Stauffer Hints at Two Year Deal for Mike Smith and John Shannon says the Oilers are Hopeful Larsson Will Sign With Edmonton

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 Lowetide.ca

OILERS POSSIBLE ROSTER WITH NEW INFO

Frank Seravalli was on the DFO podcast last night (and Dusty this morning) with some news. Looks like Zack Kassian may be dealt (I’m thinking for a pick, with Edmonton signing Alex Chiasson), Jujhar Khaira is the expansion loss. Daniel Nugent-Bowman reported on Friday at The Athletic, and Frank also said last night he’s hearing Adam Larsson is closer to leaving. Frank says Tyson Barrie is edging closer to staying. Wow. What might that look like?

There’s about $3 million left with Klefbom on LTIR, Kassian is with the Rangers in exchange for their third-round selection, Borocop came over from Nashville in the Koskinen trade.

Edmonton doesn’t have a RH shutdown blue, so the goalies are going to see tougher chances. I don’t see a way around it, Larsson’s don’t grow on trees. Robert Bortuzzo has already been mentioned, but Puck IQ tells us he’s never faced the kind of load Larsson did every year.

This should bring security to Ethan Bear, who I believe is a good candidate for Duncan Keith’s partner. The Oilers future on RHD should be Ethan Bear and Evan Bouchard. The two men will cost less than $3 million this coming season and probably less than $5 million next year.

If I’m Ron Francis, I’m on the phone today offering Radko Gudas, Ian Cole, Nick Jensen and any other available RHD in the expansion draft for Ethan Bear. If I’m Ken Holland, I don’t pick up the phone.

BLH’s Thoughts: Yesterday on Oilers Now, Bob Stauffer intimated that the Oilers could be looking at a scenario where they sign Zach Hyman for 6yrs @$6M/yr, Adam Larsson for 4yrs @$4M/yr, and Mike Smith for 2yrs @$2M/yr. He said it would basically take the club to $75M on the cap after “deploying the CBA to move some money around” not including Klefbom’s LTIR cap hit.

Also on Stauffer’s radio show yesterday, John Shannon said this about the status of Adam Larsson and the Oilers,

“The Oilers are still hopeful. They’re still thinking there’s a chance he can sign… We know he has a fair offer on the table from the Oilers… I think there are people within the organization who still believe he’s going to end up in Edmonton.”

Shannon did go on to say that he thinks Ken Holland has about $4M to get a #3 or a #4 defenseman in the event that Larsson moves on.

It’s funny, I’ve not heard one pundit say that Adam Larsson won’t be signing with the Oilers, so I don’t think it’s fair to say that outright like some of the hockey pundits in Edmonton are. I’ve heard he’s going to test the market, but that’s very different from signing elsewhere. I’ve also read that he’s going to re-sign in Edmonton from Mark Spector and I just don’t think a writer like him puts his dick on the chopping block like that willingly unless he’s damned sure it’s staying attached to his body.

I remember there was a lot of hullabaloo about Steven Stamkos leaving Tampa when he was a FA, but he returned to the Lightning and became a champion for it. This feels similar.

From Spector’s Hockey

NHL Rumor Mill – July 19, 2021

THE ATHLETIC: Arthur Staple wondered if Tarasenko could become a trade target for the New York Islanders after they shipped Andrew Ladd and his $5.5 million annual cap hit on Saturday to the Arizona Coyotes. They have $12.2 million in projected cap space and could get an additional $6 million when permanently sidelined Johnny Boychuk goes on long-term injury reserve at the start of the 2021-22 season. Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog could be another option if he’s not selected by the Kraken or re-signs with the Avalanche.

WGR 550: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently reported the Minnesota Wild are expected to make a trade offer for Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel after buying out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter last week. He also suggested the Colorado Avalanche could be a dark horse suitor for Eichel if Gabriel Landeskog departs via free agency.

TSN’s Darren Dreger recently said the Sabres seek a good young defenseman and a high draft pick for blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen. He feels that could be more than teams are willing to stomach.

BLH’s Thoughts: I think the Islanders are going to load up here. Tampa has defeated them three of the last four years (I believe) and all they’re lacking is some high-end scoring. The other thing to keep in mind, they might lose a big contract if the Kraken take Josh Bailey or Jordan Eberle too. So theoretically, they could have over $20M in cap room at the end of the day.

From NHLTradeRumors.me

Conor Ryan of the Boston Sports Journal: Blake Coleman could be looking at $4.5 to $5 million on his next deal. It may be a bit much for the Bruins but he would fill a middle-six spot nicely.
Frank Seravalli: Hearing that the New York Rangers and Barclay Goodrow are closing in on a six-year deal with a cap hit around $3.6 million.
TSN: If the Edmonton Oilers aren’t able to re-sign Mike Smith before the 28th, he’ll get interest according to Darren Dreger.
- “I’m told that they’re negotiating to get things done. It’s a slow-moving process and I’m also told that if Mike Smith becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 28, despite the fact that his best years likely being behind him, there are clubs with interest, so the Oilers have some work to do.”
Brayton J. Wilson of WGR 550: Could the Minnesota Wild be interested in Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres? The Anaheim Ducks seemed to be the favorites to land the Buffalo center.
- It appears Buffalo would want Marco Rossi first and foremost. Matthew Boldy would be another feasible option

BLH’s Thoughts: Jesus, Coleman and Goodrow are going to cash in this summer. I wouldn’t give them that kind of money and I love the way both of them play the game.

Even if Mike Smith makes it to the 28th without a contract with the Oilers, I’m near 100% certain that Ken Holland has his goalie plans sorted and these plans go all the way back to last offseason. Whether that’s one of the gentlemen out of Columbus, Darcy Kuemper, Petr Mrazek, or Linus Ullmark, the market is flush with goalies this year. Even if he swings and misses with them, the Kraken are rumored to be loading up on tradeable netminders, so he could hit up Ron Francis if things become desperate.

Bill Guerin has been having himself quite the summer so far and why stop now? If I were him, I’d have no problem moving Marco Rossi and futures for Jack Eichel. Rossi hasn’t played one game and we don’t even know how he’s going to do after that terrible battle with Covid-19. I know what I’m getting in Eichel though and it’s not like the Wild are trading for some 34yr old, right? Eichel is the same age as Connor McDavid, so there’s lots of career left in those skates to make that kind of trade. All I’m asking is that Buffalo doesn’t trade him to the Pacific Division…