Tag Archives: Matt Benning

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2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM62: Oilers @ Kings – 3P2W – Latest Trade Rumors and Rumblings

The Edmonton Oilers have turned up the heat on this year’s trade deadline since we last chatted here. Last time around we were talking about Tyler Ennis and now some more names have come up, but let’s talk about this game tonight before we get into the rumors.

LA played last night, so they could come out flying and then peter out hard. It’ll be up to the Oilers’ defense to stand strong during the King’s push and for the forwards to take advantage of any opportunities afforded them early on. McLellan’s boys haven’t been scoring much and they got their only goal against the Avs on a penalty shot yesterday, so this could be a prime chance for Holland’s men to really get on LA and keep them down.

Now, Jonathan Quick played last night so I’d assume Cal Petersen will start this one and depending on how cynical you are, you might be happy about getting the backup or you might be a tad wary since the Oilers have made some pretty bad goalies look good in recent history…

I like Edmonton’s chances tonight but with that said, the Kings still have the likes of Drew Doughty and Dustin Brown playing for them and they aren’t the most honest of hockey players in the league. Knock on wood, I hope the Oilers come away from this one without any additions to the IR.

THE RUMORS

First off, I want to let you know that I’ve been posting a few more of the things I hear over at our BLH Instagram page lately. I feel like my website’s server has let us down a bit too much this year so I’ve been releasing some stuff on the IG platform. Please, head over there now and follow our account if you haven’t already!

I talked with my sources last night and finally had a nice long conversation so I can let you in on a bit more this morning.

  • Jesse Puljujarvi: Not too long ago Edmonton Journal veteran scribe Jim Matheson asked Oilers GM Ken Holland about Pulju and GMKH said that he wasn’t shopping him and nobody was asking. Well, I believe the reason for that is that the Oilers intend on trying to bring him back into the fold. The GM and head coach really want to work with him and on no less than three occasions this year the Oilers have sent representatives to Finland to speak with the young lad. Puljujarvi felt hurt from the last regime (Chiarelli/McLellan/Hitchcock) and that’s one of the main reasons he stayed in Finland this year aside from wanting to get his mojo and love for the game back. I’ve said this to many people who’ve asked, if there’s any person who could convince Jesse to return, it’d be Ken Holland and to add to that, I don’t think JP wants to spend another year in Finland. GMKH did say he wanted to go fishing in those waters in an interview with Bob Stauffer last week, did he not? “Those waters” being Europe. If you’re wondering what kind of impact he could have, look no further than that of Martin Necas’. I believe Puljujarvi could be a 30-40pt winger starting next year.
  • Anton Slepyshev: Speaking of players lighting it up in Europe. My source said he expects Slepy to be in camp next season. The 25-year-old Russian left because the management and coaching couldn’t get their shit together and now that the KHL will be implementing a salary cap next season there might be a solid exodus of players heading to NA, including Anton. It sounds like he’s fine with a bottom-6 role too.
  • James Neal: We heard Bob Stauffer and Sportsnet’s Mark Spector talking about Neal possibly going on LTIR to shake loose some cash and to avoid giving that 3rd round pick to Calgary from the Lucic trade last week on Oilers Now. Well, there’s some serious consideration being given to this option.
  • Tyler Ennis: This one is basically done barring the Sens backing out. Just a few more wrinkles to iron out. What I was told is that Ennis is possibly the player that will go up with McDavid if this deal goes through. Personally, I’m not sure if that’s a good plan or not… Has Ennis ever been a top-6 player? Is an add like this going to be more David Desharnais or Sergei Samsonov?
  • Mike Green: Hold up on this trade is money/picks. Detroit is willing to retain but this will have to be a hockey deal. Money will have to go out from Edmonton in order to bring this player in. I like this sort of trade for Edmonton though. You can never go wrong with more vets of Green’s caliber.
  • Andreas Athanasiou: My source said AA has NEVER been a target of the team and Holland hasn’t asked about him. The feeling is Athanasiou wouldn’t fit the Oilers’ team dynamic right now. We’ve heard the term “lone ranger” thrown around with him and I was told he’s a bit too “self-contained”. So I’d say that the Oilers are looking for players who are good in the locker room and easy to coach.
  • Oilers Heading Out: It sounds like Toronto and Carolina made some inquiries as to the services of Jujhar Khaira and Matt Benning (TOR), as well as, Kris Russell (CAR). The Maple Leafs are shitting the bed right now and might be looking for a shakeup of sorts. Khaira and Benning have been connected to the Leafs for over a year and because Toronto is in a bit of a bind, I think the Oilers are probably asking for Kasperi Kapanen there. I can’t see them getting the Finn but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Caleb Jones has made Russell redundant at this point.

Three Players to Watch for the Kings

  • #11 Anze Kopitar – According to Dailyfaceoff.com, Kopitar has 8 assists in LA’s last five games. No goals though. He’ll always be a threat whenever he’s on the ice, right? Leon Draisaitl, no doubt, will be seeing a lot of Kopitar this evening as well.
  • #42 Gabe Vilardi – There was a time when folks thought this kid’s career was in doubt but he’s worked his ass off to come back and make a go of it. : might be this generation’s Jason Allison. Not the fastest or best skater by any means, but he is a helluva playmaker with elite vision.
  • #29 Martin Frk – Frk and his hardest shot in pro hockey will be something to keep an eye out for. Was once the property of Ken Holland’s Red Wings. He’s been up and down throughout his entire career but LA is horrid right now and since trading Tyler Toffoli, they could use him on the pro team. Edmonton has to be careful not to let him get an open shot because he could actually start hurting guys with a clapper that hard. Lord knows, the Oilers don’t need any more bodies on the IR.

Three Players to Watch for the Oilers

  • #73 Ethan Bear – It finally sounds like Ethan Bear is going to be QB-ing the Oilers’ first unit PP… Finally. It was basically his bread and butter in junior and the AHL so I have not idea why it took Coach Tippett so long to come to the conclusion that he should be the one running that unit, not Darnell Nurse.
  • #89 Sam Gagner – Gags took a bit of shot during the Minnesota game that had him clutching his shoulder/chest. So I’m not sure how healthy he is right now, but the reason I have him as a player to watch is that I feel like the next player in our list here will be playing and Sam will be his linemate.
  • #97 Connor McDavid – The Oilers didn’t send Colby Cave back to Bakersfield for nothing. I think the Captain is coming back tonight and that will bode well for this team. I mean, I’ve nearly puked watching the team try to gain entry into the other team’s zone during a PP since he was out. It’s so apparent that they need him there but it won’t hurt to have him 5×5 either.

No lines have been posted yet. It’s the day before the trade deadline and as I said above, some players might be sitting out in lieu of a deal. Keep your eyes and ears peeled and that should give you a good idea as to who is possibly heading out. I do expect Mike Smith to be in the net though and for the forwards to basically be the same as they were against Minnesota.

The Next Ten Games (61-70)

  • vs. Minnesota Wild (28-24-7) – Edmonton is 0-2 against the Wild this year and it’s about time the Oilers beat Bill Guerin’s boys. (WIN) LOSS
  • @ Los Angeles Kings (22-34-5) – I have to say, the Kings are a dangerous team right now. They have nothing to lose and can spoil a lot of teams’ seasons. The Oilers have won 2/3 this year against their old coach but Connor McDavid might be back in this one. Keep an eye out to see if anybody out of the ordinary is sitting for this one because the next day is the trade deadline. (WIN)
  • @ Anaheim Ducks (24-29-7) – Last time out the Oilers put up six on Dallas Eakins’ Ducks. I expect Edmonton to equal that this time around and who knows how the roster will look as this is the game that follows the trade deadline. (WIN)
  • @ Vegas Golden Knights (32-22-8) – The Golden Knights record might hover around Edmonton’s but I feel like this team is a bit better on paper plus this is the second game in a back-to-back. (LOSS)
  • vs. Winnipeg Jets (32-25-5) – Big Buff sank this team when he decided he wasn’t going to play but the Jets have stuck in the race the whole season pretty much. You have to love the heart! (LOSS)
  • @ Nashville Predators (29-23-7) – I think the Oilers can sweep the season series with Nashville. The Preds defense isn’t what it used to be and there seems to be a bit of a dark cloud floating over the team at the moment. Pekka Rinne has hit a wall too… (WIN)
  • @ Dallas Stars (35-19-6) – Edmonton and Dallas have each won one game-a-piece against each other this season so far. This will be the rubber match and I like Dallas here. (LOSS)
  • @ Chicago Blackhawks (26-26-8) – Going into Chicago to play the Blackhawks is never an easy task and the Oilers have always had a tough time winning in the Windy City. (LOSS)
  • vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (30-19-3) – Edmonton is 21-8-0 at home vs. Columbus all-time. It’s hard to argue with those numbers, right? On the other hand, John Tortorella has his team right in the running for a playoff spot in the East. This game should be a war of attrition to see who comes away with the two points. (WIN)
  • vs. Vegas Golden Knights (32-22-8) – I like Edmonton’s chances at home against the Golden Knights. History tells us they have a better chance at beating them in Edmonton than in Vegas. (WIN)

(Standings as of February 21st, 2020)

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2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM57: Oilers @ Lightning – 3P2W – Toffoli/Kerfoot on Oilers “Want” List?

The Edmonton Oilers have had another wonderful opportunity to separate themselves from the pack in the Pacific Division placed on a platter in front of them as the Tampa Bay Lightning have punched right in the ear by the hockey gods. The Lightning will be without FIVE of their best players tonight (Stamkos, Kucherov, Cirelli, McDonagh, and Rutta). To add to the pressure on Edmonton, Tampa hasn’t lost in eight games…

The Oilers have to find a way to get it done tonight because Calgary last to the Kings last night and Vancouver won on the Sedin’s jersey retirement night. The Coyotes are taking on the Senators and Vegas will be trying to overcome the Blues this evening. Both of those clubs are sitting on 64pts and behind the Oilers by only two if Edmonton loses this one.

No Tyler Benson tonight if you’re wondering.

Latest Oilers Trade Rumblings

According to one of my sources, the Edmonton Oilers had a scout in Los Angeles watching the Kings beat the Calgary Flames. The focus was on a winger for Connor McDavid and I’m sure you’ve guessed who the scout was viewing… TYLER TOFFOLI!!!

Now, I’ve been told (I’ve also read this but forgive me, I can’t remember where) that the Kings would be very lucky to get a 2nd round pick for Toffoli and that he’s not a first or second choice option for a lot of teams in the buyer’s market which makes him a very realistic target for the Oilers.

The Oilers probably could’ve had the Kings winger last year but they were unwilling to trade within the division under Gretzky’s interim guidance. Now we know that isn’t much of a factor with Ken Holland driving this bus.

“Sometimes it takes a year to make a trade.” This is what I was told last evening when talking to my sources about a possible Maple Leafs/Oilers trade I was asked not to say much about but I can speak to the tweet above. Fact is, if you go back in this blog almost one year ago you’ll find me saying the following,

“Matt Benning – Toronto, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Dallas, and Arizona are teams I’ve heard with interest in the rugged defender. He’s on the IR right now though.” – Feb.18/2019 (source)

“I’m still hearing that Pittsburgh has interest in Alex Petrovic, but teams like Toronto and Tampa Bay are also looking for depth right-hand shots. Matt Benning also fits the description there and in all honesty is probably who the Oilers would prefer to move given he’s got an extra year left on his deal.” – Feb.20th/2019 (source)

“Mark Spector said that a Kassian to Toronto for Connor Brown deal never went through. I’d heard a Matt Benning for Brown trade was on the table and I think that Stauffer was saying the Maple Leafs wanted Jujhar Khaira because he was making a bit less. Probably the same reason that Edmonton wanted to keep him.” – Feb.26th/2019 (source)

Alex Kerfoot isn’t Connor Brown and to be honest, I haven’t watched a lot of him aside from the Oilers/Leafs games this year, but from what I remember; this player is similar to ex-Oiler Drake Caggiula in how he plays the game, no? Fast, quick, fearless, good IQ, great hands, good passer, goes to the dirty areas, has some real zip on his snapper… If the Oilers could get this player for Matt Benning, I think that would be a clear win for Edmonton.

“If he’s put in the right situations with the right linemates, he’s a guy that can have an impact on the game.” – Jean-Michael Liles

Kerfoot has 109pts (42g 67a) in 209 games. This season he’s off his regular 40pt pace a bit with the Leafs (8g 16a in 52gp), so his price might’ve dropped given the Leafs just re-upped Pierre Engvall for another two years for a million dollars cheaper. A straight swap of Benning for Kerfoot might be wishful thinking though as the former Av isn’t an RFA this summer. He’s signed for another three years after this at $3.5M AAV.

I think I may have talked myself into really liking this player…

Three Players to Watch for the Lightning

  • #79 Alexandre Volkov – For the majority of us, this will be our first in-game viewing of the man whose name has been connected to Jesse Puljujarvi in trade rumors for half-a-year. He’s a skilled goal-scoring winger who, if he’s in the lineup, will be starting on the 4th line, left-wing.
  • #18 Ondrej Palat – I’ve always liked Palat’s game. He’s just a very solid two-way winger. Not flashy at all. He goes about his game in a very clinical manner and really is all business. Tends to make life tough for the other team’s forwards AND defenders given how well he is defensively.
  • #7 Mathieu Joseph – You might remember this name from last season (?) when he was running around hitting the Oilers skilled players like a chicken with his head cut off until Farmer Lucic caught up to him and tuned him in. He can flat out fly, so he’ll be a scoring threat in addition to a physical one.

Tampa hasn’t released its lineup yet, so I apologize for not posting it here.

Three Players to Watch for the Oilers

  • #29 Leon Draisaitl – All eyes will be on Der Panzer to see if he can keep up this superhero-like form. It would be something if he could put up four points on Jon Cooper’s squad.
  • #16 Jujhar Khaira – I’ve seen a bit more urgency in his game lately. He’s been more physical and has shown more confidence with the puck. I’m hoping this continues this evening.
  • #74 Ethan Bear – Speaking of confidence with the biscuit, Bear has been taking us to Dangle City more and more as of late and I’m a massive fan. Not sure if he’ll want to be doing that against a team like the Lightning, but I respect the cahones for trying.

The Next Ten Games (51-60)

  • vs. St. Louis Blues (31-12-8) – I’m not 100% sold that the Oilers will be focused on this game seeing as they play Calgary the next night. They have played well against the league’s best this season at times though. Can McDavid and Draisaitl beat the Blues in this one as they did at the All-Star game? (WIN) WIN
  • @ Calgary Flames (27-19-6) – If you thought last night’s game was fun with all the fights and cheap shots, this game is going to be bonkers. It always seems to be in Calgary. Losing three times to the Flames and that post-game celly by Rittich will be eating away at the Oilers. They’ll be doing their damnedest to bring home the two points. (WIN) WIN
  • @ Arizona Coyotes (26-21-5) – The Oilers put up a touchdown on the Coyotes right before their bye-week and I don’t imagine that sat well with Taylor Hall and co. That said, they’re on a bit of a slump in their last ten (4-5-1) and Edmonton is flying high as of today (6-2-2). On the other hand, just when the opportunity presents itself to the Oilers they usually take the night off. (LOSS) LOSS
  • vs. San Jose Sharks (22-26-4) – Man, this Sharks team is bad. With Vlasic, Karlsson, and Burns on the back-end no less… Can you believe the Golden Knights fired Gerard Gallant to hire San Jose’s old coach? I think this will be a scheduled win for McDavid’s boys. Watch out for shenanigans from Evander Kane and Timo Meier. (WIN) LOSS
  • vs. Nashville Predators (23-19-7) – Since the Preds hired NJ’s old coach, they haven’t been scoring much and that’s not a good sign when you go into Edmonton. Couple that with Pekka Rinne’s game falling right off of a cliff and the Oilers should be able to walk away with two points. (WIN) WIN
  • vs. Chicago Blackhawks (24-21-6) – The Hawks are coming on as of late and I think they could pull this one off in Edmonton. Maybe Drake Caggiula does the ex-Oiler thing and scores. (LOSS) WIN
  • @ Tampa Bay Lightning (30-15-5) – This will be a fine test for the Oilers. Tampa has found their stride at the right time and are looking very dominant. Might we see another ex-Oiler in Pat Maroon score or drop the flippers? I expect McDavid to be flying in this one. (LOSS)
  • @ Florida Panthers (28-16-5) – This match-up is going to be a fun one. The Panthers have some really fun players to watch like Huberdeau, Barkov, and the very underrated Vincent Trochek. Which Sergei Bobrovsky might we see if he gets the call though? (WIN)
  • @ Carolina Hurricanes (29-18-3) – It’s hard not to like what they’ve built in Carolina. Andrei Svechnikov is already a scoring phenom at 19-years-old and it’s hard to overlook the wonder Finns (Aho/Teravainen), right? How will this team be sans Dougie Hamilton though? Can the Oilers sweep back-to-backs again? (WIN)
  • vs. Boston Bruins (29-10-12) – Edmonton goes from one team who doesn’t lose in OT to a team that seemingly only loses in OT. The Oilers gave the Bs a pretty sound beating last time they played and we’re close to the trade deadline here so I’m not sure what the rosters will look like. I like Boston for this one though. (LOSS)

(Standings as of January 20th, 2020)

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2019/20 Edmonton Oilers GM52: Oilers @ Flames – 3P2W – A Trade the Oilers Mustn’t Make!

Well, here we are for round four of the Battle of Alberta. The Flames have already taken the season series with their win just a few days ago, but the Oilers have a lot to play for and could really throw a wrench into Calgary’s playoff plans.

Speaking of playoff plans, are the Arizona Coyotes going to fall out of the race? Their goalies can’t seem to stay healthy and the status of their best defender is up in the air… Might they turn around and flip Taylor Hall if things continue to go poorly for them?

Getting back to the Oilers/Flames game tonight, I reckon there’s still some score-settling to be done. Leon took that massive slash from Tkachuk in OT and the McDavid/Giordano “hockey play” most likely will be re-visited. I’m not sure if Monahan will want to have a talk with Archibald as well. Then there’s the Rittich “Stick Flip” celly to boot and the full-on swing he took at Alex Chiasson that went unpunished as the ref stood right there to make sure Chiasson didn’t retaliate…

The rivalry couldn’t be hotter right now.

A Trade the Oilers Mustn’t Make

A bit of chatter recently about the defense of the Oilers and who should be sacrificed in order to usher in the Evan Bouchard era. Not surprisingly Kris Russell and Adam Larsson are at the forefront of those talks but Matt Benning is someone that has come up as well.

It’s obvious why Kris Russell’s name is in there. He’s getting passed by Caleb Jones on the depth chart, his TOI is decreasing, and his $4M per year is simply too much to pay a depth defender. That said, the word around Edmonton is that his contract might be problematic with regards to trading him.

Do the Oilers want to pay $2M or more for a 6/7 defender next season? That’s where they are sitting with Mr. Benning. As good as he has been, they have a decision to make because ideally, Evan Bouchard should be on the 3rd pair across from Caleb Jones next year.

Now, I would trade Matthew Benning before I’d even consider moving Adam Larsson. The Iron Swede provides Edmonton with something no other player in their organization can provide. A tough-as-nails right-shot shutdown defender who’ll do anything to stop the opposition from scoring. Of course, when you’re this type of defender there tends to be a lack of offense and for me, I’m 100% okay with that. He’s so important to the Oilers’ PK and also the play of Oscar Klefbom.

The worst trade Ken Holland could make would be to trade Adam Larsson before the 2020 NHL entry draft. As we witnessed against the Blues last night, when playing heavy teams, you need to have an element of that toughness in your own lineup to counteract what the opponents are throwing at you. It can’t all be rookie defenders who are undersized but pass well. The post-season is a different beast where defenders like Larsson thrive and the moment Edmonton does trade him, they’re back looking for that same player… Again!

I’d argue that Edmonton should keep Benning and Russell for the time being as well for the depth on defense going into the playoffs instead of trading for it like most teams do. But if there’s an option to upgrade, you have to do what you have to do. Coach Tippett likes lefty/righty d-pairings mind you.

It’s Time to Re-Sign

I talked to my main source last night to see if there was anything going on with regards to the trade market and I was told the Oilers are always talking but that they are working very hard to get Riley Sheahan and Josh Archibald signed to new contracts. No numbers as of now but I think something will emerge sooner than later.

These two have come into Edmonton and done a bloody good job in their roles. Even when Archibald’s has changed as he was moved to the top line with McDavid, he was still as effective. They’ve been a MASSIVE part of the team’s revamped penalty kill. I’d like to see these players re-upped for another two to four years, you? Let me know in the comments below!

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Three Players to Watch For the Flames

  • #58 Oliver Kylington – This guy was a treat to watch in the last edition of the BoA. His skating is both smooth and powerful. And to think, he was on the trade block this year. I think Calgary would be nuts to move this guy with how young he is and how well he moves the puck.
  • #13 Johnny Gaudreau – He’s been an absolute non-factor for Calgary against Edmonton in the last couple of BoA games. It really hasn’t been his year, I wonder if he wakes up for round 4?
  • #88 Andrew Mangiapane – This little guy broke out of his slump with a brace (two goals) in the last match-up between these two teams. He’s quite the goal-scoring predator and the Oilers will need to be aware of him and stay within a stick’s length so he doesn’t… burn them again. Thank you! I’ll be here all week!

Three Players to Watch For the Oilers

  • #97 Connor McDavid – That attempted trip from Mark Knee-ordano will most definitely still be at the forefront of Connor’s memory and I expect him to exact revenge in the form of goals. Many many goals.
  • #6 Adam Larsson – Arguably played his best game of the year last night. I’ll be looking to him to provide some more of that Swedish muscle against Calgary tonight. I can’t believe people are considering trading him… SMH.
  • #56 Kailer Yamamoto – This guy just keeps producing. Did you see that pass he laid out for Leon for the game-winning goal last night? He’s in Edmonton to stay folks! Time to grab a jersey me thinks!

Edmonton’s lines aren’t quite up yet and I can’t even speculate as to what they’re going to look like since Tyler Benson and William Lagesson didn’t play last night. I’ve asked around with various sources close to the team and nadda. I think James Neal will still be out with a foot injury and it’s probably safe to say that Mike Smith will get the call in net since Mikko Koskinen played the previous evening against St. Louis.

I think what I’ll do is give you MY projected lines and we’ll go with that if you don’t mind.

Archibald-McDavid-Kassian
Nuge-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Benson-Sheahan-Russell
Gagner-Haas-Chiasson

Klefbom-Larsson
Nurse-Bear
Jones-Benning

Smith
Koskinen

The Next Ten Games (51-60)

  • vs. St. Louis Blues (31-12-8) – I’m not 100% sold that the Oilers will be focused on this game seeing as they play Calgary the next night. They have played well against the league’s best this season at times though. Can McDavid and Draisaitl beat the Blues in this one like they did at the All-Star game? (WIN) WIN
  • @ Calgary Flames (27-19-6) – If you thought last night’s game was fun with all the fights and cheap shots, this game is going to be bonkers. It always seems to be in Calgary. Losing three times to the Flames and that post-game celly by Rittich will be eating away at the Oilers. They’ll be doing their damnedest to bring home the two points. (WIN)
  • @ Arizona Coyotes (26-21-5) – The Oilers put up a touchdown on the Coyotes right before their bye-week and I don’t imagine that sat well with Taylor Hall and co. That said, they’re on a bit of a slump in their last ten (4-5-1) and Edmonton is flying high as of today (6-2-2). On the other hand, just when the opportunity presents itself to the Oilers they usually take the night off. (LOSS)
  • vs. San Jose Sharks (22-26-4) – Man, this Sharks team is bad. With Vlasic, Karlsson, and Burns on the back-end no less… Can you believe the Golden Knights fired Gerard Gallant to hire San Jose’s old coach? I think this will be a scheduled win for McDavid’s boys. Watch out for shenanigans from Evander Kane and Timo Meier. (WIN)
  • vs. Nashville Predators (23-19-7) – Since the Preds hired NJ’s old coach, they haven’t been scoring much and that’s not a good sign when you go into Edmonton. Couple that with Pekka Rinne’s game falling right off of a cliff and the Oilers should be able to walk away with two points. (WIN)
  • vs. Chicago Blackhawks (24-21-6) – The Hawks are coming on as of late and I think they could pull this one off in Edmonton. Maybe Drake Caggiula does the ex-Oiler thing and scores. (LOSS)
  • @ Tampa Bay Lightning (30-15-5) – This will be a fine test for the Oilers. Tampa has found their stride at the right time and are looking very dominant. Might we see another ex-Oiler in Pat Maroon score or drop the flippers? I expect McDavid to be flying in this one. (LOSS)
  • @ Florida Panthers (28-16-5) – This match-up is going to be a fun one. The Panthers have some really fun players to watch like Huberdeau, Barkov, and the very underrated Vincent Trochek. Which Sergei Bobrovsky might we see if he gets the call though? (WIN)
  • @ Carolina Hurricanes (29-18-3) – It’s hard not to like what they’ve build in Carolina. Andrei Svechnikov is already a scoring phenom at 19-years-old and it’s hard to overlook the wonder Finns (Aho/Teravainen), right? How will this team be sans Dougie Hamilton though? Can the Oilers sweep back-to-backs again? (WIN)
  • vs. Boston Bruins (29-10-12) – Edmonton goes from one team who doesn’t lose in OT to a team that seemingly only loses in OT. The Oilers gave the Bs a pretty sound beating last time they played and we’re close to the trade deadline here so I’m not sure what the rosters will look like. I like Boston for this one though. (LOSS)

(Standings as of January 20th, 2020)

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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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Edmonton Oilers Rumors: The Trades that Didn’t Happen

Going into this year’s trade deadline, I was almost giddy. I was looking forward to seeing some mad roster turnover for the Edmonton Oilers given the number of depth players that they had on their team. These are the sort of players that contenders usually pick up for their playoff run, or so I thought…

But before we get into that, I think we should take the time to acknowledge the handy work of former GM Peter Chiarelli.

I don’t care what you say. The Oilers junior pipeline and minor league system was completely rebuilt thanks to Chiarelli and the Oilers are going to reap what he sowed going forward. At least, he got one thing majorly right…

Back to the trade deadline analysis.

What did I wake up to? Not a single trade from Bob Nicholson’s management crew.

Now, I didn’t think that they’d be pilfering off young assets and draft picks but I did expect them to move one of their defensemen, at least. Or one of Zack Kassian or Alex Chiasson… But nadda…

They did well earlier with the Cam Talbot and Sam Gagner trades, no arguing that. Getting that cap room open and bringing in a character guy with skill has proven to be some astute interim-GMing on Gretzky’s part, but I view this year’s deadline as a fail on Keith Gretzky, Craig MacTavish, Scott Howson, and Bob Nicholson.

When I got in touch with one of my sources to see how things were going earlier in the day, I was told that things weren’t looking rosy. That the team would most likely stand pat because they believed they could still make the playoffs.

I says, “WHAT?!”

Right now the Oilers have a 6% chance of making the post-season. Tell me how a group of grown men who’ve worked in professional hockey for most of, if not all, their adult lives can, with a straight face, believe the Oilers have a chance at making the playoffs?

I like to think that I’m one of the most optimistic Oilers fans out there and I try my best to find the positive in everything but this is a bit ridiculous.

The Oilers should’ve tried to gather as many picks and prospects as possible in the last 48 hours. They’ve got eight defensemen on the NHL roster right now… I get that they needed to have warm bodies for the game vs. NSH yesterday but they were a lot closer to Bakersfield then that they were three days ago.

The same source that told me that the team was most likely to stay quiet also intimated that the reason they weren’t really going for it to upgrade the team or, for lack of a better team, tank, was because Darryl Katz is set to lose a sack of money labeled “millions” from non-renewals on his suites.

Well la-di-frickin’-da… That’s simply called a “stupidity tax”.

Do that enough times and you’ll find yourself living in a van down by the river eating government cheese!

RIP: Chris Farley

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ON THE OTHER HAND

Sometimes you’ve just got to get some things off of your chest before you can understand something through a clear(er) lens.

One thing that no other NHL team has right now is Connor McDavid, and you cannot discount the Oilers chances of going on a massive run when he’s playing. The team has performed fantastically during his suspension and if they can combine that with the kind of goaltending that Mikko Koskinen is giving and a healthy defense, you never know…

With a game in hand, the Oilers are only 7 points from a wildcard spot. They’re next five games are against Toronto, Ottawa, Columbus, Buffalo, and Vancouver. I won’t even speculate as to what they might come out of those games with point-wise as it could go either way against all of those teams.

The Oilers have been playing some of their best hockey since coming back from the bye week (3-5-4). There’s an intensity and a work ethic in their game that had been missing for some time and I think that it’s tied into Hitch being told to take it easy on the players.

They are 2-2-2 since Nick Kypreos made it public during Hockey Night in Canada’s Saturday Headlines that the Oilers would like him to be a bit more “positive” if he’s to remain behind the bench.

SPEAKING OF POSITIVE

Bob Stauffer said on Oilers Now yesterday that a couple of weeks ago, the Oilers had inquired into the services of Matt Hendricks for the reason of bringing some more positivity to the room. Obviously, we know that didn’t happen, he was traded back to Winnipeg from Minnesota on the deadline for a late round draft pick, a 7th rounder if I’m not mistaken…

I would’ve been jumping for joy had they brought Hendy back. He’s one of my favorite all-time Oilers. Such a hard worker and what a positive influence he was on that team when he was there. Plus, he definitely would’ve scored in the shootout vs. NSH last night instead of Rattie getting stopped.

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OTHER RUMORED TRADES

Mark Spector said that a Kassian to Toronto for Connor Brown deal never went through. I’d heard a Matt Benning for Brown trade was on the table and I think that Stauffer was saying the Maple Leafs wanted Jujhar Khaira because he was making a bit less. Probably the same reason that Edmonton wanted to keep him.

I’d heard bits and pieces about teams inquiring about Adam Larsson but nothing concrete. Milan Lucic was a hot topic for a short time. I think the Oilers were trying to get the Habs or the Panthers to take him on.

Lots of talk about Milan and Jesse Puljujarvi getting moved to Ottawa this summer and that makes sense but some might be asking whether Lucic would bother to waive his NMC to go there? I say he will because there’ll be a deal to retain salary and move him on again because the Senators will need to hit the cap floor.

Lastly, I got a DM saying that Boston was interested in one of the Oilers top-4 defenders but no other details. Sorry.

So take all of that for what you will.

In conclusion, the Oilers didn’t get worse on deadline day but on the other hand, they didn’t do anything to improve either.

So we’ll wait until the summer and see what the new GM has in store. You just hope it’s not another year of auditing before taking action.

What did you think of this year’s trade deadline for the Oilers? Let me know in the comments below!

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