Rumor: Holland won't be big game hunting on defense.

[Rubi]

"However Holland tries to readjust, what’s clear is that he won’t be signing a player like Dougie Hamilton. Holland said the Oilers won’t be going big-game hunting on the back end. Holland talked about having to make sure that he keeps in mind the future contracts for players like Darnell Nurse, Ethan Bear, Jesse Puljujarvi and others.
“Internally, I have to make sure that I have some money set aside that is going to come off the books.” The Oilers will not be looking to spend $7 or $8 million for a defenseman. Holland did acknowledge that the team has looked into the trade market and could potential improve the right side of his defense via trade instead of through free agency. He wouldn’t give any sort of indication (not that he can anyways) as to whom he might targeting."

https://thehockeywriters.com/oilers-news-rumors-larsson-hyman-smith-barrie/

Click to read more...

 

[The Great Weal]

I hear Marc Edouard Vlasic is available though, Holland should be all over that!

 

[majormajor]

It's awkward to have a right side D group with no good defenders but the best thing the Oilers can do is take their lumps and re-assess at the deadline, likely picking up a shutdown RD at that point.

Right now the RD pickings making it to UFA are going to be very overpriced, it's such a slim market. The Oilers will make the playoffs without addressing that, and this gives them a chance to see more of what Bear and Bouchard can do. Some teams will be selling off in February and they'll get what they need then.

 

[Gurglesons]

Maybe you shouldn’t have taken Duncan Keith’s contract at full value Ken.

 

[TheNumber4]

Big Game don’t come to Edmonton anyways. So it’s not like this is a choice more than a statement of reality.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

I hear Marc Edouard Vlasic is available though, Holland should be all over that!

Look Oilers, it's gonna take a lot to get Vlasic since he's a vital proponent of our defense, a stellar name-brand defensive stalwart, and also because the Sharks really don't want to be helping a Division rival, but OK fine fine......we'll give you Vlasic (15% retained) for a 5th 2021.

 

[elitepete]

Probably because Hamilton is too young

 

[Foggy1097]

I have faith that Kenny will succeed in wasting yet another year of having the two best players on the planet. Gotta hoard those 1st round picks…screw Cups!

 

[Cloned]

The last time he said "we won't go big game hunting", he tried to sign Markstrom and ended up signing Barrie.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

I mean he could try and snag Savard, that would probably be a smart idea

 

[ThreeOfAPerfectPair]

Can't commit too much cap/term right now with Nurse and Parakyo to sign next summer.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

How can he? He just picked up an awful defenseman on a horrible contract that just ate up a good chunk of his cap.

 

[Cup or Bust]

He said he was not going to chase 7 or 8 million dollar D-men, he didn't say he was not going to try and find a 2nd pairing RH D-man before the season.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Too late. He already did that with Keith.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Bouchard should be ready by now, I'd hope for the Oil.

And Broberg too.

 

[Whalers Fan]

Look at Ken Holland, pretending he knows how to play under a salary cap.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Yeah, making room for those future signings by filling out the D with cheap players like *checks notes* Duncan Keith

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

Anton Stralman coming right up.

 

[Jerkbait]

I have to admit its hard watching the circus in Edmonton. Wasting these great players in their prime again...they have the pcs just need a few more of the RIGHT pcs but they struggle to find them . Ia it really that hard ?? They need a 1B GOLAIE. lots out there . Andersen is probably the best fit they need forward depth on the wing . They could of had McCann from pitt for next to nothing. They need some help on the backend so they let their best defensive D walk. They take assets away for DK only to have suter become available days later .. at this point the Seattle team has a better backend and goaltending then the Oilers...

 

[ffh]

They went big game hunting on defence earlier and snagged Keith.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

I’m sure Justin Schultz wouldn’t mind going back to Edmonton

Or you can have slightly used Brendan Dillon for the toughness.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

I will LOL if they trade for a defenseman within the next 2 weeks.

 

[nerblet]

I have to admit its hard watching the circus in Edmonton. Wasting these great players in their prime again...they have the pcs just need a few more of the RIGHT pcs but they struggle to find them . Ia it really that hard ?? They need a 1B GOLAIE. lots out there . Andersen is probably the best fit they need forward depth on the wing . They could of had McCann from pitt for next to nothing. They need some help on the backend so they let their best defensive D walk. They take assets away for DK only to have suter become available days later .. at this point the Seattle team has a better backend and goaltending then the Oilers...

Not like we really let him walk. He chose to leave.

 

[viper0220]

He can't go big game hunting, players don't want to play in Canada

Sorry I had to derail this.

 

[InfinityIggy]

"However Holland tries to readjust, what’s clear is that he won’t be signing a player like Dougie Hamilton. Holland said the Oilers won’t be going big-game hunting on the back end. Holland talked about having to make sure that he keeps in mind the future contracts for players like Darnell Nurse, Ethan Bear, Jesse Puljujarvi and others.
“Internally, I have to make sure that I have some money set aside that is going to come off the books.” The Oilers will not be looking to spend $7 or $8 million for a defenseman. Holland did acknowledge that the team has looked into the trade market and could potential improve the right side of his defense via trade instead of through free agency. He wouldn’t give any sort of indication (not that he can anyways) as to whom he might targeting."

https://thehockeywriters.com/oilers-news-rumors-larsson-hyman-smith-barrie/

He said, while blinking with one eye for the entire conversation.