Should Ken Holland Keep Some Powder Dry for the 2021-22 Trade Deadline?

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 Oilersnation (Jason Gregor)

Oilers: Let’s Cut to the Chase

“It is now or never” accurately depicts the mindset of the organization. They are in “win now” mode, mainly because of the contracts of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.
That doesn’t mean Edmonton has to win a Stanley Cup in the next four seasons. I don’t believe they do, but they need to win multiple playoff series in multiple seasons. Alex Ovechkin didn’t win a Stanley Cup until his 13th season. Steven Stamkos won in his 12th season and he missed the playoffs five times. Victor Hedman was in his 11th season when they won and he also missed the dance five times. All three had to go back to the drawing board after disappointing postseason losses, but eventually, they reaped the rewards and hoisted the Cup.

HOW WILL THEY DO IT?

They will bite the bullet and buy out James Neal after the expansion draft. It will free up $3.8m in cap space for the next two seasons, and then have $1.91m in dead cap space in 2023/2024 and 2024/2025..
At the 11th hour, Adam Larsson re-signs in Edmonton.
Ken Holland finds a trade partner for Mikko Koskinen.
At the drop of a hat, they will sign a left-wing free agent, probably two. In no particular order, I see them looking into Zach Hyman, Tomas Tatar, Mike Hoffman, Mattias Janmark and Taylor Hall
Sign Derek Ryan to a one-year deal.

HERE AND THERE…

Seattle can choose between Kris Russell, Jujhar Khaira, Dominik Kahun, Tyler Benson, William Lagesson, Neal or Koskinen. Your guess is as good as mine on who Seattle will take, but I could see it being Russell. Maybe Benson.
Kyle Turris is training in Edmonton. He’s been working hard the past eight weeks hoping to rebound from an underwhelming season.

BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t see Seattle taking Russell. There are going to be a plethora of better defenders for Ron Francis to take, so for me, Kahun, Benson, and Khaira are the best candidates for the Kraken.

My own feeling, based off of nothing other than would I’d do in his shoes, is that I think Holland could save a bit of cash with eyes to the trade deadline next season. Meaning maybe he brings in Tomas Tatar on a cheap one year deal, Derek Ryan for $1M short-term, and perhaps Barclay Goodrow for something in the $2M-range instead of paying Hyman or Hall or Danault big bucks.

If the Oilers went that route, then they could target somebody like Filip Forsberg, John Klingberg, Darcy Kuemper, Ryan Strome, Calvin De Haan, Rickard Rakell, Mattias Ekholm, etc. at the trade deadline and really stack the roster should none of those players sign new contracts with their current teams.

https://twitter.com/NateInVegas/status/1415444058898501635

From The Cult of Hockey

One important detail that Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland got absolutely right on Duncan Keith deal

It would have been insane to trade Grade A prospects like Bouchard, Holloway and Broberg for a fading superstar like Keith, but it was rumoured that Grade A- prospects like Samorukov, McLeod and Lavoie might be on the table. If Holland had included any of those A- prospects in the deal, in addition to Caleb Jones, a B+ prospect at this point, I would have considered it gross incompetence. I’m greatly relieved to hear Holland say that was never on the table.
Fingers crossed that Keith can be the new Sekera for a year or two. I don’t think it’s likely but I don’t think it’s impossible either.

BLH’s Thoughts: I agree, it would’ve been insane to deal one of the team’s best prospects for Keith UNLESS the Hawks were retaining salary and sending a better player than Tim Soderlund.

The comparison to Andrej Sekera is an interesting one. I also don’t think it’s likely but because I think Keith will be better. Seksi was a shell of himself after Getzlaf smoked him in the playoffs and did his knee in plus he was known as the “Shinpad Assassin” for a reason…

I think Duncan Keith will have a better season than folks are willing to say. I believe he’ll be reinvigorated and re-energized and he’s going to bring a unique energy to the Oilers clubhouse. His enthusiasm will be mirrored by the rest of the Oilers squad, especially Edmonton’s young defenders.

I’m hearing the @CanadiensMTL won't protect Shea Weber for the expansion draft. Following the latest medical evaluations, he could miss all of next season. If not more.

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 14, 2021

From Spector’s Hockey

NHL Rumor Mill – July 14, 2021

COULD AVALANCHE PART WAYS WITH LANDESKOG?

TSN: Darren Dreger said the Colorado Avalanche and captain Gabriel Landeskog aren’t even close in their contract talks. The 28-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 28. He pointed out it’s still early in the process.

TOUGH DECISIONS AHEAD FOR PREDATORS?

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes the Nashville Predators face some difficult decisions in the upcoming expansion draft. They’ve got five defensemen they really like in Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm, Dante Fabbro and Alexandre Carrier.

He thinks the Predators have had a discussion about a side deal with the Seattle Kraken. They could also trade a defenseman to another club before the draft. They could opt to protect those five by protecting eight skaters but LeBrun doubts they’ll do that. He also speculated they could expose center Matt Duchene.

BLH’s Thoughts: I know I wrote in this space a few weeks ago that I believed the Avalanche could be looking to transition it’s leadership from Landeskog to Nathan MacKinnon. Is it a good move? Personally, I’d keep him around because he can do it all, but the Avs are going to have to sign some big contracts soon.

There some publications connecting Landeskog to the Maple Leafs and I wonder if he could go there if they moved on from William Nylander? He played his junior for Kitchener, his wife is from the area, and he’s probably the closest thing to the Wendel Clark//Doug Gilmour type they could use. For that reason, I’d much rather Ken Holland chase him than Zach Hyman.

It’s funny with the Preds, they’re trying to move Ryan Johansen and his underwhelming regular seasons and it sounds like they’re not going to protect Matt Duchene for the expansion draft. Do they actually believe Seattle will take him? Why? Another question is, how much would they be willing to pay to have Ron Francis select either one of those centers? Pierre LeBrun says prices are exhorbitant, so does that mean David Poile would need to part with a Philip Tomasino plus another piece to relieve himself of one of those high-priced pivots? Would he?

Renaud Lavoie said on SN960 he thinks it's 50/50 Danault comes back to the Habs. Turned down a $5M AAV 6 year offer at the beginning of last season

— J (@Account4hockey) July 14, 2021

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