This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

• Youtube: Beer League Heroes Channel
• Twitter: @beerleagueheroe
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• Facebook: Beer League Heroes

Edmonton Sun

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OILERS NOTES

• McDavid’s game misconduct for the hit on Adrian Kempe in the third was his second misconduct in the NHL. He also got 10 minutes on Jan. 25, 2018, against Calgary for abuse of an official after a shoot-out goal …
• Neither goalie Mike Smith nor defenceman Duncan Keith skated with the Oilers at their full practice Saturday, so they aren’t close to playing. Smith, out since Oct. 20, hasn’t taken shots with the main group …
• Oilers first-round pick Xavier Bourgault has 22 goals and 42 points in 24 games in Shawinigan. “He can make the world junior team, maybe, if he’s willing to take on the same sort of role that Dawson Mercer (now in New Jersey) did last Christmas tournament,” said TSN’s scouting guru Craig Button …
• Rare penalty call in the second period with Nurse and the Kings’ Brown both getting holding infractions on the same rush down the boards by Brown …
• Carter Savoie now has 13 goals in 15 games and 23 points in his sophomore year at Denver University, but still didn’t get an invite to Canada’s world junior selection camp …
• The Kings signed Russian winger Vladimir Tkachev, the one-time Oilers training camp whiz, to a one-year, two-way deal over the summer but after making the team to start the season, he’s spent the last 10 games in the AHL. They tried him on the power play all through camp but they felt he was always looking for the pass and wouldn’t shoot enough …

BLH’s Thoughts: Vladdy Hockey scored a massive softie against Edmonton’s farm team the other night. I’m actually surprised he’s agreed to spend any time in the AHL considering Russian players who’ve had some KHL success tend to simply return to the motherland instead of dominating the American league. 

Bob Stauffer brought up an interesting point during the radio cast and also on his radio show yesterday morning. If Kempe was hurt and that contributed to McDavid’s game misconduct, why wasn’t he forced into concussion protocol and made to miss the rest of the game? 

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Oilersnation

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Monday Mailbag

Despite their winning record, the Oilers still seem to have a hard time getting a good start. What do you think is going on here?

• “It’s up to the coaching staff to prepare line-ups and game plans, not get their players revved up.” – Brownlee
• “They feel their way into games too often… To me it is on the players. They play the game.” – Gregor

BLH’s Thoughts: The coaches are the ones who come up with the game plan and deploy the players during the games. Let’s not sit here and pretend they don’t play a role in how a hockey game goes. 

If Tippett started five goons and a line brawl ensued from the drop of the puck, there’d be a million people pointing the finger at the coach. But, it’d up the game’s intensity, the adrenaline would be pumping, and the crowd would be right into it… 

So, if the Oilers coaching staff truly wants to start the games with a bit more emotion, put somebody on the ice who can create that emotion! Ask the players to get some shots on net and drive the blue paint hard. Create some emotion!!!

And if they’re not willing to do that, you’ve either got a head coach who has lost the room or you’ve got a group of hockey players who are way too comfortable and some changes will need to be made.

Would you rather the Oil jump on trade bait soon to help build chemistry OR hold off until post-Olympic break to further determine deficiencies?

• “I’d guess it happens closer to the trade deadline. Cost is likely higher in December than in late Feb, early March.” – Gregor

BLH’s Thoughts: Holland could always set the market by getting jump on things too… Why wait for somebody to go out and grab the guy you wanted? If the GM believes in this team, he has to go get the guy(s) he thinks will take the Oilers to the next level and not worry about the timing of the trade. 

This past week, Pierre Lebrun speculated about Carey Price being available. Assuming all deals begin with the Canadiens retaining half of Price’s salary and that Koskinen will go back the other way, can you construct a reasonable trade that both sides might go for?

• “I can’t imagine why the Oilers would want to bring in a goaltender who turns 35 in August for four more years at $5.25 million a season. Among other things, what does that say to Stuart Skinner? I also can’t see why Price would waive his NMC and uproot his family, his wife and three children, to move to Edmonton.” – Brownlee

BLH’s Thoughts: You can’t see why CP would waive his NMC and uproot his family? What about being closer to his wife’s family or his family in BC? He certainly knew there was a chance the Kraken would’ve taken him in the expansion draft considering he waived his NMC prior to it… Plus, at 35yrs old and coming off a trip to the Cup final, don’t you think that he might want a better chance at winning a championship seeing as his team is going to go into a rebuild soon?

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The Hockey Writers Rumors

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• On Sunday, the (Canucks) organization fired head coach Travis Green and replaced him with Bruce Boudreau and fired general manager Jim Benning. Top assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner was also let go.
• Boudreau was given a two-year deal to be the team’s new coach, while longtime senior adviser Stan Smyl was named the interim general manager and minor-league GM/player-development director Ryan Johnson is the interim assistant GM.
• Less than 24 hours after the Canucks cleaned house, the Flyers let go their two main coaches. Both Alain Vigneault and Michel Therrien were released and Mike Yeo will take over as an interim coach for the time being.
• Frank Seravalli notes that while Yeo will serve as the coach for now, “We’ll see where this goes, but my sense is Rick Tocchet will be high on Philadelphia’s candidate list.” Reports are that David Quinn is also high on the list of potential coaching candidates.
• Maple Leafs’ defenseman Justin Holl is fourth on Frank Seravalli’s list of potential trade candidates as the Leafs will need to shed some salary when sidelined goalie Petr Mrazek is ready to return to the lineup.
• …according to Shawn Simpson of TSN, the team (Ottawa) isn’t looking to acquire more draft picks and won’t be looking to trade their pending UFA’s for picks. That puts the Senators in a tricky place and it must mean they want to add players with term who can grow with this new young core.

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

• Youtube: Beer League Heroes Channel
• Twitter: @beerleagueheroe
• Instagram: @beerleagueheroes
• Facebook: Beer League Heroes

Sportsnet

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Oilers loss to Kings a consequence of playing with noncommittal effort

• He (Tippett) saw this effort coming: Soft, noncommittal, all eyes peeled in search of the easy road.
• This was a barn dance, and the Oilers showed up in ballet slippers, not cowboy boots.
• Not enough push from not enough people. Too many no-shows.
• Calling Foegele. Jesse Puljujarvi. Zack Kassian. Kailer Yamamoto. Tyson Barrie. Derek Ryan. Even McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl for the past two games.
• Let’s face it: Tippett has a fourth line, with Colton Sceviour, Derek Ryan and Devin Shore. But he doesn’t have a third line.
• Foegele is a big body who can skate. But his hands…? If he’s not throwing his weight around, he’s not helping.
• And Kassian? That ship had sailed, folks. He hasn’t been a positive player for three games in a row in ages.
• If you think you’re going to win a series against Calgary with the “pretty boys” approach the Oilers have adopted of late, you are sadly mistaken.
• The Flames team we’re watching will eat this Oilers’ effort for lunch, spit them out in five games, and move on to the next victim.

BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t know if there’s really much to add. Spector has sort of summed up everything I’m feeling about the team right now and he’s 100% right on Calgary.

The analytics supporters must be pulling their hair out trying to figure out how a team with Milan Lucic, Brett Ritchie, Nikita Zadorov, and Erik Gudbranson is one of the best in the entire league… 

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Cult of Hockey

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Player grades: Connor McDavid kicked out of game, Edmonton Oilers fall apart in 5-1 loss to L.A. Kings

• Derek Ryan, 3. Edmonton has one shot for, 10 against when he was on the ice at even strength.
• Evan Bouchard, 3 . He had been playing better on defence but things went sour this game when he was paired up with Nurse again.
• Connor McDavid, 4. He got an untimely penalty for blasting Kempe into the boards late in the third. It turned out to be the major. Debatable call and it, essentially, killed the Oilers’ chances in the game.
• Jesse Puljujarvi, 4. It was silent running for the aircraft carrier early in the game but he fired off a nasty blast in the second that almost beat Quick. But did little otherwise.
• Philip Broberg, 4. He went down to stop the pass on the first LA goal but failed to stop the pass.
• Mikko Koskinen, 4. Indeed, he was sharp on a number of LA’s many Grade A and B scoring chance shots.
• Markus Niemelainen, 6. His physical play is impressive, but his passing? A few glitches here and there.
• Tyler Benson, 6. Combined well enough with his old linemate McLeod. Mucking it up, hitting when he can, trying to find his way in the NHL and making some progress.
• Zach Hyman, 7. Almost scored on a power play rebound in the second. Short but great little pass to kick off the Nurse goal scoring sequence. Threw a wicked hit on Bjornfot in the second.

BLH’s Thoughts: I thought the game could’ve used more Sceviour as he was one of the Oilers harder working forwards on a night when a lot of guys simply couldn’t get their lawnmower out of turtle. 

Another guy who was playing well was Ryan McLeod. He was flying and the puck was glued to his stick. He was assertive along the wall and I’m not sure much more could’ve been asked of him last night. He should’ve been on the 3rd line with Foegele and Sceviour in my opinion. 

Tyler Benson also impressed me with his work ethic and physicality. Good on him. I really respect that he’s pivoted his playing style in order to keep himself in the show for a bit longer. 

Do you think Connor McDavid feels the need to wallpaper Adrian Kempe like that if he’s getting a few more calls his way? Leon had Alex Edler draped all over him for most of the evening with no call but when he got his lick in the refs were looking the other way.

Or maybe Connor was tired of his team’s effort on the night and decided to clock out?… Either way, that call basically handed LA the win and it’s back to the drawing board for Edmonton’s coaching staff. 

I didn’t necessarily see the Kings as the more dangerous club last night, they were simply more willing to work for their chances and if the Oilers would’ve had 50% of LA’s effort, they would’ve won that game. I really believe that.

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Spector’s Hockey

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• SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Boston Bruins are continuing to shop Jake DeBrusk, who requested a trade last weekend. They’ve informed teams that they’re going to do this on their timeline and seek a defenseman or forward of equal value to the 25-year-old winger.
• PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski mused over whether DeBrusk would be a fit with the Penguins. While his style of game could be enticing, his consistency and the fact the Penguins are jockeying with the Bruins for a playoff spot makes a trade between those two clubs unlikely.
• THE ATHLETIC: In a recent mailbag segment… Staple suggested Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot or Chicago Blackhawks (and former Isle) Calvin de Haan could help the Islanders blueline. He mentioned the Bruins’ Jake DeBrusk but feels that could cost the Islanders a forward in return.
• NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks recently reported the Rangers opened contract extension talks with center Ryan Strome. Brooks pointed out the difficulty of re-signing Strome when the Rangers face a salary-cap crunch for the next two seasons with Kaapo Kakka and Alexis Lafreniere due for new contracts.

BLH’s Thoughts: I think Strome is going to get himself a Phil Danault-like contract, but I wonder if the Oilers would look at him in hopes of him coming back to Edmonton at a cut-rate price on a long-term deal to be the team’s 3rd line center? 

However, if you were Strome, would you do that considering the chemistry he’s got with Artemi Panarin and getting to live in one of the greatest cities in the world… 

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

• Youtube: Beer League Heroes Channel
• Twitter: @beerleagueheroe
• Instagram: @beerleagueheroes
• Facebook: Beer League Heroes

The Athletic

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Several Oilers issues coming to a head: ‘This has been coming for a while’

• “This has been coming for a while,” the Oilers coach said. “We’ve been masking it with some special-teams (play).”
• …they’re 7-6 since starting the season 9-1. There’s a fair bit that’s been ailing them for some time — and their coach wants it addressed.
• In addition to not scoring goals, there’s a large contingent of Oilers who aren’t doing enough positively at the other end of the ice.
• No bottom-six forward has a positive goal share at five-on-five.
• …what’s the solution to the first-goal blues?
  • Part of the answer is not having the goaltender let in a poor goal…
  • Part of the answer is not coughing up the puck and allowing a two-on-one rush…
• Getting Nurse back and playing him with Evan Bouchard helped Sunday. But the other four blueliners struggled in when it came to controlling shots-on-goal ratio.

“Our puck play is slow. We lose too many battles and we’re chasing. That’s been going on for a while now.” – Dave Tippett, Oilers Head Coach

BLH’s Thoughts: I wonder if Tippett is feeling the walls close in a bit because I kind of remember Todd McLellan getting out that line blender a bit too much and leaning on Leon and Connor a lot when his time was nearing an end. I mean, what are the coaches supposed to do when either they don’t have the answer or the players have tuned them out?

Conversely, when a team is dealing with the kind of defensive injury crisis the Oilers are, should we not expect some bumps in the road? 

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Oilersnation

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William Lagesson’s agent puts Edmonton Oilers head coach on blast

• William Lagesson’s agent has put Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett on blast for scratching him just before the game.

“It’s the kind of disrespect from a coach that destroys teams,” Walsh said. “William Lagesson has done everything asked of him by the organization.

”

“Players get scratched and have no issues with that. All we ask is to be treated with respect and Dave Tippett has shown he doesn’t care to do that with his players.”

BLH’s Thoughts: Okay Walsh… That’s about enough of that. It’s one thing when you’re sticking up for a future hall-of-fame goaltender who has a couple of Stanley Cups under his belt and another thing with a 7/8 dman.

Do you remember the last great NHL team that was done in by an AHL tweener because he got scratched at the last minute? 

Reckon the timing of that Twitter rant was convenient too… 

I’m betting that Lagesson’s agent ( a former LA prosecutor) is trying to start a fire under Ken Holland’s ass in order to find his client a new home because this is a pretty unreasonable take by Walsh. Cody Ceci and Duncan Keith will come back soon and I’m thinking Wild Bill’s representation would like to see him on another NHL team as opposed to Bakersfield when the time comes to make a decision on the Swede.

No doubt, we’ll hear about it tomorrow from Gregor, Stauffer, Seravalli, Lowetide, and whoever else has a radio show or podcast in Edmonton. 

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The Daily Goal Horn

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• Jake DeBrusk: “The Boston Bruins are legitimately trying to (trade him),” Elliotte Friedman said. “They’ve searched the market hard to see what’s out there and will do it on their timeline. They will look for a forward or defenseman they consider of equal value.”
• Dallas Goaltending: “They have started to test the market and see what they can get for Anton Khudobin,” Jeff Marek reported on Sportsnet. “They spoke to one team last week and that was the Buffalo Sabres.”
• Evander Kane: Larry Brooks of the NY Post also noted in a recent Slap Shot column that an “Eastern Conference team has shown considerable interest in dealing for Evander Kane.”… Speculation grows around that team being the Carolina Hurricanes who believe they can win a Stanley Cup this season… One note, with the way the Islanders have struggled offensively this season they are likely also involved.

This is your TL/DR (too long, didn’t read) summary post where excerpts are taken from the best of the best when it comes to Edmonton Oilers blogs. BLH gives you his two cents on the latest posts being published in the Oilogosphere! Including those from Lowetide.ca, The Athletic, Oilersnation, The Cult of Hockey, Copper N Blue, Oil on Whyte, and more!

The latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation comes from all of the internet’s top sites like Spector’s Hockey, The Fourth Period, NHL Trade Talk, The Hockey Writers, Sportsnet, and TSN just to name a few!

If you’re short on time but want to keep up with the day’s Oilers news, you’ve come to the right place!

Give us a follow on the socials!

• Youtube: Beer League Heroes Channel
• Twitter: @beerleagueheroe
• Instagram: @beerleagueheroes
• Facebook: Beer League Heroes

The Cult of Hockey

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Will Edmonton Oilers G.M. Ken Holland “zig” or “zag”: 9 Things

• 9. Edmonton Oilers prospect Xavier Bourgault has been named to the Team Canada World Junior roster. No Carter Savoie . No Tyler Tullio . But 16-year old Connor Bedard is on the list. Hard to imagine Savoie, a 19-year old NCAA player, not being a better 2-way option.

BLH’s Thoughts: Geez. I feel like I’ve read this before…

• 8. I expect Philip Broberg will be an Oiler, long-term. He has elite talent. But pump the brakes on keeping him on the NHL roster once Darnell Nurse and Duncan Keith return… Kris Russell is a better option.
• 6. I expect the Oilers to slow-play Mike Smith’s return…

BLH’s Thoughts: Reckon the Oilers are going to slow-play Smith’s return because of this…

See more

There are some whispers out there that Mike Smith could be out long-term…

We'll see if that's the case in the next month or so… #LetsGoOilers

— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) December 4, 2021

• 5. The Oilers are not a 4-line team… And the only 4 ^th liner consistent as of late has been Colton Sceviour. Devin Shore is almost healthy again and when he is, he’ll play. And Shore is a better winger than a pivot.
• 4. In 2 years from now, one of Marcus Niemelainen or Dmitri Samorukov is likely to be the Oilers 3LD…
  • Niemelainen brings a physicality that you don’t much see anymore (my Cult of Hockey colleague Bruce McCurdy tells me The 6’5 205 Finn has 12 hits in his 1 ^st 24 NHL minutes). He is a bit of a throwback.
  • Samorukov, while not quite as rugged, moves the puck much better. He is more of a complete package.

BLH’s Thoughts: Anything could happen in two years, but what we do know is that Duncan Keith’s contract will have expired as will have Slater Koekkoek’s and Kris Russell’s is done this year. Meaning the Oilers will need THREE dmen to fill that gap and they’ll have Broberg, Niemelainen, and Samorukov graduating…

Why does it have to sound like a choice needs to be made between the Finn and the Russian?

• 3. Edmonton-born Jake DeBrusk is on the market. Yes, Edmonton is interested. Here is a pointed question for you: Are the Oilers are more likely to win a playoff series with DeBrusk or Kailer Yamamoto?…
• I think it is far more likely that Edmonton looks at DeBrusk in the off-season. I think there’s a good chance he ends up a Free Agent. And then…

BLH’s Thoughts: So the question that is begging to be asked, what does the future of Kailer Yamamoto as an Edmonton Oiler look like?

• 2. The Oilers were chasing the game yet again Friday night.  I don’t see the “poor starts” issue as the coaching staff’s fault… Edmonton is more of a fire wagon club, like the Swift Current Broncos were from that same 80’s era in junior hockey. A “shock & awe” approach to starting games may deliver better results on a more consistent basis. 
• 1.I will fall over backward if Ken Holland does not shore up the lineup prior to the post-season. But in terms of big moves, I see Holland’s path continuing down the longer-term road.
  • Montreal is said to be asking for a 1 ^st Round pick for Defenceman Ben Chiarot . He would make the Oilers better. But at $3.5m and as an expiring 30-year old UFA? I think that a #1 is an over-pay for him.
  • Alternative: Seattle’s Carson Soucy . He is 3+ years younger than Ben Chiarot, $700K cheaper and would be under club control for another full season before he could hit the UFA market.

BLH’s Thoughts: Leavins is talking about the amount of prospects coming up through the system when he brings up the “longer-term road.” 

The short-term road speaks to Edmonton’s defence and I’ll say, I didn’t mind Soucy’s performance the other night, but at the same time, what is he on the Edmonton Oilers? A 2nd pair defender or a 3rd pair?

And considering that Ron Francis loaded up on dmen at the expansion draft, what are the prices going to look like there after the bigger names like Mark Giordano are gone?

Also, knowing that Soucy is priced reasonably and aged perfect for that team, why would the Kraken even want to move Soucy? 

Personally, just because that first rounder is burning a hole in your pocket, there should be no pressure to move it for less than what you want for it. If the team is serious about its Stanley Cup aspirations, buy what you need at the deadline and move on.

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Edmonton Sun

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OILERS NOTES: Kids are alright in loss against Seattle Kraken

• With four regulars out of the lineup, the Oilers, for the second consecutive game, turned to Evan Bouchard, Markus Niemelainen, Philip Broberg and William Lagesson, who combined have 82 games of NHL experience.
• They weren’t the issue in the 4-3 loss, with Bouchard finishing at plus-2 with a goal and assist, Lagesson finishing at plus-1, while Niemelainen and Broberg were both minus-1. Niemelainen also registered seven hits and three blocked shots in his 13:39 of ice time.
• The Oilers are hoping Cody Ceci can come off COVID-19 protocol this week as the Oilers prepare to host four opponents in a week…
• Nugent-Hopkins had two assists in the loss, which give him 500 points for his NHL career. Nugent-Hopkins has 187 goals and 313 assists in 678 games for the Oilers.

BLH’s Thoughts: With a rookie in net and a couple of gassed out vets on the top-pairing, the coaching staff should’ve done a better job of recognizing the struggles and addressing them earlier in the game. 

With four games in the next week, they’ll need Nurse to come back and for the kids who are playing well to be leaned on a tad. Barrie and Russell can’t be relied upon to stop LA, Minnesota, Boston, and Carolina… Talk about a murderer’s row… Good Christ… Reckon Koskinen plays all four or will Tippett actually give Skinner a start against one of this year’s juggernauts? 

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Spector’s Hockey

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• TSN: Darren Dreger believes New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald could be in the market for a scoring winger or two. He expects Fitzgerald will check with the Bruins about DeBrusk, though the cost of qualifying his rights next summer might not be a good fit for the Devils.
• THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: Olivia Reiner reports Flyers captain Claude Giroux said he’s not thinking about waiving his no-movement clause.
• THE ATHLETIC: Eric Duhatschek doesn’t see the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames as potential trade destinations for Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk. He felt the Seattle Kraken are a better fit, suggesting a swap of DeBrusk with Mason Appleton going to the Bruins.