lot different today.

The Hockey Writers (Rumors)

  • On Sunday, the Canadiens confirmed that Caufield is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury… Head coach Dominique Ducharme confirmed today that Caufield’s injury will keep him out for about one week but it isn’t anything serious.
  • Mark Spector was on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer on Friday and said he doesn’t believe the Edmonton Oilers will work around Josh Archibald and his choice not to be vaccinated… Because there are so many buildings in the United States players can’t even get into without proof of double vaccination and because the Bakersfield Condors are among those that don’t allow unvaccinated people inside, the Oilers might be waiting for Archibald to opt-out of this season.
  • James Neal scored three goals on Saturday for the Blues, sending a statement to the rest of the league that he should be considered for a regular role on an NHL roster… It’s not clear if the Blues will offer Neal a contract based on one game or see it for what it is, just one game… Still, his three goals should be enough for a team that wants scoring depth to know that Neal can offer that.
  • Jakub Vrana did not get off to a good start this season. As per Kevin Allen, Vrana arrived late to training camp due to visa issues and joined the team late on ice. To make matters worse, less than ten minutes into his first on-ice session, he suffered a shoulder injury and left.
  • According to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now, Sharks’ GM Doug Wilson said he’s had “several conversations” with the agent for pending free agent center Tomas Hertl. At the same time, reports are that he’s gotten a number of calls about Hertl’s availability. Wilson is not providing any details on either scenario.
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Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

Edmonton Oilers Talk: What the Kids are Saying about Connor, 10 Questions Regarding the 2021-22 NHL Season, and the Latest NHL Rumors!

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

The Athletic

Oilers camp invitees on what it’s like to practice against Connor McDavid
  • “I was just trying not to get in my head that that’s McDavid,” – Simon Kubicek
  • “To be honest with you, you probably can’t (do anything to prepare). He’s just that good. You just try to put yourself in good spots.” – Phil Kemp
  • “Any time you can share the ice with a guy of that calibre, he just makes everyone around him better.” – Phil Kemp
  • “It just seems like he’s not trying. He’s just going 25 percent faster than everyone is in the free skate (before practice). It’s pretty crazy.” – Ethan Kruger

BLH’s Thoughts: Playing against Connor McDavid is like lining up in Beer League against somebody who had a cup of coffee in the NHL. The gap in ability is off the charts and you just try not to get embarrassed… But Kemp has it right, the more chances you have to compete against those better than you, the more opportunities you have to improve and that goes for all walks of life. 

Oilersnation

Ten Questions…
  1. Which player will be the offensive breakout player in the NHL?
  2. What about a breakout goal scorer?
  3. The NHL announced they will enforce the existing crosschecking rule. Do you think they actually do it?
  4. Will we see more powerplay opportunities ( PP OPP/game) per game this season?
  5. Can Colorado continue its dominance in drawing penalties?
  6. Which team will have the biggest improvement, in points%, this season?
  7. On the other side, which team do you see falling?
  8. Who will have a breakout offensive season?
  9. How many players will score 100 points this season?
  10. Which four teams finish first in their division?

BLH’s Thoughts: I suppose I’ll give this a go… 

1. Sam Reinhart
2. Kyle Connor
3. For a time, then things will go back to the way they always are.
4. A new TV deal and an expansion team’s fanbase to appeal to, I think there’ll be an uptick in PP opportunities.
5. No. A new team will emerge. Maybe Edmonton.
6. Vancouver. Covid won’t decimate their season this year.
7. Pittsburgh. No Crosby and Malkin for the first two months of the year and they’ve already got major question marks on defense and in net?
8. Trevor Zegras. He should win the Calder and lead his team in points this year.
9. At least two, McDavid and Draisaitl.
10. Colorado, Edmonton, Florida, Islanders. 

The Daily Goal Horn

Johnny Gaudreau

  • Gaudreau, 28, earns $6.75 million against the cap and is in the final year of his contract. While his next deal should be for more, it’s unlikely to be much higher… If the two sides can’t work a deal by the deadline, it will be Gaudreau whose in control of his destination. That’s because his 5 team no move clause kicked in on July 28th… The Flyers have always been linked to Gaudreau as a potential destination.

Joonas Korpisalo

The new NHL franchise in Seattle already has their AHL affiliate worked out! Click the pick and grab a Karen shirt today!

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