Tag Archives: Philadelphia Flyers

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

Edmonton Oilers Trade Rumors: Could the Oilers Bring in an Ex-Teammate of Corey Perry?

Today, we’re taking blurbs from Elliotte Friedman’s 32 Thoughts blog on Sportsnet. We’ll be talking about the latest “trend” amongst GMs going into the March 8th deadline and I’ve got some concerns regarding one name that keeps coming up in connection to the Edmonton Oilers. Also, there’s a future hall-of-famer that used to play with Corey Perry that Ken Holland might have his eyes on… Who could it be? Read on to find out!

I should start prefacing these blogs with the fact that I write them a day in advance and because we’re getting so close to the deadline there’s a good chance I might write about a player or a team and it be old news by the time it gets to your beautiful eyes. If that happens, my apologies!

But before we get to that, click on the links below and give us a follow on the socials!

The Latest Edmonton Oilers Trade Rumors

Late First Rounders All the Rage?

“One trend gaining traction is teams destined to pick later in the first round aren’t married to their picks. Vancouver and Winnipeg already moved them. Sportsnet draft gurus Jason Bukala and Sam Cosentino see a drop, and several organizations agree with them.”

  • How is this a trend that is “gaining traction”? This happens every year… Edmonton will probably deal theirs too. More on that below!
More Walker to the Oilers Talk

“Philadelphia can extend Travis Konecny on July 1, but the Flyers are trying to get the legwork done sooner. You’re going to see a real attempt at this. The prediction is Nick Seeler stays, and Jamie Drysdale’s arrival puts Sean Walker on the move (Edmonton and Tampa Bay are among interested parties). Rasmus Ristolainen’s stock is up, but the contract is tricky.”

  • It’s a real kick in the nuts deciding what to do with this defense on Edmonton, eh? I mean, it’s flipped the switch and become quite good. So, do you want to muck around with that right now?
  • That’s why I wonder about Desharnais. He partners with Ekholm on the PK and hardly plays with Nurse, ever. If Holland is dealing Ceci, is the new guy coming in to replace him? Could be risky…
  • That said, I am of the belief that Nurse does need a better partner. Is that guy Sean Walker? I can’t tell you that. Maybe it’s Colton Parayko. Maybe it’s Evan Bouchard. Maybe it is Vinnie Desharnais. What I can tell you is that we’re unlikely to find out anytime soon.
  • Imagine if Holland traded for Ristolainen and really f*cked with everybody. lol. Campbell for Risto, who says no? C’mon! You don’t think the big Finn could have a resurgence in Edmonton? 😉
Who’s Up for Some Flower Power?

“This afternoon a new piece of information from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Minnesota Wild are open to trading Marc-Andre Fleury. If the Wild do end up parting ways with Fleury, Friedman says that the Edmonton Oilers are a team to watch out for..” – Hawks Insider

“Earlier this week, insider Frank Seravalli also connected the Oilers to be interesting in Fleury as a backup or tandem goalie. He reported there’s a good chance Fleury is traded to a contender in likely his last year, and he could be moved for as little as a third round draft pick.” – Oilers Daily

  • Yeah, those sources aren’t the most reliable but I have heard Seravalli talk about Fleury on Oilers Now! So I’m just going to go with this one. Bear with me.
  • I thought MAF had no intentions of playing for the Oilers. I mean, weren’t they hot for him last year and struck out?
  • Now, there’s a bit of a conundrum here for Edmonton acquiring the future HOFer. What do they do with Pickard. From what I’ve been told, he’s really loved in that dressing room and I don’t think it’d be well received if Holland lost him either in a trade or on waivers.
  • But, what do you do with him if MAF is acquired? I guess they could keep three goalies but it’d handcuff them a bit roster-wise. How often do you see a club bring in a netminder and keep all three on the main roster?
  • I think the other thing is his contract prevents the club from doing a whole lot more unless they can get a third team involved and burn even more of their futures for this year’s run.
  • Honestly, I think the Avs are going to get him. Georgiev has been okay, Francouz can’t stay healthy, and Annunen is way to young. Fleury would fit like a glove on that roster.

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2023/24 Edmonton Oilers GM34: Oilers VS Flyers – 3P2W – Where Should the Oilers Upgrade First?

Hey y’all! Welcome back for another season of Edmonton Oilers hockey! I’m BLH and I’ll be giving you the skinny on today’s game!

If you’re new here and are wondering what 3P2W means, well, it stands for Three Players to Watch and seeing I’m as lazy as I am, I figured we’d shorten it to 3P2W.

So with that out of the way, let’s talk a little bit about what’s been going on lately in the Oilogospehere and then get into the player’s I’ve put under the spotlight for today’s matchup!

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Random Pontifications

Via Oilersnation:

Ken Holland pulled off a big trade at last year’s deadline when he acquired Mattias Ekholm from the Nashville Predators. Assuming he can make a similar trade again, what is the biggest area of need on the roster in your mind?

  • If McLeod is going to remain on the wing, then a 3rd line centre. If a legit top-pair right D-man, with term, becomes available then I’d look at that as well. – Gregor
  • I think adding a right-shot defenseman would be a solid move. They could also benefit from one more high-end top-nine forward. Either a centre of a winger would work. -Yaremchuk
  • The obvious answer is goaltending but to go outside the box I’ll say a third line centre. – Horrobin
  • Third line center should be a priority regardless of where Ryan McLeod sits in the lineup. I’m of the belief that him and Foegele will be stapled to Draisaitl’s ass for the rest of the season barring injury or some massive slump.
  • If I had to guess, I think Dylan Holloway will get some reps at center to see where he stands. He possesses the necessary tools to thrive there and that’s where he played in junior and college if I recall correctly.
  • That said, the options as I see them look like players that’ll be competing against the Oilers for a wildcard spot. Colton Sissons (NSH), Nick Bjugstad (ARI), and Nic Roy (LVK) would be ideal candidates for Edmonton as they are all right-handed and on expiring contracts.
  • If you were to go for a left-shot center the options expand slightly. Boone Jenner (CHI), Jason Dickinson (CHI), and Sean Monahan (MTL) emerge as possibilities, but to be honest, I don’t really see any of the names mentioned here as realistic targets for the Oilers.
  • So if that’s the case then the club will need to pivot to goaltending and depth at both forward and defense and that’s where I could see a guy like Nic Dowd (WAS) being brought in. I’m kind of curious about a guy like Erik Johnson (BUF). He’d bring that veteran swagger that Ken Holland loves so very much.
  • I mean Pat Maroon and Klim Kostin I’ve spoken about before but those are on my wish list and not so much Edmonton’s. I like their size, physicality, and in the playoffs when the game gets ratcheted up a notch or five, these guys are handy.
  • Watch the Flyers tonight. I think that team is built for the post-season sans a star goalie and an upgrade or two on defense. I love their forward group because it’s quick, it’s skilled, there are goal scorers sprinkled throughout, and there are high-energy bangers on every line.
  • I’m going to be very interested how Matvei Michkov fits in there once he crosses the pond and combine him with Cutter Gauthier… Sweet Jesus. The pendulum has swung in Pennsylvania.

The BLH Instagram account is growing like crazy! Three weeks ago when we started to get it back going we were at a shade over 1900 followers and now we’re gunning for 2000. So please, head on over and give us a follow as we’re posting exclusive content over there that won’t be published here or on our Twitter page.

Three Players to Watch for the Bad Guys

  • #11 Travis Konecny (17g 14a 31pts) – Five points in his last five games. He’s Philly’s hottest scoring player during this 1-4-0 skid. Aside from that, he’s a buzzsaw out there and on every shift he’s letting his opponents know it’s going to be a long game. I like his style for a little guy.
  • #86 Joel Farabee (12g 13a 25pts) – He’s currently lining up alongside rookie Bobby Brink and former Montreal Canadien Ryan Poehling on the Flyers’ 3rd line, but don’t overlook him. He’s a shadow sniper. Meaning opposing teams will forget he’s out there and he’ll come out of the shadows and make them pay.
  • #6 Travis Sanheim  (4g 21a 25pts) – Since the Philly brass committed to him long-term he’s turned a bit of a corner for this team. I remember his name constantly coming up in trade rumors in seasons prior and I think it’s safe to say that we won’t be hearing his name in the rumor mill anymore. He’s finally realized his potential. Watch, now that I’ve said that he’ll have the worst game against McDavid tonight.

Three Players to Watch for the Good Guys

  • #29 Leon Draisaitl (17g 23a 41pts) – He’s got four goals in his last five games and like I said before, he’s starting to heat up. Shocking that his wingers are breaking out too, eh? Weird.
  • #74 Stu Skinner (14-9-1 2.86 GAA 0.893 SV%) – Man, those early season results are making his numbers look like trash. If you dial it down to his last five he’s 3-0-0 with a 1.62 GAA, and a save percentage of 0.943 and those, my friend, are stupendous stats!
  • #73 Vinnie Desharnais (1g 3a 4pts) – Vinnie’s on an expiring contract and I’m very curious as to how much it’s going to cost the Oilers to keep him. Sub $2M? He’s got a bit of leverage considering that the closest guy on the depth chart is Phil Kemp. Max Wanner is a year or two away and Beau Akey I’d say is a year or two away as well IF they aren’t used as trade fodder.

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

2023/24 Edmonton Oilers GM4: Oilers @ Flyers – 3P2W – Flying High Now

Hey y’all! Welcome back for another season of Edmonton Oilers hockey! I’m BLH and I’ll be giving you the skinny on today’s game!

If you’re new here and are wondering what 3P2W means, well, it stands for Three Players to Watch and seeing I’m as lazy as I am, I figured we’d shorten it to 3P2W.

So with that out of the way, let’s talk a little bit about what’s been going on lately in the Oilogospehere and then get into the player’s I’ve put under the spotlight for tonight’s matchup!

Random Pontifications

  • Something has to be off, is there any Edmonton Oiler with a 5v5 point so far? I’m looking at dailyfaceoff’s page and every Oiler who has a point has got it on the PP…
  • Also, none of Edmonton’s bottom-six have a point… Maybe they should get more TOI with the man-advantage?
  • Good game from the Oilers vs. NSH, but at the same time they had to have that one. The Preds are a lottery team in my opinion. Now, that being said, Jack Campbell looked fantastic and the Oilers new defensive scheme did not. Who lets a team with a weak roster like that get 43 shots? Sweet Jesus, Woody! Do something about that, would ya?

The BLH Instagram account is growing like crazy! Three weeks ago when we started to get it back going we were at a shade over 1900 followers and now we’re gunning for 2000. So please, head on over and give us a follow as we’re posting exclusive content over there that won’t be published here or on our Twitter page.

Three Players to Watch for the (team)

  • #10 Bobby Brink – A highly skilled playmaking rookie. I watched some of the Philly/Vancouver game and this guy was making plays left and right. Slippery bugger too. Could give Edmonton’s defenders a bit of trouble.
  • #74 Owen Tippett – A sniper in the making. The change of scenery from FLA to Philadelphia has done Tippett a world of good. He’s on their top-line with Couturier and Atkinson. Very dangerous if given the opportunities (which Edmonton love to do).
  • #11 Travis Konecny – Philly’s leading scorer with 5pts so far and doing it from the 3rd line no less. He’s gritty, quick, and he’s also a potential trade target for the Oilers. Is there an appetite from the Oilers for a Kane-Konecny swap? He’s got one year left after this one @ $5.5M/yr on it… Stauffer talked a bit about him around the deadline last year…

Three Players to Watch for the Oilers

  • #91 Evander Kane – He’s starting the year a bit slow, I think he either gets in a fight in this one or scores a goal. He gets a bit ornery if one or the other doesn’t happen plus with Garnet Hathaway and Nic Deslauriers on the Flyers, there’s sure to be some fireworks.
  • #37 Warren Foegele – Well, egg on my face. McLovin’ looked fantastic on that line with Nuge and Hyman. His tenacity and speed really complimented his older teammates. Can he make it two games in a row?
  • #73 Vincent Desharnais – I don’t know if he’ll get into the lineup tonight but I feel like the Flyers are a team you would slot him in against. Nothing against Broberg but I like Big Vinnie’s “tangibles” more so than the smooth skating Swede.

The Next Twelve Games (#2-#13)

  • 10/14 vs. Canucks – I think the Oilers will take 2/2 vs. Vancouver to start the year. (W)
    • (4-3 LOSS)
  • 10/17 @. Predators – The Pred don’t scare me. Their roster is in shambles. Poor Jusse Saros and Roman Josi. (W)
    • (6-1 Win)
  • 10/19 @ Flyers – Their forward group looks entertaining but they’ve got nobody on defense. (W)
  • 10/21 vs. Winnipeg – The Jets are always a tough out. I like their chances. (L)
  • 10/24 @ Wild – Minny isn’t as good as they used to be but still very solid. (W)
  • 10/26 vs. Rangers – I like NY’s defense and goaltending here. (L)
  • 10/29 vs.Flames – Calgary is going to surprise a few this year. (L)
  • 11/2 vs. Stars – This will be a very tight game. (W)
  • 11/4 vs. Predators – Leon will continue to light the Preds up. (W)
  • 11/6 @ Canucks – I’ll take Edmonton for a third time here, Alex. (W)
  • 11/9 @ Sharks – I don’t even recognize half the names on SJ’s roster… (W)
  • 11/11 @ Kraken – I like Seattle’s roster. Well-rounded. (L)
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Armchair GM, Beer League Hero, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, Rumors

(3/23/21) BLH’s NHL Trade Rumors: “Evgeni Kuznetsov trade possibilities…”

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Evgeni Kuznetsov (WAS), Dustin Brown (LA), Niklas Hjalmarsson (ARI), and more!

Is Leon Draisaitl’s excellent two-way presence just a mirage? One Edmonton pundit says they may very well be, BLH says not so fast. Read about it here.

A new name in the rumor mill for Oilers fans! Check out who it is here.

Could Tyson Barrie be trade bait for the Oilers? Read about that here.

This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.

Click the pic and find the NHL94 player from your team!

NHL Rumors and Speculation

Larry Brooks (NY Post) wonders if New Jersey Devils $9M right-shot defender might have some interest from other clubs at this year’s trade deadline or prior,

  • “The Spirit of 76 has one year with a $9 million cap hit remaining on his deal. If the Devils retain half, contenders with needs on the right side of the blue line could do much worse than acquiring Subban.”

Emily Sadler of Sportsnet:  Mattias Ekholm emerging as one of the top defensive trade targets has been established. Now, where could he end up? The Jake Muzzin deal sets the bar but again the where is far from set.

  • Toronto Maple Leafs: Toronto seems to be involved in everything but they do need defense and/or goaltending insurance. Ekholm would be especially helpful but a deal would have to be done in the next week or so. A pure rental makes more sense but Ekholm gives Toronto three left-handed anchors for defense.
  • Philadelphia Flyers:  Again, when Matt Niskanen retired, it left a huge void on the defensive corps. At first, the Flyers were able to hide their deficiencies but now they cannot. Giving up 25 goals in the last five games makes a deal more likely. Ekholm’s term helps here at a reasonable rate for Philadelphia. The Flyers have enough prospects to sweeten any deal for the Nashville defenseman.
  • Montreal Canadiens:  Montreal’s roller coaster of a season continues at breakneck speed. Marc Bergevin remains unafraid to pull off another bold move or three. With the Ben Chiarot injury, a spot has opened up. Unfortunately, cap space is an issue as it is for most teams. Montreal possesses a wealth of draft picks — 14 in 2021, and seven in 2022. Does Montreal add Artturi Lehkonen as well?
  • Boston Bruins:  Ekholm is one of those defensemen who can boost scoring a little bit while playing mostly excellent defense in a tougher top-four role. The problem for the Bruins is that teams know Boston has one of the worst prospect pools in the NHL. A player may have to go the other way. Jake DeBrusk is the name bandied about as a possible return for Nashville.
  • Winnipeg Jets:  Winnipeg has the pieces to make a Jake Muzzin like deal according to Murat Ates via Adam Vingan of The Athletic. The problem is that other teams could offer a better package for Ekholm. Cap issues are there as well. However, adjustments can be made for the Nashville defenseman.

J.J. Regan of NBC Sports Washington (mailbag):  A flat salary cap remains for the next few seasons. The Washington Capitals need a center. It was something Washington did not address during the draft or free agency last year. They have a nice core of four centers with the big club but little or nothing else after that. A dollar-in, dollar-out deal to deliver a depth center seems unlikely.

Evgeni Kuznetsov trade possibilities rise a little but not until after the season. During the season makes little sense for the Washington Capitals. As for the expansion draft, stay tuned as Washington will try to steer certain deals to Seattle. A Vegas-like sequel will not happen again.

Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic: The New York Rangers would definitely be interested in Jack Eichel if he becomes available. That would be more of an offseason move, if at all. They will likely be sellers, but do have some assets/draft picks they could move for the right player.

Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, feels the Toronto Maple Leafs are talking trade for a defenseman to fill out their d-core and provide them some more insurance as they head into the playoffs. Candidates include: Nik Hjalmarsson (ARI), Marc Staal (DET), Jari Hakanpaa (ANA), and David Savard (CBJ).

Dennis Bernstein (The Fourth Period) says that that LA Kings are getting interest on veterans Dustin Brown and Jonathan Quick.

  • “One team is an obvious landing spot for Brown – the New York Islanders, who were on the wrong end of a body blow when captain Anders Lee’s season ended with an ACL injury. Brown isn’t Lee, but what he is, is the most affordable and likely gettable player on the market. He’s not the only option for the Islanders (Kyle Palmieri, Mikael Granlund, Taylor Hall), but is having the best season of any options. “
  • The other player who has drawn attention is at the other end of the spectrum, goaltender Jonathan Quick. Though the Los Angeles net has not been handed over to Cal Petersen by Todd McLellan, the younger netminder is clearly the better goaltender. Some say that Quick is done and isn’t close to the Conn Smythe winner he once was and they’re right. “

Jimmy Murphy (Boston Hockey Now) recently reported multiple sources claiming the Bruins are scouting Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Savard. GM Don Sweeney is also continuing to monitor the situation with Ekholm and St. Louis Blues rearguard Vince Dunn. The Predators and Blues recently scouted the Bruins.

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

(3/21/21) BLH’s NHL Trade Rumors: “One name I’m intrigued by, provided the Kings wanted to move him, is…”

BLH provides you with the latest NHL news, rumors, and speculation featuring Tyson Barrie (EDM), John Gibson (ANA), P.K. Subban (NJ), and more!

Is Leon Draisaitl’s excellent two-way presence just a mirage? One Edmonton pundit says they may very well be, BLH says not so fast. Read about it here.

A new name in the rumor mill for Oilers fans! Check out who it is here.

Could Tyson Barrie be trade bait for the Oilers? Read about that here.

This is not the kind of news Edmonton Oilers fans will like.

Click the pic and find the NHL94 player from your team!

NHL Rumors and Speculation

Greg Wyshynski (ESPN): Says that there are six teams who MUST nail the upccoming NHL trade deadline,

  • Anaheim Ducks: They should honestly tear this thing down to the concrete and prospects. For me, that would include exploring a Hampus Lindholm trade in the offseason and moving goalie John Gibson either now or in the offseason.
  • Boston Bruins: Jake DeBrusk’s name has been mentioned for a while as trade bait for bigger fish, and he’s a desirable target at just a $3.675 million annual cap hit that runs through next season. He also strikes you as someone with the Tyler Seguin-esque ability to level up his game in a new locale and make whatever deal the Bruins include him in become “The DeBrusk Trade” within two seasons.
  • Carolina Hurricanes: Adding a center would seem paramount. The question is whether that center should be the Buffalo Sabres‘ Eric Staal — a reunion of franchise player and franchise that is seemingly being willed into existence by fans and media lately.
  • Nashville Predators: Obviously, Ekholm is a deadline bounty waiting to happen. The 2019 Jake Muzzin trade between the Kings and Maple Leafs has been held up as a comparable windfall, and that delivered Carl Grundstrom, Sean Durzi and Toronto’s first-round pick in the 2019 draft to Los Angeles.
  • Philadelphia Flyers: Another reason for the defensive letdown is that the Flyers still haven’t replaced Matt Niskanen on their blue line… They could also bring in Manson from the Ducks, but his offense hasn’t been anywhere near consistent in the past three seasons.
  • Toronto Maple Leafs: One name I’m intrigued by, provided the Kings wanted to move him, is Alex Iafallo. A 27-year-old pending unrestricted free agent, he costs $2.425 million against the cap and is as comfortable killing penalties as he is playing in the top six. Plus, Dubas and Kings GM Rob Blake have done some nice business in the Muzzin and Campbell trades before.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Vancouver Canucks have decided to hold off on becoming sellers now that they’ve climbed back into the Scotia North Division playoff race. They want to see how things play out and as a result has slowed things down in the trade market. The Columbus Blue Jackets are another club holding off after battling back into the postseason.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks points out P.K. Subban is having a pretty good season with the New Jersey Devils. Subban has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $9 million. Brooks suggests he’d be a good option for clubs seeking a right-side defenseman if the Devils agreed to pick up half of his cap hit.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports teams have shown an interest in Arizona Coyotes winger Conor Garland. He doesn’t believe it’s a move the Coyotes want to do but perhaps they’d consider it for the right price if it allows them to restock.

NBC Sports: San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson is now on record with the exact direction he’s going to take his hockey club and it’s not going to make star defenceman Erik Karlsson any happier.

  • “For very simple reasons. We were gonna reset,” Wilson said when asked why the Sharks weren’t buyers over the offseason. “That meant giving our younger player the opportunities. That’s the mode that we’re in right now. You want the Patty Marleaus, the Stef Noesens, the Marcus Sorensens, but you want opportunities for our young players to play. That is the mode that we’re in. We wanted to make sure that we replenished our system in the draft and that’s why we used all nine of those picks. We didn’t use those picks to go get players from the outside.”

Ken Campbell (The Hockey News): Had this to say with regards to Edmonton Oilers pending UFA defenseman Tyson Barrie,

  • “It’s pretty clear that if and when Barrie sits down with the Oilers, he’s going to have to adjust his expectations. If he wants to remain in what has turned out to be a great situation and be part of a team on the rise, he’ll likely have to sacrifice both money and term and take a hometown discount for an organization to which he has only one year of service. If not, he’ll sign for better terms somewhere else and be playing for his fourth team in four years.”

Adam Gretz (NBC Sports): Believes the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, and Boston Bruins are the most likely landing spots for Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm. 

  • “There is a lot to like about the Jets due to their forwards and goaltending, but the defense is still in need of some extra help. This team is screaming for a player like Ekholm. The North Division is wide open for the taking, and for as big of a lead as Toronto jumped out to it is not invincible out of that group. Somebody from that division is going to reach the semifinals. The Jets have the forwards and goaltending. They need the defense.Toronto is a logical choice given the seemingly “all in” mindset for this season, but given their current struggles they might need to address the goaltending issue before the defense. That is the concern right now.Boston has the salary cap space to make a play for a top defenseman at the trade deadline but given how much their secondary scoring has hurt this season.”

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