Tag Archives: NHL Trade Rumours

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

The Oilers Should Target These Two Pittsburgh Penguins

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We posted last month about how Elliotte Friedman was wondering what kind of trade partner Edmonton would be for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Friedman mentioned that the Pens were looking for a 3C and guess who has a 3rd line centre who’s going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer? The Oilers and Mark Letestu is said upcoming UFA who mans the centre position, obviously.

I mean unless they want to take Ryan Strome… Probably not, right?

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Anyways, take a look at the standings in the Metropolitan division right now. Second place and 8th place is separated by 5pts! Therefore there’s going to be a helluva arms race at the deadline if this keeps up and I think that the Oilers could really come away with an excellent haul if Peter Chiarelli plays his cards right.

Now before we get into this, I don’t want you to think that I’m saying that Mark Letestu will be traded for two highly regarded prospects. That’s not what I’m saying. I’ll simply be showing you a couple of players from the Penguins organization that I think the Oilers should go after.

But what do the Oilers need to come away from this deadline with? Moar Speed! Moar skill! Smarter players! Cheaper players! Younger players? Players who can move around within the lineup possibly. Players who might still need some time in the minors and could be willing to sign 2-way deals?

The idea is that the Oilers get a bit more balance if their moving Pat Maroon, Mark Letestu, and possibly Mike Cammalleri, right?

Which leads me to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They have two young players that I think are about to come into their own very soon.

  • Dominik Simon – C – 5’11” 175lbs – 2017/18: 16gp 4g 5a 9pts (AHL: 21gp 4g 14a 17pts)
  • Daniel Sprong – RW – 6’0″ 180lbs – 2017/18: 8gp 2g 1a 3pts (AHL: 32gp 19g 13a 32pts)

Sprong is a former 2nd round pick from 2015 (#46) for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Simon was drafted in the 5th round (#137) of that same draft.

What I’ve gleaned online from the reports of Dominik Simon is that he’s not a very physical player but he’s quick (I read that as more darty and less rocket speed) and he’s VERY smart on the ice. He’s had some time on Crosby’s wing and we do know that you don’t last up there unless you can keep up to Sid. Gotta be a smart player to do that. Add to that a laser of a wrister and he could be a great complimentary winger.

Hockey’s Future had this to say about him:

He is an undersized, but crafty offensive forward with a willingness to go to hard areas to score goals.

Simon, a lefty, already has nearly 160 games of AHL experience and two 40+ pt campaigns under his belt there. He definitely looks ready to take the next step and at 23 years old making 692k for this year before he turns RFA at season’s end, he’s a player I wouldn’t mind seeing the Oilers pick up.

As for Daniel Sprong, the Netherlands native who moved to Canada to play junior hockey has always had a reputation for being a sniper. When he played for Charlottetown of the QMJHL he amassed 85 goals in 168 games. Since he’s joined the Penguins AHL affiliate in Wilkes0-Barre, Sprong has scored 19 goals in 32 games.

Hockey’s Future praised the Dutchman’s offensive abilities,

A strong, imposing forward with quick feet, Sprong oozes offensive ability. His stickhandling and puck skills were amongst the best in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Sprong is a righty and would be an excellent add to the Oilers dusty right-wing. Like most kids who are that offensively gifted, they lack some defensive awareness and that’s the biggest complaint about Sprong too. He’s been called up and sent down a few times since leaving the junior hockey. He’s only 20 though and he’s got lots of time to develop.

But Sprong is one of those players the Oilers really need to add to their club. They need a player who will be team controlled for the foreseeable future, cheap, and can be called up and put in positions to score, not just to float around the bottom 6. I imagine he’d have a tougher time under a coach like Todd McLellan though because of that lack of a 200ft game and he’s not a huge fan of young players to begin with. He’s a veteran coach who prefers veteran players who have established 200ft games. A story as old as time.

What do you think? Given the arms race that’s about to begin in the Metro, do these two players interest you and how much would you be comfortable with the Oilers paying for them?

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Armchair GM, Edmonton Oilers, Micah Kowalchuk, NHL, Rumors, Trades

Oilers Trade Deadline: Alternative Theory

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**This is a guest post from an old friend of the site, Micah Kowalchuk. You might know him if you’re part of some of the Oilers groups on facebook or from some of the great articles he posted when he was part of the writing staff here.**

Now, this isn’t going to be a popular suggestion, we’ve all been going on about the players we can add to make a cup run, in spite of our GM saying he had no plans to do that.

We’re now seeing guys like Boyle go for a good prospect and a 2nd round pick, and there has to be a question of “Are we good enough this year to blow that much on players”.

If the answer is yes, then carry on.  But, what if you genuinely believe this isn’t the year.  What we can do then is shop for future pieces and sell expiring assets for a high dollar figure.

We know the following players aren’t going anywhere:

Maroon, McDavid, Lucic, Draisaitl, Puljujarvi, Letestu, Kassian, Khaira, Slepyshev, Klefbom, Larsson, Sekera, Benning and Nurse.

And we know RNH and Eberle, if they are dealt, will be in off-season deals where players with term tend to get dealt.

That leaves this deadline and the following assets:

Hendricks <- soon to be a UFA, with retained salary may have depth value, and more than we thought after today (As of today’s prices, possibly a 3rd for him);

Russell <- yes, fan favorite, but what we hear from management indicates he’s not likely to sign here next year at the price we want; (As of today’s prices, outside change we might even get a low first round pick, or a 2nd and a prospect at least)

Gryba <- a warrior rental 7th defender who might be worth something to a playoff club; (Maybe we get a Polak special with him and Hendricks combined for a couple of 2nds, you never know)

And Pouliot and Fayne <- if we retain 50% on them, maybe we find a buyer to get the space off our books; (At 50% retained, some mid level picks)

So.. Let’s say we dealt those pieces based on the idea of maximizing value, what is the roster we have left assuming we could sell them all?

Maroon-McDavid-Draisaitl
Lucic-RNH-Eberle
Caggiula-Letestu-Kassian
Khaira-Lander-Slepyshev

(We basically lose Pouliot and Hendy up front and give Lander his last shot playing with a couple of guys who he tore the AHL to shreds with.  Rather than let him walk, let’s give Lander his last shot at proving he’s got something, and let’s give him that shot the best way we can.  We’re not going to be taking much of a step back anyhow over Hendricks worst case).  And we call up Beck as the 13th forward, another expiring asset in the AHL who’s shown he may have something.

On the back end:

Klefbom-Larsson
Sekera-Benning
Nurse-Davidson 

Let’s face it, this won’t be much worse either, and we have a pile of 7th defenders who’ve earned time up here and done well enough in Oesterle or Reinhart or Musil or Simpson. 

What we’d be doing here is going with players we might have next season and gathering as many possible assets as we could get our hands on.  Maybe we land a young right shot forward asset or a young right shot D asset to try out, maybe we just get picks we can sell to Vegas towards clearing bad contracts or getting players we need.

This isn’t to say I’m recommending this strategy per say, but I’m giving some insight into what we may see PC do instead in building for the future rather than the short term, feel free to scream all you want over the idea.

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Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, NHL, Rumors, Trades

Celebrations and Trade Deadline Whispers

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I just wanted to share a bit of good news with you before getting into today’s post but a little background first.

When I started this blog way back in 2012 over on Weebly, my goal was to hit the first page of google without having “Edmonton” or “Oilers” in the URL because I figured that it’d be that much more challenging.Now I’m no SEO expert, I may have read a few blogs on the topic but if I’m not mistaken, one would like all the advantages he/she can get when it comes to making it easier for people to find your website, right?

Next, I wanted to step up the site’s coverage back in 2015 and take it to the next level, so I picked up the domain and registered www.beerleagueheroes.com with the idea that maybe, just maybe, it’d help the site reach the first page.

Well after 5 years of existence and 2 years as a dot com…

BEER LEAGUE HEROES HIT THE FIRST PAGE OF GOOGLE UNDER “EDMONTON OILERS BLOGS”!!!

So I’m pretty stoked about hitting Google page one as I can honestly say I did almost the bare minimum to get it there. That being said, you are the ones that made the most impact. You chose to read our content! And we thank you so much for that. I hope we’re still up there when you get around to reading this.

Trade me right f*cking now! Happy 40th Birthday to the Greatest Hockey Movie of All-Time!!!

Trades Completed and Otherwise

  • Patrick Eaves going to the Ducks for a conditional 2nd rounder is interesting. It turns into a first rounder if the Ducks make it to the Western Conference Finals AND if Eaves plays 50% of the games in the rounds previous. So even if the Ducks do make it to the conference finals, that 1st rounder will be akin to a 2nd rounder anyhow.

I would’ve liked to have seen Eaves on the Oilers previously but I have to question if he’d be surplus to requirement on the Oilers now that Pakarinen is healthy, Slepyshev, when he’s in the lineup, is looking dangerous and he’s not shying away from the dirty areas. Leon Draisaitl is racking up the points again and Jordan Eberle appeared to have some real jump in his game vs. Washington. And Lastly, I’m loving Zack Kassian more and more each time I watch him.

How much would Eaves have really helped? And don’t forget, Puljujarvi is lighting up the AHL right now. So he’s there to call up if need be.

  • Tomas Jurco for a 3rd rounder

I asked my source if the Oilers had any interest in this guy as a depth scorer with speed and a good possession game. I was told the Oilers had ZERO interest.

Source Says…

  • PC is talking to STL about Shattenkirk. He’s open to coming to Edm. He sees what’s happening in Edm with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Co.

So this is an interesting twist. If you’ve been following any NHL media whatsoever in the last 48 hours, you’ve probably read or heard all the talk about Shattenkirk turning down deals to go to other teams, Edmonton included. But what I was told was that as far as an extension goes, the Oilers would have to win a couple of playoff rounds to convince Kevin Shattenkirk to re-sign in Edmonton. Otherwise, the Oilers aren’t willing to go any higher than what the market is currently dictating for rental defensemen. Michael Stone went for a third and Hainsey went for a 2nd rounder plus a career AHLer, so read between the lines there.

I got a bit of flack on Twitter for asking why a team would pay more than a 3rd rounder for a player that isn’t interested in re-signing with their club. I understand that Shattenkirk is a MUCH better player than Michael Stone and Ron Hainsey but would you give up a 1st or a 2nd round pick for a rental? Providing he’s gone on July 1st?

I know a few GMs (Bergevin/Rutherford) who might but the Oilers GM won’t be unless Shattenkirk agrees to re-sign in Edmonton. And if that happens, we should be able to put the Kris Russell 2017 contract debate to bed.

  • Speaking of Russell, the Oilers have broken off talks with his camp. I guess he’s still angling for a 4 year deal with $4M per year. Surprisingly price isn’t the problem, term is.
  • Derek Ryan should be an Oiler soon. They’ve been scouting him something fierce lately.
  • The Oilers are trying their damnedest to move Pouliot and Fayne but doesn’t sound like anything is going to happen on that front.
  • No on Hanzal and Vrbata and Iginla.

Edmonton wants a sniper and would prefer a bit more speed and size up front. But none of those players are fleet of foot and their price tag is too high.

  • Dallas is strapped to the cap and looking to move some bodies. The names that came up were Sharp, Eaves (already spoken for), and John Klingberg…

I can see Sharp and the Oilers being a potential fit but John Klingberg?!! Why in the world would Jim Nill be open to moving him? If I were the Oilers, I’d have a separate phone special for Jim Nill and I’d be calling him constantly to see what the price is. Klingberg has a beauty long-term contract similar to Larsson and Klefbom’s and that would fit in too well with the Oilers future plans.

  • The Oilers are looking at two players with regards to the backup position. Jaroslav Halak and Ondrej Pavelec. With either of those players, the Islanders/Jets would need to retain salary.

Now, I know which goalie I’d prefer. The one who had a helluva playoff run not too long ago for the Montreal Canadiens. A run so amazing that it had fans of the Habs asking for the team to trade Carey Price away… But alas, we’ve heard from Bob Stauffer that he believes Halak will be bought out at season’s end by the Isles. So, who knows what will happen there. I’m not sold on Pavelec one bit…

Personally, I’m guessing the Oilers go out and grab a right-shooting face-off man for sure. I think if they can’t get the right deal for a backup, they’ll wing it and go with Brossoit or if disaster hits, Nick Ellis. I’m with Chiarelli in that the Oilers are right on the precipice of becoming a great team with excellent depth at the minor league level and the prospect level and there’s no real reason to bet the farm this season. Next season mind you, that will be a different story.

That’s it for now. I’ll update you later on if something comes in! And thanks again for helping us to page 1 on Google! Check out our T-shirt shop! There’s a sale going on right now where you can get some pretty sweet tees for you or your kids or maybe someone else or their kids… Click the pic below and it’ll take you to our shop! You’re a beauty!!!

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

Dreger on Eberle/Isles

Yesterday over at Fan Rag Sports (Elliotte Friedman’s favourite blog), Chris Nichols had a little tidbit on Darren Dreger talking about how the Islanders were one of three teams “kicking the tires” on Jordan Eberle.

“I would say a month  or so – maybe six weeks ago – there was some tire-kicking. I know that there were three teams that were calling Peter Chiarelli in Edmonton, but no one really willing to jump and take the bait. I believe that the Islanders were one of those teams. But obviously it didn’t go anywhere.” (Source)

Well, this is nothing new. Anybody who watched their magic at the World Junior’s back in Ottawa circa ’09 and has followed them during their NHL careers would want to re-visit this combination as well. And it makes sense. The Islanders have been trying RWers all year on Tavares’ line concluding with minimal luck. Okposo was the man there last year and they let him walk…

A lot of people online say that Eberle has no value right now. He’s in the middle of his worst season as a pro hockey player and fans are lead to believe that that is the utmost important factor with which NHL GMs take into consideration when dealing for a player. And to that I say,

And to that, I say, Ni! (here’s the reference if you don’t get it.)

More seriously now, GMs will be looking at a player’s entire career. Not just a small portion. Of course it works in their favor if said player is having an off year but GMs aren’t stupid and they know that players go through tough years, players sometimes have trouble fitting into a new coach’s systems, and they know that a change of scenery can occasionally be just the remedy for a player who is down on his luck.

So if you’re a fan that is saying the Oilers should:

  • leave Eberle exposed for the expansion draft
  • trade him for picks
  • sit him in the pressbox for an evening

All of these things do more to handicap the Oilers ability to win games and we know, for a fact, that players eventually bust out of these slumps and despite what you believe as a fan, there’s definitely a market for Eberle.

“So when you start seeing signs like this, then – look, I’ve been around the league long enough to know how most (teams’ executives) think, and I’d be surprised if Chiarelli doesn’t get calls in the days ahead here just inquiring about Eberle.”

“The ask for Jordan Eberle has always been high, understandably so, because he’s been one of the Edmonton Oilers’ players that is a big part of the core. But if he’s no longer that, even on a short-term basis, that’s going to ignite some kind of short-term market.”

“But that doesn’t mean the Oilers are any more willing to trade him, unless the value is there.” – Elliotte Friedman (Source)

Now, I do believe that the Oilers will trade Eberle this summer because I’m of the belief that he doesn’t fit into McLellan’s system and when I think back to San Jose’s rosters of past, I’m not finding any Eberle-types. He’s had two seasons (about) under Todd McLellan and Peter Chiarelli and when he’s not scoring, he doesn’t do the other things on the ice well enough to make a difference there. That’s not saying he’s not doing those other things though. He is. Very much so. And I reckon that his attention to the 200ft game is partially to blame for this dry year on the scoresheet.

Chiarelli and McLellan are going to want someone who can be more of a “presence” if they’re not going short-side cheddar. A name that comes to mind… TJ Oshie.

Now before you jump all over me, consider that a good GM adds good players first and deals with the consequences (cap hit) later. I’m aware of the RFAs that need to be re-signed…

So if the Oilers can find a way to move Jordan Eberle for a package with a minimal cap hit, that would alleviate some of the pressure on the cap that signing TJ Oshie would bring. Another thing that would help is if Darnell Nurse signs long-term for Adam Larsson/Oscar Klefbom money.

Let’s bring this conversation back full circle and get back to Eberle and the Islanders.

In the summer, could Chiarelli get the Islanders to send him Ryan Strome and a pick or prospect for Jordan Eberle?Is there a deal there where Halak gets tossed in if the Islanders agree to take one of Mark Fayne or Benoit Pouliot?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below but first you should head over our Teepublic shop and take part in our T-SHIRT SALE!!!

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

*Re-Post* Is Chiarelli Looking at an Ex-Oiler?

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**I tried to post this article yesterday evening but the site crashed as soon as I posted it. So I hope it’d be okay if I re-posted it. If you’ve read it already, feel free to move on. If you haven’t read it, great! I hope it doesn’t crash again… I might lose what remaining sanity I have left if it does. – BLH**

On this morning’s opening segment of Oilers Now!, Bob Stauffer and Brenden Ullrich were talking about Benoit Pouliot’s status with the team, health and otherwise, and Stauffer broke off point for a moment and said something that perked my ears a bit. Here’s the quote:

Kevin Lowe used to tell me all of the time, “Never say never.” and that was about two days before the Oilers brought Mike Comrie back a number of years ago. You now, Ryan Smyth came back as well. 

 Skip ahead to the 15:03 mark to hear the quote.

I mean, why would Stauffer even bring that up? Are the Oilers looking at bringing an Oiler from the past? Maybe someone that was previously thought to be lost for the season but looks like he’ll indeed return to play before the year is out. Maybe a player that played in the Cup run of ’06? A player that was once loved before injuries ravaged his career.

You know the Oilers are looking for depth on the RW and for some help on the powerplay…

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below right after you click on the image below and check out the killer t-shirts at our Teepublic Shop!