Tag Archives: Chicago Blackhawks

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

2023/24 Edmonton Oilers GM36: Oilers @ Blackhawks – 3P2W – Oilers Looking for Another Bjugstad-Type

Hey y’all! Welcome back for another season of Edmonton Oilers hockey! I’m BLH and I’ll be giving you the skinny on today’s game!

If you’re new here and are wondering what 3P2W means, well, it stands for Three Players to Watch and seeing I’m as lazy as I am, I figured we’d shorten it to 3P2W.

So with that out of the way, let’s talk a little bit about what’s been going on lately in the Oilogospehere and then get into the player’s I’ve put under the spotlight for today’s matchup!

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Random Pontifications

  • So… The Oilers are back in a playoff spot. Does anybody know the name of the guy who’s responsible for building the roster that’s accomplished this incredible feat? I feel like he deserves some credit.

I ultimately expect Ryan McLeod back at 3C. And while I really admire how James Hamblin has battled his way to the NHL, a bigger, more experienced, ideally right-shot Center who can PK would be an upgrade. Think the 2023-24 version of Nick Bjugstad. – Kurt Leavins, Cult of Hockey

  • There ya go folks, now all you have to do is wait for somebody like Bob Stauffer to start using that Bjugstad comparison and you’ll know who Edmonton’s targeting for their upgrade at 3/4C.
  • I think it’s Nic Dowd out of Washington that they’ll ultimately acquire, but who knows? It might be somebody we’ve not even thought of. I mean, did you see the Gauthier/Drysdale trade coming?
  • Pretty shit deal for James Hamblin eh? Busts his ass for a season only to get replaced via trade.
  • Now, I ask, is moving McLeod back to 3C the smartest idea? I think it’s pretty plain to see that McLeod is very comfortable on Leon’s wing and aside from that, he’s gone through his “Cogliano” phase. Meaning he might’ve just realized where his worth truly lies and has the post impact.
  • So that begs the question, what of Warren Foegele seeing as he’s cooled off considerably? Is it too early to try Rafa Lavoie there? Are the Oilers holding that spot for a guy like Anthony Duclair? Personally, I think they should target Vladdy Tarasenko out of Ottawa for Leon’s wing.
  • Could the Oilers turf McLovin’ in a deal for Tarasenko?
  • In my mind, I envision the Oilers starting next season with Lavoie on their 3rd line and if they found a way to acquire Tarasenko and get him to re-sign they’d have Hyman, Tank, and Lavoie down their right flank and I like the sounds of that.

The Edmonton Oilers announced Monday night that they have recalled defenceman Philip Kemp from the Bakersfield Condors. The 24-year-old right-shot defenceman clocks in at 6’3″ and 212 pounds. – The Oil Rig

  • I figured he’d get a recall this year. I’ve spoken about him before and to my eye what you’re getting with Kemp is a very old-school glue guy. Don’t expect any offense out of him and probably don’t expect a lot of playmaking either. He’ll block shots, clear creases, and keep the other team accountable should they try anything.
  • I like Kemp, he’s incredibly unspectacular. Just goes about his job. Nothin more, nothing less.

The BLH Instagram account is growing like crazy! Three weeks ago when we started to get it back going we were at a shade over 1900 followers and now we’re gunning for 2000. So please, head on over and give us a follow as we’re posting exclusive content over there that won’t be published here or on our Twitter page.

Three Players to Watch for the Bad Guys

  • #16 Jason Dickonson (13g 7a 20pts) – He’s usually Chicago’s third line center but injuries have taken out most of his team’s best players. So he’s up on the first line. I like him because he can skate, shoot, and he’s a pretty responsible two-way player. He’ll play it physical too if the game deems it.
  • #27 Lukas Reichel (3g 5a 8pts) – A speed demon. Reichel’s got the wheels to make any defender look foolish should they give the Czech forward even the slightest sliver of daylight. Production’s down this year but there’s a player here and Chicago is so bad. Watch this young guy, he’s a very intriguing winger.
  • #55 Kevin Korchinski  (2g 6a 8pts) – At 19 years of age, this young man is setting himself up nicely to be one of the Blackhawks defensive linchpins for years to come. Him and Alex Vlasic should have the left side of Chicago’s defense locked up long-term. To me, it looks like he’ll be a good zone exit specialist for Chicago. His playmaking and skating are quite good. We’ll see how he does vs. McDavid and Draisaitl though…

Three Players to Watch for the Good Guys

  • #91 Evander Kane (14g 10a 24pts) – If there’s any game where Kane is going to break out of this slump he’s in, it’s this one. Chicago is icing an AHL lineup. That said, they did beat Calgary the other night with it…
  • #28 Connor Brown 0g 3a 3pts) – I think this is one of those games where you tinker with the lines a bit to get some guys going. Maybe Brown and Kane both get promoted to see if they can spark their games a bit. Although, we’ve seen that Knoblauch is kinda risk averse to that sort of game plan…
  • #2 Evan Bouchard (9g 30a 39pts) – Remember when everybody wanted to trade Bouchard and there were some out there that thought he wouldn’t get the Oilers anything in return?… Good times, eh?

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

2023/24 Edmonton Oilers GM26: Oilers VS. Blackhawks- 3P2W – Oilers Eyeing Preds Center?

Hey y’all! Welcome back for another season of Edmonton Oilers hockey! I’m BLH and I’ll be giving you the skinny on today’s game!

If you’re new here and are wondering what 3P2W means, well, it stands for Three Players to Watch and seeing I’m as lazy as I am, I figured we’d shorten it to 3P2W.

So with that out of the way, let’s talk a little bit about what’s been going on lately in the Oilogospehere and then get into the player’s I’ve put under the spotlight for today’s matchup!

Give us a follow on the socials!

Random Pontifications

  • I mentioned early in the year that the Oilers are seriously considering Ryan McLeod’s career and the feeling I’ve got from talking to various sources is that they want somebody with a bit more muscle and isn’t afraid to bang in that 3C role.
  • Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll move McLeod to get that done because he could very well be an effective winger on this team, but at the same time, he’s probably the guy most likely to be included in a trade to bring in a more desired pivot.
  • That brings us to Colton Sissons. He’s definitely not as fast as McLeod as not many are, but he brings a more “meat and potatoes” style to the rink and probably most importantly, he’s a right-shot.
  • Other aspects of his game that appeal to the Oilers are:
    • Career FO%: 53.6% and it gets better in tighter games.
    • Contract: team controlled for two more years (until 25/26)
    • Age: Only 30
    • Shorthanded Goals: Three this year so far

  • McLeod making $2.1 and Sissons making $2.857 without trade protection for either. On paper it appears to me to be such a Ken Holland trade. Get Nashville to retain some cash, include a prospect as a sweetener and Bingo Bango, Edmonton’s got their ideal 3C.
  • Do you include Broberg and ask for the massive Yakov Trenin at 50% retained too? The 4th line is pretty tiny at the moment and the Oilers did okay acquiring a big tough Russian last year.
  • Blue skying it here, but is there a scenario where Edmonton finds a way to re-acquire Klim Kostin? Could you imagine a 4th line of Trenin-Hamblin-Kostin going into the playoffs and having the luxury of being able to rotate Gagner and Ryan in whenever?

The BLH Instagram account is growing like crazy! Three weeks ago when we started to get it back going we were at a shade over 1900 followers and now we’re gunning for 2000. So please, head on over and give us a follow as we’re posting exclusive content over there that won’t be published here or on our Twitter page.

Three Players to Watch for the Bad Guys

  • #98 Connor Bedard (11g 12a 23pts) – No goals in his last five according to Daily Faceoff. The next big thing has cooled off considerably but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to light up Edmonton tonight. That said, he’s playing with Philip Kurashev and Anthony Beauvillier, so he’s in tough to put a big dent in the Oilers.
  • #5 Connor Murphy (1g 3a 4pts) – Murphy and Leon Draisaitl have a thing. It seems like every time they face each other they get into it. I’m up for a bit of in-game violence. It’s been kinda dry this week in the NHL in that regard, has it not?
  • #16 Jason Dickinson (9g 5a 14pts) – I think Dickinson is a fantabulous 3rd line center. He’s got the size, speed, grit, strength, IQ, and he plays the game the right way. He’s also a mainstay on Chicago’s PK. It’s a shame he’s left-handed.

Three Players to Watch for the Good Guys

  • #97 Connor McDavid (10g 26a 36pts) – Do you need a reason as to why you should keep an eye on him tonight? Will he even let Bedard touch the puck?
  • #2 Evan Bouchard (8g 20a 28pt) – I could be wrong but If he scores tonight he’ll be the first Oilers dman to get a point in 12 straight games since Paul Coffey did it way back in the Civil War era.
  • #18 Evander Kane (12g 10a 22pts) – He’s starting to slow down production-wise as his last 5v5 goal was in the win vs. Anaheim on Boxing Day. I wonder if Knoblauch swaps him and Nuge at some point.

The King of the North is here! Click the pic and grab a shirt!

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

(3/23/21) BLH’s NHL Trade Rumors Quick Hits Edition

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Jack Eichel (BUF), Frederik Andersen (TOR), Dylan Strome (CHI), and more!

Is Leon Draisaitl’s excellent two-way presence just a mirage? One Edmonton pundit says they may very well be, BLH says not so fast. Read about it here.

A new name in the rumor mill for Oilers fans! Check out who it is here.

Could Tyson Barrie be trade bait for the Oilers? Read about that here.

This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.

Click the pic and find the NHL94 player from your team!

NHL Rumors and Speculation

Renaud Lavoie (TVA Sports) is reporting that the ask for Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel is at least four first round draft picks be they players that were once selected in the first round of the NHL draft or are future selections.

David Pagnotta (The Fourth Period) says the LA Kings have spoken to the Toronto Maple Leafs about goalie Jonathan Quick but nothing is imminent on that front. The belief is that Buds netminder Frederik Andersen would go the other way if a trade is finalized.

Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet) counters the Quick to Toronto claims by saying that he doesn’t think it’s happening because he believes the Maple Leafs don’t think it’s viable.

  • The Vancouver Canucks have been taking calls on Travis Hamonic, Jordie Benn, Tanner Pearson (before injury), and Brandon Sutter. They’re gauging the market but in wait-and-see mode with their playoff status
  • Things have changed in Columbus as they’ve caught Chicago for the fourth and final playoff spot in their division which probably means David Savard and Nick Foligno might not get dealt. If Columbus stays in it and hold their UFAs, that changes the market.

TSN1200: Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving on his club’s potential trade deadline plans,

“I’m certainly not looking to spend high draft or prospect capital for rental players, but if there’s a way to help our team, that’s what we’ll continue to do. I’m not in a position where I need to be spending those types of assets on a rental.”

Daily Faceoff Podcast: Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell on what his club might be looking for ahead of the trade deadline,

“A right-shot defender would be something I’ve asked around about and another top-nine forward potentially. We’re also looking at all our positions from a depth standpoint.”

Andrew Gross (Newsday) has speculated recently on whether or not the the New York Islanders will pursue New Jersey Devils winger Kyle Palmieri before the trade deadline.

Larry Brooks (NY Post) has suggested that the New York Rangers keep Russian winger Pavel Buchnevich at $5.5M AAV for 4-5 years.

John Hoven (Mayor’s Manor) expects the LA Kings to retain Alex Iafallo’s services and sees him staying in LA. To date, not serious contract talks have taken place and nothing is imminent. Most signs point to a deal being announced later down the road.

Kevin Kurz (The Athletic) Patrick Marleau would definitely consider a trade to a contender if the opportunity arises but he’s not actively looking for it. His goal is still to win a Stanley Cup.

The Athletic says a league source has informed them that the Chicago Blackhawks aren’t shopping center Dylan Strome but they are willing to entertain offers for Connor McDavid’s former junior linemate.

Max Bultman (The Athletic) says if healthy, forward Tyler Bertuzzi will have a ton of appeal for buyers at the trade deadline.

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

(3/22/21) BLH’s NHL Trade Rumors: “Elliotte Friedman said that the Ottawa Senators will be listening to teams inquiries about…”

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Erik Gudbranson (OTT), Darcy Kuemper (ARI), Ryan Getzlaf (ANA), Mikael Granlund (NSH), and more!

Is Leon Draisaitl’s excellent two-way presence just a mirage? One Edmonton pundit says they may very well be, BLH says not so fast. Read about it here.

A new name in the rumor mill for Oilers fans! Check out who it is here.

Could Tyson Barrie be trade bait for the Oilers? Read about that here.

This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.

Click the pic and find the NHL94 player from your team!

NHL Rumors and Speculation

Satiar Shah: The best-case scenario if the Vancouver Canucks were to trade Tanner Pearson would now be to get a conditional draft pick for him if he’s healthy enough to move before the trade deadline.

Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman said that the Ottawa Senators will be listening to teams inquiries about their pending unrestricted free agents including Artem Anisimov, Ryan Dzingel and Erik Gudbranson.

Sportsnet: The Montreal Canadiens have a deep prospect pool and plenty of draft picks. GM Marc Bergevin did a lot this past offseason and he’s said he may not do much. Friedman says that Bergevin is never afraid to make a deal.

“The thing about Bergevin is he’s unafraid and he’s shown that this is an enormous year for the Canadiens with all of his actions so far… So what he’s selling, not everybody is buying. He’s got a lot of picks, he’s got a lot of good players. He said he won’t use things like that to alleviate his cap burden, but if he wants to do something big, there’s probably nobody in Canada that’s more capable of doing it than Bergevin is.”

The Athletic took a look at some potential trade candidates for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both James Mirtle and Jason Siegel listed their top five trade targets, focusing exclusively on forwards.

Siegel’s List Mirtle’s List
Alex Iafallo Mikael Granlund
Taylor Hall Kyle Palmieri
Filip Forsberg Tanner Pearson
Rickard Rakell Bobby Ryan
Matt Nieto Eric Staal

Honourable mentions include Nick Foligno, Adam Henrique, Darcy Kuemper, Mattias Ekholm, Jamie Oleksiak, and Dmitry Kulikov.

Shug McSween (nhltraderumors.me) believes the Los Angeles Kings have two forwards who are very likely to be traded, Alex Iafallo and Dustin Brown.

On Iafallo: The 27-year-old versatile forward is a pending unrestricted free-agent and drawing the most interest of Blake’s hockey team. So far this season he’s recorded seven goals and 19 points in 27 games and can easily jump into a top-six or top-nine forward group on a contender. Last season he finished with 43 points and has shown he’s capable of producing on a nightly basis. Iafallo is making $2.45 million this season and team’s interested include the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.

On Brown: Brown is battle tested, a proven winner and has outstanding leadership qualities, most playoff bound teams would love to have him. The 36-year-old veteran has one season left on his contract for 2021-22, making $5.6 million on the cap. A steep number for sure, however with the resurgence of 13 goals in 27 games this season, some team’s may be willing to pay it. If the Kings retain salary, their return gets even bigger, it’s likely this is the case if a trade transpires. Teams interested include the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche and Boston Bruins.

The Fourth Period is reporting that the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs have been talking about goaltender Jonathan Quick as of late,

According to multiple sources, the Los Angeles Kings have spoken with the Maple Leafs about Quick. At this point, a move does not sound imminent, but the option appears to be available if Toronto decides to pursue it in the next three weeks.

There’s a belief out there that if Andersen isn’t severely injured, he (and his $5 million cap hit) would be sent to the Los Angeles, upon which Kings GM Rob Blake can hold on to him for their own playoff run until he hits the open market as a UFA in the summer or flip him to another team before the deadline – the Carolina Hurricanes had interest in him in the off-season.

Assuming this actually plays out and the Kings take back a portion of Quick’s deal, acquiring him takes care of Toronto’s starter’s role for the next two seasons at a lower cap figure… It also creates slightly more space for another add up front, which Dubas is trying to do ahead of the April 12 trade deadline.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Ben Pope reports Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman is “actively having conversations” regarding trade possibilities with other clubs as deadline day approaches. Bowman suggested he could be a buyer and seller. He’s seeking players who can be a part of the club’s future but won’t ship out players he feels can be part of their long-term plans.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: David Schoen reports the Vegas Golden Knights are unlikely to make moves before the trade deadline. They’ve made big splashes during the last two deadlines by acquiring Mark Stone and Robin Lehner but GM Kelly McCrimmon believes his club is in a different position now. He also pointed out his club has limited salary-cap space.

Sportsnet’s Luke Fox listed Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf, Buffalo’s Taylor Hall and Eric Staal, Columbus’ Nick Foligno, New Jersey’s Kyle Palmieri, Minnesota’s Mikael Granlund and Los Angeles’ Alex Iafallo as his top-seven pure rental targets for the Leafs.

TSN: Frank Seravalli considers the following clubs as “soft” buyers: Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Oilers need either a scoring left-winger or a second-pairing left-shot defenseman but they aren’t interested in rentals or moving draft picks.

Sources: Spector’s Hockey, NHLTradeRumors.me, The Athletic, NHLRumor.com, NHLTradeTalk.com, The Fourth Period,

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Flames Suck. Click the pic and get a shirt.
This is how Pavel used to tell you who was #1 back in the day! Click the pic and grab a shirt or a mask!
Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

(3/18/21) BLH’s NHL Trade Rumors: Tyson Barrie to Be Extended By Oilers for Three Years?

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Alexander Ovechkin (WAS), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM), Devan Dubnyk (SJ), Clayton Keller (ARI), and more!

Is Leon Draisaitl’s excellent two-way presence just a mirage? One Edmonton pundit says they may very well be, BLH says not so fast. Read about it here.

A new name in the rumor mill for Oilers fans! Check out who it is here.

Could Tyson Barrie be trade bait for the Oilers? Read about that here.

This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.

Click the pic and find the NHL94 player from your team!

NHL Rumors and Speculation

  • Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet) says that the New Jersey Devils and forward Kyle Palmieri have begun conversations regarding his future. The Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, and Toronto Maple Leafs could be in on him.
    • The Detroit Red Wings have received some interest around the league in goaltender Jonathan Bernier.
    • The Philadelphia Flyers poked around Arizona Coyotes defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson last summer.
    • The Anaheim Ducks have been asked about forward Max Jones but have told teams that they aren’t moving him.
    • Friedman says he thinks it wouldn’t hurt for the Buffalo Sabres to sign forward Brian Boyle.
    • The Chicago Blackhawks are willing to consider taking on money if the assets are good enough.
  • Mark Spector (Sportsnet) and Bob Stauffer (630CHED) recently discussed the possibility of the Edmonton Oilers extending defenseman Tyson Barrie for three years in the neighborhood of $5M-$5.5M per year.
  • The Fourth Period as the Detroit Red Wings are getting calls on winger Anthony Mantha. The Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers maybe be more willing to pay the price.
    • The Columbus Blue Jackets are listening on goalie Elvis Merzlikins. The Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks had interest in him this past off-season.
    • The Toronto Maple Leafs say they’d be willing to move a top prospect before this year’s trade deadline.
  • Pierre LeBrun (The Athletic) believes San Jose Sharks netminder Devan Dubnyk will be available for trade and the Colorado Avalanche and Washington Capitals are teams that come to mind.
  • Eric Engels (Sportsnet) is saying that the Montreal Canadiens are a team that have shown interest in Detroit Red Wings center Luke Glendening.
  • Josh Yohe (The Athletic) is claiming that the Pittsburgh Penguins bought out defenseman Jack Johnson in order to clear cap space so they could bring goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury back.
  • Tarik El-Bashir (The Athletic) believes that Alexander Ovechkin will sign an extension in a few months and is speculating that it’ll be a four-year deal worth $11M AAV.
  • Jimmy Murphy (Florida Hockey Now) reckons that Clayton Keller’s name is out there “more than you’d expect”. The Arizona Coyotes could hold a fire sale at the deadline.
  • Ryan Rishaug (TSN) says the Edmonton Oilers will resume contract talks with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Speculation is that it could be a long-term deal worth $6M-$6.5M AAV.
  • Chris Johnston (Sportsnet) is of the belief that the Toronto Maple Leafs are assessing everything the focus is on improving the forwards.

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Flames Suck. Click the pic and get a shirt.
This is how Pavel used to tell you who was #1 back in the day! Click the pic and grab a shirt or a mask!