Tag Archives: Lias Andersson

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

Edmonton Oilers 2019/20 Rumors: Puljujarvi to Florida NOT Happening and a Short Interview with Patrick Russell

A couple of days ago another report out of New York was published that the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Rangers were interested in making a trade that would involve disgruntled forwards Lias Andersson and Jesse Puljujarvi but this time more pieces had been added. A 1st rounder from the Rangers and a B-level prospect from the Oilers.

The Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins commented on this in his latest 9-Thoughts post and he said this,

An old associate of mine in New York tells me that there is renewed “smoke” these days over the possibility of a trade between the Rangers and Oilers involving Jesse Puljujarvi. It goes something like this: Edmonton is not opposed to the idea of receiving Blueshirts prospect Lias Andersson. But word in New York is that Ken Holland would also demand a 1st Round pick from the Rangers (with another mid-level Oilers prospect included in a 2-for-2 deal). Any fire here? Unsure. I have not heard the same from anyone in Edmonton. (source)

Some debate is ongoing as to who that mid-level prospect could be. It wouldn’t shock me if it was Cooper Marody as he’s coming off of a poor season and there are some in the organization that are very unhappy with his attitude and how he handled his off-season prior to the 2019/20 NHL campaign. I wondered if Tyler Benson might be that player. His skating is not where it needs to be and as we’re seeing with Jeremy Bracco and the Maple Leafs, just because you’re a star in the AHL doesn’t mean that will translate to the NHL. Big difference between those two being how they handle themselves as professionals… Work ethic has never been a question connected to Benson and he’s got the hands and the smarts to play, it’s just the boots aren’t quite there.

The Edmonton Sun’s Jim Matheson went on to throw some shade on an older Puljujarvi-to-the-Panthers rumor in his latest.

But right now, the Panthers feel centres are more important than wingers, something not unusual for most NHL teams, and after trading Vincent Trocheck to Carolina for four pieces, they still feel Borgstrom is at worst a top-nine centre.

Plus, the Panthers don’t really need Puljujarvi. They have fellow right-winger Owen Tippett pencilled in for regular work, and they just signed Russian Grigori Denisenko, who might also be an NHL right-winger. (source)

If Ken Holland can grab a late first in this draft in a deal involving Puljujarvi, that may very well be considered a coup. But what about this scenario?

  • Edmonton trades Puljujarvi to the Senators for two 2nd round picks (52nd/53rd overall) in this year’s draft
  • Edmonton trades down from 20th overall to 24th overall with the Wild and pick up another 2nd round pick (42nd overall)

Thank would give them four picks from 24th overall to 53rd overall! I know… I’m wishin… But humor me for a second, please. This is how I would spend those picks,

24th overall – Jake Neighbours (LW, Edmonton Oil Kings) – Hard-nosed Dustin Brown-like player.
42nd overall – Daniel Torgersson (RW, Frolunda U20) – Big-bodied right-winger who scores everywhere he goes.
52nd overall – Alexander Pashin (RW, Tolpar UFA) – Highly skilled and insanely quick but tiny winger. Absolutely electric forward.
53rd overall – Michael Benning (RD, Sherwood Park Crusaders) – Puck-moving point-producing defender. CJHL defender of the year in 2019/20.

I don’t think that my favorite player in this draft for the Oilers, Jan Mysak, will be available and Jake Neighbours intrigues me a bit due to his leadership qualities and him being an absolute tank on the ice. He was the one who put Lafreniere on the railroad tracks at the prospects game and hit him full bore when the consensus 1st overall pick tried to cross his own blue line with the puck. Neighbours isn’t just a grunt though. He has the skills and skating to be an NHL player as he scored 70pts in 64gp for Edmonton. The final thing that draws me to this player is that Edmonton needs to start developing effective and impactful players to come into their bottom and middle-six and this is where I see Neighbours’ ceiling being.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8KA92NeOdI

Getting back to the Puljujarvi rumor, the research that I’ve done has lead me to the conclusion that the Oilers really aren’t interested in Andersson because of his foot speed and the best they could possibly hope for is actually Henrik Borgstrom but other players are possibly in the mix such as Tyson Jost (COL), Casey Middlestadt (BUF). Dominik Bokk (CAR), and Pavel Zacha (NJ). The one thing linking Jost, Middlestadt, and Andersson is their footspeed though (or lack thereof).

Just an aside (Again… Sorry), what’s up with Markus Lehto’s clients wanting moves away from their original clubs? Is it Joel Quenneville in the cases of Teuvo Teravainen and Borgstrom? What about Kasperi Kapanen and Pulju? Has there been an agent who’s had so many clients behave like this so publicly recently or maybe this is a very Lehto-specific tactic? Using the media to get things moving I mean.

Those of you that are thinking that the Senators are a perfect match for Puljujarvi and the Oilers should consider one thing, Pierre Dorion might not be into the big Finn. Which is daft in my opinion… If you can come out of the 2020 NHL draft with TWO of Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, Jamie Drysdale, Marco Rossi, Tim Stutzle, or Lucas Raymond AND Jesse Puljujarvi, you’ve got to jump all over that!

PATRICK RUSSELL INSTAGRAM INTERVIEW

I reached out to Edmonton’s Dangerous Dane to see if he was willing to answer a few questions for a new series of posts we’re going to be posting up on the BLH Hockey Instagram account recently and to our delight (and quite frankly, our surprise) he said yes!

Now, this isn’t some hard-hitting piece where I get a bunch of dirt on the locker room. There’s no way I was getting that and there was no way I was asking those questions either. I wanted to ask him questions as if I was a fan at different stages of my life. So some questions might resonate with an elementary school student, some might catch the eye of someone playing Junior hockey right now, and some may very well hit with an older crowd.

So here you are,

Who was your favorite hockey player growing up?

I always liked Jarome Iginla, he was a hard working player that never quit on a puck. I respected the way he played the game, hard and with passion.

Which NHL team was your favorite?

I didn’t really have a favorite team, I just followed the league and watched highlights occasionally.

What’s your favorite hockey memory?

I would have to pick two, my first NHL game was a huge moment for me. I was undrafted, went to college late and I know that many doubted my decision to leave college early. It was a good feeling to accomplish that first game in the NHL. The second would be the World Championship on home ice in Denmark, the sport have grown tremendously in Denmark lately and it was really cool to witness how big it has gotten.

Who’s been the hardest player to play against so far?

I don’t think I can point one guy out, but personally I thought that Tampa Bay has a really good and quick team, we have had some good games against them, but they are a good team.

Can you describe the battle of Alberta? How nasty is it?

Fun games to be part of. A lot of juices flowing, which is awesome. We play each other a lot throughout the year, so obviously some tension is gong to build up and I think that shows on the ice.

Why the NCAA route over major junior or European pro?

I decided to go the NCAA route because I felt it was the best option for me, I was 20 years old when I aged out of junior in Sweden. They decided they didn’t want me, so I went to the USHL which might have been the best thing that could happen for my career.

If you had to start a hockey team from scratch and you could pick any player from any era to build around, who would you take?

That’s a tough question, but I think I would have to pick Wayne Gretzky. That would be a good foundation for a succesfull team, haha!

What kind of advice do you have for young hockey players looking to take a similar route you did?

Never give up. Work harder than the guy next to you. They might have more talent when you’re younger, but if you work harder eventually you will pass them, so be patient and work hard every day.

A big thank you to Patrick and personally, I can’t wait to see him back out there on the ice kicking ass in the corners and in front of the net for the Oilers when hockey does return!

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

2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM39: Canadiens @ Oilers – 3P2W – Some Oilers Fans Just Don’t Get it

There’s a portion of the Edmonton Oilers fanbase that is so predictable. Earlier this season when Julius Honka requested a trade, what was the reaction amongst some Oilers fans? Ken Holland should trade Jesse Puljujarvi for him. What was the said when Josh Ho-Sang was sent home from the Islanders organization? Ken Holland should trade for him… By using Jesse Puljujarvi. When Brendan Perlini demanded a trade out of Chicago they were back offering up Puljujarvi…

Now that trouble Swedish Rangers forward Lias Andersson has let his team know he’d like to be moved, that group of Oilers fans are back!!!

If the Oilers wanted Andersson, they wouldn’t have backed out of a trade at the beginning of the month that would’ve seen them send Puljujarvi to the Big Apple. What I’m hearing about Andersson is that the skating simply isn’t where it should be. Kind of like Tyler Benson or Cooper Marody in a manner. Those players are very smart and technically sound but the quickness isn’t there.

That notable point aside, something more important to consider is the fact that Pulju has spent this season rehabbing his value and to my knowledge has done just that. His performances for Karpat in the SM-Liiga have been very good and his most recent appearance for the Finnish national team at the Channel Cup had Finnish pundits lauding his efforts there.

Lias Andersson is at the same point now that Jesse was when it was announced he would need season-ending surgery last year. His confidence is in shatters and he needs some time either overseas in the SHL or in the AHL. I don’t believe trading a player whose value is trending up for one whose value is trending down would be a good move. The Swede’s 5pts in 13 games for New York’s farm team isn’t helping his case either. Tack on a solid -9 in that time frame and I can’t see any teams wanting to bring him in.

In contrast, Puljujarvi has 28pts in 29 games for Karpat and five points in six games for his national team.

Ken Holland should be using his Finnish asset at the draft this summer to bring in a player who is an established top-6 goal scorer but is on a team that might have some salary cap issues. He’ll have to cap space to do it.

The holiday trade freeze is in effect right now, but that doesn’t mean that Holland can’t continue to grind. He’s been at it for weeks now and my feeling is that after Christmas we’re going to see some roster movement.

The Next Ten Games (31-40)

  • vs. LA Kings (11-16-2) – A pissed off Oilers team will make short order of the Kings in this rubber match. (WIN) WIN
  • vs. Buffalo Sabres (13-10-5) – No Dahlin for Buffalo but Jack Eichel is on a tear. Captain Jack will get his points but his team will not. (WIN) OT LOSS
  • vs. Carolina Hurricanes (16-11-1) – Carolina is too deep for this Oilers team plus Andrei Svechnikov is making a mockery of the NHL as a 19-year-old. (LOSS) LOSS
  • @ Minnesota Wild (13-11-4) – The Oilers seem to have trouble against teams like this for whatever reason. Immaturity in the club maybe? (LOSS) LOSS
  • vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (13-13-4) – The Leafs defense is soft like a Wendy’s Frosty but they’ve got the kind of offense that could really tear open the Oilers. It’s a toss-up for me but I’ll say Edmonton takes it. (WIN) LOSS
  • @ Dallas Stars (15-11-3) – Tough match-up for Edmonton here. Dallas already beat them once this year but that was when they were struggling. Now that they’re playing well, will the Oilers’ mindset going into this one be different? (WIN) WIN
  • @ St. Louis Blues (18-6-6) – Edmonton’s been performing very well against the league’s top teams. I don’t expect that to stop in St. Louis. (WIN) LOSS
  • vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (15-9-4) – The first game of a back-to-back at home and the Oilers are one up on Crosby’s Pens. Pittsburgh is going through one hell of an injury crisis mind you but as we’ve seen, the Oilers have failed to take advantage of these situations in the past. (LOSS) LOSS
  • vs. Montreal Canadiens (12-10-6) – I feel like the Habs usually give Edmonton a hard time when they come to town and their team is a lot better than their record tells us. (LOSS)
  • @ Vancouver Canucks (14-11-4) – I like the Oilers chances against Vancouver here and it’s the last game before the Christmas break. (WIN)

(Standings as of December 5th, 2019)

Three Players To Watch for the Canadiens

  • #6 Shea Weber – Who won the Weber/Subban trade now? The big man has six points in his last five games and is showing us just how good he can really be. It’s going to be a long night for the Oilers forwards.
  • #40 Joel Armia – Another Hab with six points in his last five games. He’s done a fine job of taking advantage of his chances lately. He’s a big player who protects the puck well, is a good skater, and has a wicked shot. If I had to project Jesse Puljujarvi, I’d say he’s probably trending to look something like Armia if not a shade better.
  • #90 Tomas Tatarrrrrr – The always dangerous winger. When Ken Holland was in Detroit, he flipped Tatar to Vegas for three draft picks which have turned out to be Robert Mastrosimone, Joe Veleno, and a yet to be picked player from the 3rd round of the 2021 draft.

Three Players to Watch for the Oilers

  • #93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Nuge has to get it going. Coach Tippett threw him up on McDavid’s wing to try and get him going last night and nothin’… How bad was that hand of his that he had a “procedure” done on not too long ago?…
  • #19 Mikko Koskinen – He’s been very good this year and the Oilers could use some more of that magic tonight to keep the local Habs fans at bay.
  • #25 Darnell Nurse – Did not have a good evening vs. Pittsburgh and Edmonton needs him to get his passing game in gear. No more cannons cross-ice, ok?

The lines for tonight’s game haven’t been posted yet. Personally, I could see some changes taking place, and the line combos below are from last night’s game. Mikko Koskinen will be in net.

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Brennen York, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, NHL Entry Draft, Prospects

15 Names to Keep an Eye On in 2016/17

Could Timothy Liljegren top Nolan Patrick for 1st overall in 2017?

 It’s hard to gauge where the Oilers will finish in the standings come April, but it would surprise no one if they ended up with a lottery pick on draft day. As opposed to last year, no player has emerged as a potential superstar, the closest being Nolan Patrick who looks like he’ll be a top line NHL’er, but may not reach the same productivity levels as a Jamie Benn or John Tavares. Timothy Liljegren is the other player competing for Timothy Liljegren is the other player competing for

Timothy Liljegren is the other player competing for Timothy Liljegren is the other player competing for top spot at the moment, however, defenceman can be tricky, and we may not know exactly what he’ll be for another three or four years. Where this draft differs from most is in the amount of players who fit a specific role nearly perfectly. Players like Nico Hischier projecting to be a top 6 playmaking right shot

Where this draft differs from most is in the amount of players who fit a specific role nearly perfectly. Players like Nico Hischier projecting to be a top 6 playmaking right shot winger, or Stellio Mattheos who’s looking more and more like he’ll become a big-time producer while also maintaining a prominent role in the team’s defence.

In an attempt to paint a clearer picture of the prospects I predict to be selected by a lottery team, I’ve included a player comparison, however, the comparison carries very little weight.

  • Timothy Liljegren – RD – Rogle BK (SHL)

Comparable: Kris Letang, John Klingberg

Liljegren plays an up-tempo, offensive style of game without sacrificing his responsibilities in the defensive zone. He’s a dynamic skater with excellent puck moving abilities, and will likely be a top two NHL defenceman. Liljegren is currently out with mono, something that may hurt his draft stock.

  • Nolan Patrick – RC – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Comparable: Taylor Hall, Blake Wheeler

Given his innate ability to score goals, Nolan Patrick may be the first selection come June, but it won’t be without debate. The Wheaties captain has a similar demeanor to Taylor Hall, and doesn’t jump off the sheet as the smartest player, however his offensive abilities cannot be denied. Likely a winger at the NHL level.

  • Kristian Vesalainen – LW – Frolunda HC (SHL)

Comparable: Filip Forsberg, Loui Eriksson

The speedy Finnish forward looks to join fellow countrymen Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrik Laine as a top five pick, and there’s a very good chance he does so. Vesalainen appeared in 19 games for the SHL’s Frolunda HC where he scored two points, and has already matched that total this year through seven games.

  • Gabe Vilardi – RC – Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Comparable: Sean Monahan, Ryan O’Reilly

Though he is more of a puck handler than the two comparable players above, Vilardi’s strengths come in his two way game. He’s a big, speedy center who’s capable who can play in every situation. Vilardi is currently out with a knee injury sustained at the Team Canada U18 Summer Showcase.

  • Kailer Yamamoto – RC/W – Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Comparable: Mats Zuccarello, Matt Duchene

There are a dozen Patrick Kane comparisons every year, and this year that same comparison will fall on the shoulders of Kailer Yamamoto. He’s a cerebral offensive force who’s shot accuracy is as strong as his passing ability. He’s a tad undersized, but he definitely has the skill.

  • Maxime Comtois – LW – Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

Comparable: Rick Nash

Maxime Comtois has not gotten off to the start he was hoping for, however it won’t be long before he breaks out offensively. He may not be the strongest defensively, however he’s competent in defensive roles. He’s a guy that will produce 40-60 points per season if he pans out.

  • Eeli Tolvanen – LW – Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)

Comparable: Jonathan Drouin, Tomas Plekanec

Eeli Tolvanen is an interesting player to keep an eye on in that he plays with such a calm demeanor, rarely forcing plays, creating space and time, but when he gets the chance, he can absolutely devastate a goalie. He’s a skilled left winger who should be a 30 goal scorer in the NHL.

  • Callan Foote – RD – Kelowna Rockets

Comparable: Brent Seabrook

Callan Foote doesn’t do anything that’s exceptional, but boasts a well rounded game that allows him to be an all situations defender. Foote isn’t the fleetest of foot, but he has a long stride that allows him to cover a ton of ice. He’s also a right shot defenceman, something teams are beginning to pay a premium for.

  • Michael Rasmussen – LC – Tri-City Americans

Comparable: Jeff Carter

Through seven games, Michael Rasmussen already has eight goals. The 6’5 pivot has established himself as one of the premier goal scorers in the Western League, and you can only imagine he’ll get better from here on out. He’s a heavy player who competes hard.

  • Cale Makar – RD – Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

Comparable: Shayne Gostisbehere

Cale Makar is the best player in the Alberta Junior league, and if he were to take the jump to the WHL, he’d likely end up a consensus top ten pick at the end of the year. Makar is an explosive, powerful skater with unbelievable vision. He’s this years riser.

  • Ryan Poehling – LC – St. Cloud University (NCAA)

Comparable: Ryan Johansen

Not much is known about the St. Cloud center ranked in the top five by Craig Button, but he is sure to become a household name very soon. He’s a powerful center with excellent hands, and pretty strong finishing ability. He will be a consideration for Team USA come the World Junior Challenge.

  • Lias Andersson – LC/W – HV71  (SHL)

Comparable: Artemi Panarin

Andersson is a highly talented winger who is entering his second season in the SHL. The Smogen native already has three goals in six games, and his goal totals will only soar from here as the slippery winger has an innate ability to put himself in great scoring positions.

  • Klim Kostin – RW(LH) – Dynamo Balashikha (VHL)

Comparable: Kyle Okposo

Klim Kostin will garner top five consideration for quite a while. He has been placed in the top five by a number of scouting organizations, however after a rough start which involved being sent to the VHL after receiving very little KHL ice time, he may begin to fall on the majority of lists. Kostin opted not to play for the Kootenay Ice after being selected first overall in the CHL Import Draft.

  • Nico Hischier – LC/RW – Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

Comparable: Derek Stepan

Nico Hischier could be the best Swiss player to enter the league since Nino Niedderrieter. The Halifax Moosehead has started off his rookie QMJHL season quite strong, registering six points in the first seven games. Hischier is a skilled playmaking winger, who if he pans out, puts up between 40-50 assists per year.

  • Nicolas Hague – LD – Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

Comparable: Tyler Myers

At 6’6, Nicolas Hague is the biggest defender poised to ebe selected in the top 30. Hague has taken criticism for his skating ability which is his biggest obstacle from reaching the NHL. He does boast a strong defensive game and has the ability to contribute on the score sheet.

There are players at nearly every position inside the top 15, who boast a wide range of skill sets, meaning teams will have a plethora of options when they make their choice on draft day. When you look at the Oilers prospect pool, nearly every prospect listed would fit a role whether it be their ability to be a top six goal scorer or a puck moving right handed defenceman. The three players which Oiler fans should keep their eye on is Brooks Bandits defender Cale Makar, Rockets defenceman Callan Foote, and Swedish winger Lias Andersson.

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