Tag Archives: Chris Tierney

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

Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Oilers Eyeing Habs/Sens? Are the Jets in the Mix too?

I have a question for you. I realize that it was only one game, but Anton Burdasov looked a little bit of alright and I feel like he’s possibly a consideration for this Edmonton Oilers roster. They need shooters to compliment all of their elite playmakers, right? So, with that said, how do you think Ken Holland could go about moving a few of those contracts out IF he wanted to sign the Russian? They’re at 48/50 at the moment.

Just before we get into this post, I’d like to point out that we also cover NHL draft prospects and one of our draft experts, Keith Fries, has just written a post that I think you’d be interested in if you’re as much of a draft geek as I am! Check it out here!

Well, I asked the same question to a number of sources close to the Oilers and the idea that was relayed back to me was… What if they added a sweetener to someone on the farm?

I’ve said previously that I don’t think that Nolan Vesey is going to get any time on the Bakersfield Condors this year. Edmonton simply has too many first-year pros joining the team and to add to that, a few of the 2nd year players were sent down. So there’s a bit of a logjam going on at the moment down in SoCal.

Another player they could try to move is Ryan Mantha. He’s had a tough go since he joined the Oilers. A blood clot in his eye and subsequent heart surgery to try and fix the clot has kept him out of the lineup but unfortunately, his contract still counts.

As for that sweetener, Edmonton has an extra 6th round pick from Pittsburgh in the 2021 draft.

I wouldn’t say that those are the only options for the Oilers, they could terminate Gaetan Haas’ deal as well. I don’t really see that as a viable option at this time. You never know what happens down the road though.

Oilers Watching Eastern Conference Teams

The Oilers had a scout in attendance at the Senators-Canadiens game Saturday. Might they be looking at someone who could properly fill the 3C slot? Center Chris Tierney is an expiring UFA at $2.9m. But so is Jean-Gabriel Pageau at $3.1 and is a right shot. Tierney is a lefty and wasn’t even in the lineup. But Pageau was and had 4 shots in a 4-0 loss. A dip in his production last season may lower the asking price. (source)

This is from Kurt Leavins’ latest 9-Things post at the Cult of Hockey.

One thing that jumps right out at me is that Chris Tierney didn’t play in that game. So it would’ve been tough to scout him, but Pageau did and he’s been a trade target for Oilers fans for some time now, including me.

What are the Senators looking for though? I don’t imagine they’ll be eager to upgrade the roster given the rebuild they’re going through. Also, Pageau is very well-respected in Ottawa. He’s the kind of player you keep around during a phase like this. Unless, of course, a GM comes calling with an overpayment…

Is this about the time we offer Jesse Puljujarvi for JG Pageau? Not sure if I’m ready to board that train quite yet. Plus, what is Pageau going to demand on his next contract? It’d have to be North of $5M, no? Couldn’t the Oilers fill the role he’d provide internally?

I feel like the Habs haven’t been far from the Puljujarvi rumors this summer. No doubt, supporters of the Canadiens would like to see Jesse united with Jesperi Kotkaniemi, however, Montreal GM Marc Bergevin has a massive hole on his defense on the left-side that needs filling and the Oilers might have a left-shot defender or two that could help them out.

Kris Russell has yet to suit up for the Oilers since being concussed in an informal skate earlier this month. Would Holland move him though? He’s very well-liked in the locker room and he’d be a good veteran mentor for players like Evan Bouchard or Ethan Bear.

What do you ask for in return for a Kris Russell these days anyhow since the Oilers have a glut of forwards vying for a roster spot? Reckon the Habs would be happy to deal a draft pick for him? I’m of the belief that they would like to find a new home for Charles Hudon…

On the other hand, I think that Darnell Nurse has looked very well so far and I don’t believe there’s an appetite to trade him. That said, his next contract could be very costly if his agent gets his way and since the Oilers are in a bit of a transition year, is it out of the realm of possibility that he gets moved? Personally, Jonathan Drouin would look good in the Oilers top-6 and I feel like Kris Russell could handle 2nd pair minutes which would leave a spot on the 3rd pair for William Lagesson or Caleb Jones.

The Jets are Freefalling

Jacob Trouba, gone. Tyler Myers, gone. Dustin Byfuglien, gone. Patrik Laine, no contract. Kyle Connor, no contract.

Remind me the last time a Stanley Cup contending team lost their top three defenders and lived to talk about it. Plus, if there was a team that lost that AND two more top-six forwards, I’d love to hear how they survived it.

There’s no way around this for Winnipeg. They need to get those forwards signed but possibly more dire is their need to shore up that defense. Now they could go out and trade for Rasmus Ristolainen or Justin Faulk but there’s no question in my mind that Jason Botterill and Don Waddell are just waiting to bend the Jets over a barrel in a trade.

This is a good opportunity for the Oilers to take advantage of Winnipeg a bit here. Why not offer them Matt Benning? They’ve got Neil Pionk, Sami Niku, Tucker Poolman, and Luke Green for depth on the right side of their defense and that’s not gonna cut it, Ted.

Benning is betting outplayed by the likes of Ethan Bear, Evan Bouchard, Joel Persson, and William Lagesson. I’d even argue that Brandon Manning has been equal to or better than the St. Albert native. He’s only got one year remaining on a contract that will see him earn $1.9M and he’s a player that can help out on the 2nd pair in times of need. I figure his work ethic and great attitude would fit right in with the Jets.

Perhaps Holland only asks for a draft pick in return (which would bring us back to the beginning of this post when I was talking about “sweeteners”) and calls it a day.

What do you think of these trade rumblings and ideas? Let us know in the comments below!

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Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Stanley Cup Playoffs

Oilers/Sharks G5: That’s Not a Spear, This is a Spear!

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Missing: One broom – Last seen in the hands of a Duck on its way to Calgary.

THE DRAISAITL INCIDENT

Yesterday the punishment for Leon Draisaitl’s spear was handed down and as expected it was only a fine but wow, did hockey fans go batshit over the punishment handed down. For me, I didn’t expect Leon would be handed a suspension, why would he? He has no history of this kind of behavior nor has he ever been suspended unlike Joe Thornton, who also was given a game misconduct in January for a spear on the St.Louis Blues’ Paul Stastny but also escaped a mandatory vacation for his action.

Here’s my contention though. Jumbo Joe actually speared a guy. I mean he took his hockey stick and thrust it into the midsection of the opponent and that my friend IS intent to injure. Look at the pic above! Thornton actually puts enough force into the spear to create a bow in his stick…

Betcha a lot of Sharks fans forgot about that eh?

Leon Draisaitl merely brought his stick up between Tierney’s legs to cause some temporary discomfort and it must not have been hard enough because Tierney came back to play.  

I understand that what Draisaitl did is within the NHL’s definition of what a spear is but that’s not a spear. Check out this quick clip I made where I compared Leon Draisaitl’s spear with Thornton’s spear and then the mother of all spears, Marty McSorley on Mike Bullard and then tell me what Draisaitl did was THAT severe…

GAME FOUR and FIVE

7-0… But it could’ve been a lot different had Larsson’s shot went into the net and not off of the crossbar and if Nuge had buried that open net chance… Move on to game 5.

She’s a best of three and the Oilers have home ice advantage!!

The rubber match is tonight and I expect a fiery Oilers squad to come out and absolutely hand the Sharks a spanking. Nobody likes to be embarrassed like the Oilers were on Tuesday and everyone on that team will be fired up not to mention the fans. I don’t think it’s going to be a low-even game at all but I do have some questions going in.

Questions:

  • Will we see a timid game from Zack Kassian or will we get the human wrecking ball?

    In games 3 and 4 Kassian was as much a passenger as the rest of the team. Personally, I think the fans are going to rev this team up like crazy and that first 10 minutes we’ve been seeing where the Oilers are on their heels, I think it’ll be the Sharks who will be on their fins.

  • How will Todd McLellan address Pat Maroon’s slump?

    I wrote about Maroon’s lack of production after game 4 and we seen him dropped in the lineup in the latter stages of the game. Should the Oilers try using some more speed with McDavid? I mean, he’s looked okay with Cagguila at times and the Drake does have a gritty side to his game.

  • With the last change, will Draisaitl be up with McDavid again?

    No doubt the Oilers are going to take advantage of having the last change but who should they deploy to stop the Marleau/Thornton/Pavelski line? Not sure I’d have Nuge’s line against them as RNH is literally the only real defensive player on that line. How about tossing Pouliot/Letestu/Kassian against them as those players are the team’s primary penalty killers. Surely they’d have success in that role.

  • Keep Nurse/Benning away from the Sharks top 6.

Just going from the eye test, Benning and Nurse had a shit time trying to stop the Sharks skillers.

  • Edmonton has called up seven players from Bakersfield right? Reinhart, Ellis, Lander, Oesterle, Fayne, Laleggia, and Khaira.

    I can’t see any of them getting any action to be honest unless some real injuries take some of the top 6 out. But if I had to go from most likely to play to least likely I’d go Lander, Khaira, Oesterle, Reinhart, Laleggia, Ellis, Fayne.

    The computer boys will have Fayne at the top of course but I can’t see it at all. He lacks a certain element of determination that McLellan likes in his bottom pairing dmen and he’s certainly not replacing Kris Russell. The thought alone makes me chortle aloud.

    Now, Anton Lander can take faceoffs at least and Khaira can be a large presence on the wall but let’s be frank, Iiro Pakarinen and Anton Slepyshev are going to get the majority of the TOI because they’ve got size, they hit, they can skate well, and they can shoot. Oesterle and Reinhart shoot left so automatically they’re at a disadvantage and Nick Ellis is a total longshot to play unless Talbot loses a limb.

PULJU TO FINLAND

The Oilers loaned Jesse Puljujarvi to the Finnish men’s team so that he can play in the World Championships in Paris and Cologne. I suspect he’ll be reunited with his old World Junior linemate, Sebastian Aho. Too bad Patrik Laine is taking the tourney off. It would be something to watch this trio play after a year of pro hockey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn3AbZhENRU

Speaking of the Men’s World Championships, keep an eye on Swedish defender Rasmus Dahlin. He’s 17 I believe and is the youngest player to play on the Men’s team in half a century if I’m not mistaken. He’s eligible to be playing in the u18’s that are going on right now to put it into perspective. Some will compare Dahlin to Erik Karlsson or perhaps even Paul Coffey but they don’t do him justice because he’s basically doing what McDavid did to his opposition in junior but Dahlin is doing it versus men in the SHL.

Enjoy the Oilers game tonight folks! It’s going to be a beauty! McDavid is going to break out tonight and Edmonton is going to be electric!

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