Tag Archives: Colorado Avalanche

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

(1/26/2021) – BLH’s NHL Rumors: “He’s a blossoming player with much promise, making him a great candidate to be offered in exchange for…”

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Tyler Ennis (EDM), Travis Dermott (TOR), Jordan Kyrou (STL), Victor Mete (MTL), and more!

The Oilers have a bit of a mind-bender brewing on the right side of their defense and a couple of big contracts set to expire there with some high-end prospects almost ready to take over. What is Ken Holland set to do?

TSN’s Frank Seravalli says that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins might not be in the Oilers’ plans going forward. Read all about it right here.

Craig Button absolutely tore the Oilers a new a$$hole on TSN 1260 recently. Click this link and read what he said!

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

NHL Rumors and Speculation

  • Jonas Siegel (The Athletic): Wonders if the Toronto Maple Leafs might be contemplating moving a defenseman in order to bring in a forward to cover for some injuries to key players.
    • “Perhaps. Travis Dermott feels like the likeliest candidate to move. He’s averaged just over 11 minutes per game so far this season with no power play or penalty killing opportunity.”

BLH’s Thoughts: It’s a tricky conundrum the Leafs find themselves in. What happens to that forward when Thornton, Matthews, and Robertson are healthy? I feel like you’d want to have more dman at your beck and call than forwards in a season like this. 

  • Danny Silver (nhltraderumors.me): Says that there might be a fit for Dermott in St. Louis.
    • “Jordan Kyrou currently leads the team with 6 points, but his shooting percentage of 13.3% will naturally come down. He’s a blossoming player with much promise, making him a great candidate to be offered in exchange for Dermott.”

BLH’s Thoughts: No bloody way would I be dealing Jordan Kyrou for Dermott. The Blues might be struggling a bit now, but give it some time. This is a veteran squad who lost their best player in the off-season. Somebody is bound to step up and if that guy is Kyrou, why would you deal him for an unproven third-pairing defender?

  • Mike Chambers (Denver Post): Reckons that the Colorado Avalanche might have to shop around for a goaltender if their situation in net fails to improve.
    • “The Avalanche was not proactive with their goaltending in free agency. Now they might have to be reactive if Francouz’s injury is serious — because Miska has yet to show he’s NHL-caliber and Grubauer is oft-injured.”

BLH’s Thoughts: Who could a player like Sam Girard bring the Avs in a trade? Darcy Kuemper maybe? That’s who I’d go for if I were Joe Sakic.

  • Shug McSween (nhltraderumors.me): Says there are a handful of teams looking into Montreal’s small puck-moving defender Victor Mete.
    • “The Pittsburgh Penguins are desperate for a defenseman right now, and team’s like the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings are all teams with interest.”

BLH’s Thoughts: Edmonton has Caleb Jones sitting right now and I’m not sure if Mete is an upgrade on him. Plus their left-side on defense is five skaters deep right now. I like Mete’s contract, mind you, but I don’t see a fit there.

  • The Athletic: It looks like Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning’s seat is starting to get a bit toasty after a dodgy start to the season.
    • “It’s pretty rare that early-season struggles like what the Canucks are enduring would create this level of public pressure on an NHL general manager. Usually, the first ax falls on the head coach… Benning’s seat legitimately appears like it might be starting to get hot. It’ll be worth monitoring this dynamic as the season goes along, particularly if things get really bleak for the Canucks in the early going here.”

BLH’s Thoughts: Well, when you let your no.1 goalie, one of your most important defenders, a goal-scoring Stanley Cup winning winger, and one helluva solid third-line wing go and your team struggles, there’s going to be some heat.

Jim Benning really f*cked his team this off-season, but I wonder if maybe the ownership had a hand in some of this. Has their coach even been given a new contract yet?

  • Jim Parsons (NHLtradetalk.com): Edmonton Oilers winger Tyler Ennis is on waivers and there are some rumblings that his old team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, could pluck him off.
    • ” it is possible he doesn’t clear waivers as he’s on a one-year, $1 million deal and has a history with a number of NHL teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs are rumored to be looking for a forward and there might be a fit there as he’s got history with the organization and was a popular player there over the course of 51 games.”

BLH’s Thoughts: Ennis hasn’t done anything for me this year so far. I’ve like Joakim Nygard more and it sounds like Gaetan Haas is getting close to returning. On top of that, Evan Bouchard could be getting his first bit of action very soon as Tyson Barrie has struggled. 

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

1/21/2021) – BLH’s NHL Rumors: 31 Thoughts Edition – “I do think there are some very, very good teams in the weeds on…”

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring the likes of Ian Cole (MIN), Pierre-Luc Dubois (CBJ), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM), and more!

The Oilers have a bit of a mind-bender brewing on the right side of their defense and a couple of big contracts set to expire there with some high-end prospects almost ready to take over. What is Ken Holland set to do?

TSN’s Frank Seravalli says that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins might not be in the Oilers’ plans going forward. Read all about it right here.

Craig Button absolutely tore the Oilers a new a$$hole on TSN 1260 recently. Click this link and read what he said!

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

NHL Rumors and Speculation

  • Ian Cole’s trade from Colorado to Minnesota seems to have been made with an eye on the future in a couple of ways,

“His trade to Minnesota for Greg Pateryn (with the Avalanche keeping 18 percent of Cole’s salary), creates flexibility and the ability to bank room for the trade deadline. The numbers game is obvious for the Avalanche as Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins arrive.”

BLH’s Thoughts: If the Avalanche are clearing cap room now and we’re hearing that they’re checking in on Pierre-Luc Dubois… Is Joe Sakic going big-game hunting this year akin to how his old GM, the departed Pierre Lacroix, used to do when he was a player? 

If you’re Columbus, who’d you expect to get off the Avs though? I’m not sure there’s a good fit if the Blue Jackets are looking to trade for someone that will slot in on their first-line right away. 

  • Friedman speculates that Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald’s contract and their good start to the year could affect his future with the club long-term it expires after this season,

“Could have implications for them or possibly even Pittsburgh, where Fitzgerald worked before.”

BLH’s Thoughts: If Jim Rutherford steps down, could the Pens go with Fitzgerald? I like what he’s done with New Jersey so far and sooner or later Pittsburgh is going to have to embrace some sort of rebuild. 

  • New Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito is not off to a good start with his bosses or playing personnel so far with his treatment of current NHL ironman Keith Yandle,

“There was a wild rumour the Panthers wouldn’t invite him to camp, which obviously didn’t happen and I’m not sure that’s even allowed anyways.”

“Where things really went off the rails is Yandle was very upset over the past couple of weeks because he felt his character was called into question — that he was made to feel it wasn’t about his play but his personality.”

“At some point over the past few days, several teammates stepped up and made it clear they felt he should be in the lineup.”

“There’s a lot of speculation that he would be willing to waive to Boston. I’m not convinced there’s a match, however. The Bruins have been extremely careful not to add long-term money. It doesn’t fit their current activity.”

  • Doesn’t sound like things are getting any closer between the Edmonton Oilers and fan-favorite Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

“I’d heard earlier in the off-season that the Oilers and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins were getting close on an extension, but that’s gone quiet for awhile now.”

BLH’s Thoughts: The longer Nuge goes without producing on McDavid’s wing, the more the fans are going to call for Tippett to get him back on Draisaitl’s line. Now, if he continues to struggle, it won’t be long until the trade calls start to get louder and louder. 

For myself, I would have zero qualms dealing RNH if it got the Oilers one of two things, A) a proper starting goalie or B) a top-four defenceman.

One scenario to consider might start in Columbus. If they make a deal to move Dubois and can get a very good winger back, could they be willing to part with one of their goaltenders for Nugent-Hopkins?

  • Some of the league’s top teams could be in on Pierre-Luc Dubois,

“I do think there are some very, very good teams in the weeds on Dubois, waiting to see how the Blue Jackets handle this. I’d be very curious to know what Colorado and Tampa Bay think.

BLH’s Thoughts: Wouldn’t it be something if Tampa could find a way to get Dubois? After getting out of that salary cap hell they found themselves in over the summer… It would be very interesting if not extremely entertaining if that happened. 

I did hear a possible 3-way trade between the Blue Jackets, Canadiens, and Jets rumor recently. Saying that Dubois could go to Montreal, Laine to Columbus, and Nick Suzuki plus plus plus would go to Winnipeg, but I don’t know. The only thing that fits is Dubois to Montreal as I’m certain they have Nick Suzuki held in very high regard there. Jesperi Kotkaniemi on the other hand… I think he could be had. Also, do you reckon Patrik Laine would be happy playing for John Tortarella?

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

(1/10/2021) – BLH’s NHL Rumor Quick Hits: “He may get traded soon and it’s clear he doesn’t want to be there any longer.”

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Patrik Laine, Frederik Andersen, Kirby Dach, David Krejci, Sergei Bobrovsky, and more!

Have you read this hilarious Joe Thornton story about the time he was chirping Connor McDavid from the bench and he made everyone within earshot burst out laughing? Do it now!

Have you ever seen the video of the time Doug Risebrough sucker-punched Marty McSorley and then had his ass handed to him? You have to check it out here.

Did Connor McDavid have a hand in bringing Jesse Puljujarvi back to Edmonton? Read about it here.

The Oilers have a bit of a mind-bender brewing on the right side of their defence and a couple of big contracts set to expire there with some high-end prospects almost ready to take over. What is Ken Holland set to do?

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

NHL Rumors and Speculation

  • Adrian Dater (Colorado Hockey Now): Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog says that players shouldn’t “jump the gun” for the COVID vaccine.
  • Dan Kingerski (Pittsburgh Hockey Now): Legendary Penguins broadcaster Mike Lange has opted out of the 2020-21 season. His doctor has recommended that he wait until he’s received the COVID vaccine before returning.
  • Jordan McPherson (Miami Herald): Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has missed another practice. He has yet to be to one since camp opened on January 3rd.
  • Zach  Leach (Pro Hockey Rumors): Jimmy Howard, Craig Anderson, Scott Darling, and Mike Condon are potential backup options for the New Jersey Devils.
  • David Pagnotta (The Fourth Period): The Boston Bruins and David Krejci are expected to begin contract extension talks once the season starts.
  • Pierre LeBrun (The Athletic): Columbus forward Pierre-Luc Dubois would fit nicely into the Chicago Blackhawks’ lineup, bu the Blue Jackets would likely want Kirby Dach in return.
  • Chris Johnston (Sportsnet): Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen says that there have been “a little bit” of talks on a contract extension.
  • Sara Civian (The Athletic): Says her Hurricane contracts have said everyone is staying put which contradicts David Pagnotta’s earlier reports that the Canes have interest in Jets winger Patrik Laine.
  • Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet): The Montreal Canadiens were very interested in defenseman Zdeno Chara before he opted to sign with the Washington Capitals, but, Chara didn’t consider them because of the Canadian border. The Florida Panthers were also very interested in the veteran blueliner.
    • Friedman also said on “Tim and Sid” that it’s unlikely that Panthers troubled Finnish winger Henrik Borgstrom ever plays a game with the club again.
      • “He may get traded soon and it’s clear he doesn’t want to be there any longer.”
  • The Fourth Period: Marc Staal believes that the Detroit Red Wings aren’t a team that is ready to prove something. He could be a prime trade deadline candidate. The Red Wings will be looking to obtain as many draft picks as possible in return for him.

A little exercise for you, if the Columbus Blue Jackets wanted to reunite Patrik Laine, Sebastian Aho, and Jesse Puljujarvi, would these next eight months or so not be the best time to do it? So the exercise for you is, how would he do it?

Trade Dubois to the Jets for Laine and Korpisalo to Edmonton for Puljujarvi? We know he’s got to deal with new deals for Seth Jones and Zach Werenski soon. So could he deal one of those for Aho? Or maybe he could deal Dubois to Carolina for Aho, Korpisalo to Edmonton for Pulju, and one of those dmen to Winnipeg for Laine?

I don’t know, it seems like a fun bit of armchair GM-ing to do though.

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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!
Classic Captain Wendel taking care of business once more! Click the pic and grab a shirt for yourself!
Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

(1/9/2021) – BLH’s NHL Rumor Roundup: “Speculation Over His Future With The Club Has Already Popped Up.”

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Alexander Ovechkin, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, David Krejci, Marc-Andre Fleury, Gabriel Landeskog, and more!

Are the Oilers tough enough for the 2020-21 NHL season? A former NHL GM says NO!

Have you read this hilarious Joe Thornton story about the time he was chirping Connor McDavid from the bench and he made everyone within earshot burst out laughing? Do it now!

Have you ever seen the video of the time Doug Risebrough sucker-punched Marty McSorley and then had his ass handed to him? You have to check it out here.

Did Connor McDavid have a hand in bringing Jesse Puljujarvi back to Edmonton? Read about it here.

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

NHL Rumors and Speculation

  • The Fourth Period: Has a plethora of updates on some big names going into the first week of the 2020-21 NHL season,
    • David Krejci – “The Boston Bruins and centre David Krejci have decided to put contract talks on the backburner until after the regular-season gets underway”
    • Travis Dermott – “Dermott could be a candidate to be traded, and speculation over his future with the club has already popped up, as many have linked him to a casualty of this summer’s expansion draft.”
    • Frederik Anderson – “There has been plenty of speculation over Andersen’s future with the Maple Leafs, as had been linked to various trade rumours during the off-season – it had even been speculated that a deal with the Carolina Hurricanes was close back in August.”
    • Pierre-Luc Dubois – “One league source told TFP earlier in the week the Ducks have already expressed serious interest in Dubois and it is possible those conversations could carry out during the season.”
    • New York Islanders – “The Islanders have been shopping veteran forward Leo Komarov, who owns a seven-team no-trade list, and defenceman Thomas Hickey.”
    • Patrik Laine – “Talks between the Hurricanes and Jets cooled earlier in the off-season, however, after the Jets requested defenceman Brett Pesce and forward Martin Necas be included in a deal. According to a league source, the Hurricanes have so far balked at the asking price.”
  • Shug McSween (NHLTradeRumors.me): Posted a juicy trade rumor regarding the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche,
    • “According to sources close to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Knights and the Avalanche have held some preliminary trade discussions around goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. There have also been reports out of Colorado regarding how their defense is going to shape up, and trading Ian Cole could be on the agenda.”
  • Luke Fox (Sportsnet): Recently posted on the top-12 UFA rumors going into 2021,
    • Alexander Ovechkin – “According to Russian outlet metaratings.ru, MacLellan has already floated a three-to-five-year extension to the captain that would carry an AAV between $9.5 million and $10 million.”
    • Gabriel Landeskog – “Colorado has an open window to contend for the grand prize, and anything other than a long-term extension for the captain would rock the core in a bad way.”
    • Frederik Andersen – “(Carolina was one team that inquired.) The executive (Kyle Dubas) was reportedly only interested in parting with Auston Matthews’ part-time roomie for a top-four defenceman.”
    • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – “Although Nuge cannot be replaced internally, until he is re-signed, speculation around the 2011 first-overall pick’s future will linger. He does not hold trade protection.”

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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!
Classic Captain Wendel taking care of business once more! Click the pic and grab a shirt for yourself!
Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

(1/6/2021) – BLH’s NHL Rumor Roundup: “One Player They’ve Tried to Move (With a Sweetener) Is…)

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Dougie Hamilton, Trevor Zegras, and more!

Who Might Newly-Signed Slater Koekkoek replace in the Oilers Lineup? Read about it now!

Oilers pundit says the club might be down ANOTHER forward before camp starts! Who could it be?

Are the Oilers tough enough for the 2020-21 NHL season? A former NHL GM says NO!

Have you read this hilarious Joe Thornton story about the time he was chirping Connor McDavid from the bench and he made everyone within earshot burst out laughing? Do it now!

Have you ever seen the video of the time Doug Risebrough sucker punched Marty McSorley and then had his ass handed to him? You have to check it out here.

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

NHL Rumors and Speculation

  • Kurt Dusterberg (NHL.com): Reports that Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Dougie Hamilton wants to re-sign with the Canes but is letting his agent do the negotiating while he prepares for the new season.
    • Lyle Richarson (Spector’s Hockey): “Hamilton was considered a serious contender for the Norris Trophy last season until sidelined by a broken leg last January. Another Norris-worthy performance could price him out of the Hurricanes’ comfort zone.”
  • Corey Pronman (The Athletic): Has these five players on his 2021 World Junior All-Star team now that the tournament has finished,
    • F: Dylan Cozens (CAN)
    • F: Tim Stuetzle (GER)
    • F: Trevor Zegras (USA)
    • D: Bowen Byram (CAN)
    • D: Ville Heinola (FIN)
    • G: Devon Levi (CAN)
  • Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet): Here is the latest from his 31 Thoughts blog,
    • “I think Philadelphia considered it a few months ago, but backed away due to asset cost and salary.”
    • ” If Columbus believes it can get Laine to commit, that’s one to watch, eventually — assuming a trade can be worked out.”
    • “One player the Islanders have tried to move (with a sweetener) is Thomas Hickey. Half of the defenceman’s salary for this year is already paid via a bonus, and he’s got one more year at $2.5 million.”
    • “I think Montreal really wanted to add Mike Hoffman.”
    • ” Brett Ritchie is the mystery PTO possibility for Calgary.”
    • “Another vet the Senators pursued: Tyler Toffoli.”
    • “I do expect to see Ben Hutton somewhere soon. Boston and New Jersey are among those with interest.”
    • “Every time I see a Sidney Crosby/Nathan MacKinnon commercial, I wonder if they’re going to find a way to play together some day.”
    • “Wildest off-season rumour I chased: that NBA teams who shared arenas with NHL clubs wanted their hockey partners to move out for this season because of concerns COVID was more catchable in lower humidity.”
  • Sean McIndoe (The Athletic): “If we do get something approaching a normal trade deadline, Getzlaf could make for an attractive target for some team that wants a mix of experience, jam, scoring and name value.”
  • Anthony Scultore (Daily Goal Horn): On the rumors linking Patrik Laine to the New York Rangers,
    • “Here’s what I was told just a week ago by a well placed source, the Rangers have too many highly rated prospects and all are not going to play here. The expectation is if they don’t make a move at this deadline, the Rangers will be aggressive in the offseason.”
  • Pierre LeBrun (The Athletic): On Tuuka Rask getting shopped this past off-season,
    • “There were whispers around the league that Bruins GM Don Sweeney was taking calls on Rask in the offseason.”
  • Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL): Top prospect for the 2022 NHL Draft, Matthew Savoie has left his AJHL club and will be joining the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints for the upcoming season.

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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!