Speculating from an Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest Edmonton Oilers news as well as the freshest NHL speculation featuring players such as Joe Thornton, Mike Hoffman, Tyler Johnson, Gabriel Landeskog, and many more!

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"I do think that in the '21 offseason, in the opening couple days of free agency, it would not surprise me if the #Oilers targeted a difference maker as a top-6 fwd." – Bob Stauffer (630CHED)https://t.co/aM8kfxp6Rz

— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) October 14, 2020

The Oilers Speculation

I feel like there are a lot of people who live in a fantasy world when it comes to the Edmonton Oilers and from time to time, that includes myself.

Last night, I sent out a tweet where I mused upon the idea of Oscar Klebom and Darnell Nurse potentially being miffed at the idea that their captain was recruiting free agents to come to Edmonton that would take away their PP time.

Lots of blowback, which is fine. It’s not an easy conversation but I would say the overwhelming majority of those commenting said they were in support of this because he was doing what was necessary and damned be those who don’t support that. Effectively, if you don’t like it, there’s the door and Nurse/Klefbom should be supportive of the decision because it’s for the betterment of the club.

Well, that’s all fine and dandy but it’s not the least realistic.

Oscar Klefbom, who could return at some point next season as nobody has ruled that out, has held that spot on the PP for many-a-season. It’s been his for as long as I can remember him being an Oiler. There are actually folks out there that think he’d be happy to give that up? Like he’s sitting in Sweden right now letting out a big sigh of relief and thanking the Lord almighty for Barrie being willing to sign in Edmonton on the cheap because that’s what’s best for the team?

What about Nurse? Is he betting on improving those offensive numbers so that he can make bank in a couple of seasons when that bridge contract expires? If he’s not running point on the PP, where are all those cherry points going to come from that help him get to the 40pt mark?

Now, I’m not saying that’s what these players are actually saying. For all I know, everybody with an opposing opinion on this could be right and those two boys are just happy for the team to improve because as a fan, that’s a wholesome narrative anybody could get behind and players never sign in places for more money over the chance of winning or ask to be traded. Every single hockey player is in it for the love of the game and winning a Stanley Cup.

I’m just creating the conversation.

The other assumption that I think we should all be careful of is that Tyson Barrie is going to be the one who played in Colorado, not the one that underperformed for Mike Babcock… That’s just as possible as it is he comes in and scores 55pts like a lot of people are predicting.

Edmonton’s no.1 PP unit is so used to having a left-shot PP QB that there’s a possibility that having a right-hander dishing passes out might take a bit of time to get comfortable with. So what if he struggles and has to be replaced? How would that look? Optics matter.

As the 4th forward, Barrie is going to need a damned good defensive partner to clean up after him. Do the Oilers have one of those or are we going to witness Justin Schultz 2.0?

The loss of Oscar Klefbom is going to impact the Oilers in a massive way and that worries me. I don’t think the club can outscore its problems and without Klef, the goalies are going to under a heavier workload.

I know, it’s a pessimistic point-of-view, but it has to be put out there. Until the spine of this club is its strength, I’m doubtful that it will become a champion.

Right now, they’ve got a very good top-6, an average bottom-6, average defense, and average goaltending.

With that in mind though, there’s light at the end of the tunnel as Philip Broberg and Evan Bouchard are on their way. Those two alone could improve the defense in as few as two years and we can’t forget about Oscar! Unless he’s traded or retires, he’ll be back! Maybe your defense looks like this at some point in the near future,

Klefbom/Barrie
Nurse/Bear
Broberg/Jones
Bouchard

Not a lot of muscle to break up those cycles in the corner, but a very capable group of puck-movers. Adam Larsson would be missed.

In addition to that, the Oilers will have well over $20M in cap room next summer to augment the group. With the right signings and re-signings, they could take their entire forward group and upgrade that to elite and the goalies could go from average to good.

Could a forward group look like the one below by the 2021-22 season?

Hyman-McDavid-Gallagher or Hall-McDavid-Puljujarvi
RNH-Draisaitl-Yamamoto
Neal-Turris-Puljujarvi
Benson-McLeod-Archibald

Maybe Ken Holland could convince a 34yr old Tuuka Rask to lace ’em up for the Oilers for a year or see what Jake Allen would take to be a back-up? Frederik Andersen is set to hit the market then too.

So, even though I might sound like a bit of a negative dick, there’s optimism in the hills!

The News and Rumors

• Elliotte Friedman (Sportsnet): While the Canucks tried to get Tyson Barrie, Troy Stecher and Tyler Toffoli went elsewhere. Vancouver was about to get burned down on Monday before they made the Nate Schmidt deal.

BLH’s Thoughts: I know Canucks fans can be a bit fickle and there’s a history of fires in that city when things don’t go Vancouver’s way, but there are still some pretty decent defensemen left on the market and who knows how long this off-season is going to go or what else is going to happen. I’m very confident in saying there will be more opportunities for Benning to pick up some help on the blue line if he still needs some.

• More Friedman: “I heard there were a lot of teams that checked on Tyler Toffoli. Philadelphia, Carolina, and Boston were there and someone told me Ottawa was there.”

BLH’s Thoughts: Toffoli is going to have to do some heavy lifting in Montreal. Good luck to him. I think he made a mistake not staying in Vancouver. 

• Friedman cont: On Markstrom, “Calgary had $6Mx6 and Edmonton had $5Mx7. The Oilers thought they were getting him. Carolina made a stealth run at him.”

BLH’s Thoughts: I cannot wait for the first Battle of Alberta. I’ve heard that Markstrom is one of the top-3 most intense goalies in the game with Robin Lehner and Mike Smith. So hopefully Edmonton has Smith in net for at least one of those games and maybe we get another goalie fight… 

• One More from Friedman: “I think one of the biggest questions that Vegas is going to have is going to be internal. I’ve heard there are some really upset players.”

BLH’s Thoughts: I was also wondering about this. Who is going to sign a contract longer than 2yrs with this club if this is how they treat their vets. Then again, Vegas is where you go to gamble.

• Chris Johnston (Sportsnet): The Maple Leafs remain very interested in Joe Thornton. There appears to be some mutual interest there.

BLH’s Thoughts: I think that would be a cool story for him to go there and I do reckon he’s got some gas left in the tank. I’m just not sure if he’s a fit for that club. According to Capfriendly, they’ve got Kerfoot and Spezza centering their third and fourth lines. 

• More Johnston: The Edmonton Oilers were debating signing goalie Ryan Miller, but they opted to keep Mike Smith due to familiarity.

BLH’s Thoughts: Ryan Miller dealing with the media in that market for a season would’ve been hilarious. Equally as funny, Miller in net vs. Calgary.

• Adrian Dater (Colordao Hockey NOW): GM Joe Sakic says they’ve already had initial conversations with Gabriel Landeskog on an extension and are working on a two-year extension for Tyson Jost.

BLH’s Thoughts: They’re extending Jost? I thought the Avs were looking to move him? Are they giving him a new deal for themselves or for the team that might be trading for him. 

Is there a scenario where that team moves on from Landeskog and gives the captaincy to Nathan MacKinnon?

• Frank Seravalli (TSN): Tyler Johnson has increased his trade list from five to eight teams, but Tampa Bay will have to “swallow hard” and attach a pick to move him.

BLH’s Thoughts: Oh man… Is this not the time to offer sheet Cirelli and/or Sergachev or what?! Then again, if I’m Tampa, maybe I’m looking for draft picks… 

• More Seravalli: Mike Hoffman is open to taking a one-year deal but is holding firm at his salary range of $5.5M to $6.5M. Boston, Nashville, Columbus are among the teams interested.

BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t really feel like Columbus or Boston need the upgrade on LW, but the Predators’ 2nd line could use a sniper like Hoffman. Maybe it would get Duchene going. 

• Kevyn Adams (Sabres GM): On WGR 550 radio said the Sabres have maintained a line of communication with Dominik Kahun. Wanted to make sure they had roster flexibility to sign Taylor Hall.

BLH’s Thoughts: Buffalo has $13M in cap space still. There’s lots of room for Kahun, so I’m not sure I’m buying what Adams is selling. 

• Rick Dhaliwal (TSN): Hearing contract talks between the Habs and Brendan Gallagher have stalled and broken off.
• More Dhaliwal: The Canucks have checked in on defenseman Sami Vatanen this offseason.

BLH’s Thoughts: I would say that if the Canucks want Gallagher, they should hurry up before he goes UFA next summer. They could really use him this year, to be honest because Brock Boeser can’t do all the scoring on Vancouver’s right-wing. 

As for Vatanen, I don’t mind him as a third-pairing defender but maybe it’s time for Green to give Olli Juolevi a proper opportunity to earn his place on that team considering what he’s been through. 

Speculating from an Oilers fan’s perspective, BLH comments on the latest Edmonton Oilers news as well as the freshest NHL speculation featuring players such as Nate Schmidt, Jack Roslovic, Alex Pietrangelo, Jonathan Toews, and many more!

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Evan Bouchard! Smäller dit 2-0 för @SodertaljeSK #twittpuck #Hockeyallsvenskan pic.twitter.com/H2yFkkYFAr

— TV4 Hockey (@TV4_Hockey) October 11, 2020

The Oilers Speculation

I can’t say I blame Taylor Hall for picking the Sabres. The potential for him and Jack Eichel to explode on the NHL next season is massive. Throw in the fact that he’s going to be playing for a coach as good as Ralph Krueger and one that knows Hall from their time in Edmonton together, it sounds like the Sabres could be a fun team to watch in 2020-21.

But unless they upgrade their defense and goaltending, it’s going to be a lot of the same for poor Taylor and Jack. They’ll have good seasons, but I can’t see their team having a good one. There’s always the draft lottery I suppose and we know Hall’s history there…

How does this tie in with the Oilers you ask? Well, next season Edmonton is going to have north of $20M is cap room and I fully expect them to go after Hall in addition to re-signing RNH, Bear, Yamamoto, etc to long-term deals.

Another move that I could forsee happening is Ken Holland bringing Brendan Gallagher in. He’ll be a UFA next summer and he was an Oilers fan growing up. His agent is Edmonton-based as well.

Now, you might be asking what about Jesse Puljujarvi? I’d love for things to be different, but I think he’ll be moved before the 2nd year of his newly-signed contract is up.

Could we see a top-6 that looks something like this next summer?

Hall-McDavid-Gallagher
RNH-Draisaitl-Yamamoto

Personally, I’m torn. I want the club’s spine to be the strength of the club. So, naturally I’d like them to go out and pick up a bonafide no.1 goaltender and a top-pair defender but Philip Broberg is will be on the club in 2021 very likely and he’s trending in a very positive manner. So well that the team probably shouldn’t go out and pay for an expensive dman.

That said, a high-end goalie still remains and Frederik Andersen is the best free-agent goalie scheduled to hit the free-agent market next year. That’s good, but could it be better?

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Did you watch the NHL94 documentary “Pixelated Heroes” by @MikeyMcBryan? What was your favorite part?

You can still view it for FREE by clicking here -> https://t.co/LJeQR81mKs@TheoFleury14, @CliffRonning7, Glen Anderson, Steve Larmer and @Jtootoo22 in it! pic.twitter.com/SqumMJWqST

— nhl94.com (@nhl94dotcom) October 11, 2020

The News and Rumors

• Andy Strickland (The Athletic): The Vegas Golden Knights are in talks to trade defenseman Nate Schmidt to the Florida Panthers in order to sign Alex Pietrangelo.
• David Pagnotta (The Fourth Period): Doesn’t believe the Panthers are a potential destination for Schmidt.
• George Richards (Florida Hockey NOW): Acquiring Schmidt would add more heat to the MacKenzie Weegar trade rumors.
• Kevin Paul Dupont (Boston Globe): Schmidt would be a top candidate to play alongside Charlie McAvoy on Boston’s top-pair if the Bruins traded for him.
• Mike McIntyre (Winnipeg Free Press): The Jets are looking to move Jack Roslovic for a high-end left-shot defenseman. Trade talks are currently active and potential returns for the disgrunted 23yr old forward could be Nick Leddy (NYI), MacKenzie Weegar (FLA), or Nate Schmidt (VGK).

BLH’s Thoughts: Sounds like this Weegar fella is the talk of the town right now. I looked into him yesterday and he sounds like a helluva defenseman. Why would the Panthers want to even move on from him is my question.

He’d look really great on Edmonton’s blue line for a couple of years while the Oilers wait for Philip Broberg if the fancies are telling the truth. 

• Rick Dhaliwal (TSN): Canucks continue to look for a defenseman. They are one of the teams that have checked in on Sami Vatanen.
• Mark Lazerus (The Athletic): Chicago Blackhawks veteran core players (Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and captain Jonathan Toews) are fed up with management’s offseason moves. They’re “pissed off” and have “had enough”. Toews said the recent moves came as a shock, adding he was never told the club was going through a rebuild.

BLH’s Thoughts: Ya know… These guys make a disgusting amount of money to be behaving this way. As if they didn’t see the writing on the wall and if not them, those around them. So they trade Brandon Saad, who hasn’t been himself for years, and they move Corey Crawford, who is definitely on the back-9 of his career. It’s early days in free-agency and there are still some good players left. But if they’re still pissed, maybe it’s time they moved on from Chicago and if the Blackhawks were smart, they’d be shopping them for the best return they could get in this flat-cap era. It’s that or else sit there and have a clique of grumpy old men on their roster whilst in the middle of developing the next generation of Chicago’s stars… 

• Ryan S. Clark (The Athletic): Speculates the Colorado Avalanche’s next move could be adding a top-four defenseman. Clark figures that defender would need to be willing to accept a one-year deal starting at $4M/yr. The alternative could be the promotion of one of their young blueliners like Connor Timmins or Boewn Byram.
• Harman Dayal (The Athletic): The Vancouver Canucks could turn to the trade market to replace departed defensemen Chris Tanev and Troy Stecher. Potential candidates include MacKenzie Weegar (FLA), Damon Severson (NJ), and David Savard (CBJ).
• Adrian Dater (Colorado Hockey NOW): Most teams who offered a one-year deal to Taylor Hall were in the $6.5 million range. When Buffalo went to $8 million, done deal.

BLH’s Thoughts: So this is what Bob Stauffer was talking about when he said he thought no forward was going to make over $6.5M… The Pegulas showed him! Now Mike Hoffman is going to be looking for the same I’m betting. I thought I read that Hoffman was close to signing for Montreal but now I’m seeing reports that Nashville are close. So basically every team that Hall was connected to but missed out on.

• Dean Blundell (DeanBlundell.com): The Toronto Maple Leafs have been offering Travis Dermott and William Nylander and are interested in a young winger with ‘some jam’ who can slide into their top-six forwards. With Dermott a restricted free-agent, his next contract looks like it will start with a three and Nylander is owed just under $7 million. Moving these two out creates the financial flexibility the teams needs to bring in Pietrangelo.
• More Blundell: Matt Dumba on the Minnesota Wild and Ryan Ellis off the Nashville Predators continue to be of interest to the club.

BLH’s Thoughts: Are the Preds looking to move Ellis? I haven’t heard anything on that or seen it online anywhere. That would be a tough move for them as he’s a real rock for that club.

Does Dumba for Nylander make sense? Surely Dermott could get the Leafs a really good forward with some jam. Would Timo Meier work? That guy has jam coming out of the wazoo! Gross…