7...7x7. I'd prefer 6.75, but it'll probably be around 7.25.What would you guys honestly be comfortable paying Nuge?
Maybe I'm just underrating him, curious to hear some other opinions
7...7x7. I'd prefer 6.75, but it'll probably be around 7.25.What would you guys honestly be comfortable paying Nuge?
Maybe I'm just underrating him, curious to hear some other opinions
Just don't give in Holland. They're the ones desperate to shed payroll.From the sounds of it, not only does Arizona want a 1st this year plus a top end defenseman prospect, but they also don't want to take back any salary at all in the trade.
There's asking a lot for one of your best players and then there's refusing to live in reality.
MOAR
Oilers media, except Stauffer, seem to be trying to prep everyone for if we move Bouchard.
Like OEL, dont like that package
I would like to start seeing Oilers being rumored (or actually involved) in deals where we weren't the clear losers in a trade
Ill wait to see what the deal actually is (if there is one). But int he past Holland has not really been a good trader. And given the fact hes got Tippet in his ear likely begging for OEL, I cant imagine this will turn out well for us. But, we knew this when we hired Holland. Hired flawed GMs, get flawed results
No one is going to pay assets for AA if they can just get him for free. Maybe a low round pick to secure his rights but even that is pushing it.I don't understand why we couldn't just trade AA instead of letting him walk
Said every team who made a trade pre pandemic.Outside of TampaWith AA even though he may not be qualified, it may not mean that Holland wont try to sign him for a paycut. Those AA and Green trades sure didn’t work out thus far.
So right now, our opening night forward group is looking like:
Nuge - McDavid - Kassian
____- Draisaitl - Yamamoto
____- ______ - Puljujarvi
____- Khaira - Archibald
Chiasson
since we're rumored to not be qualifying AA. Still need a 3c and a top 6 winger. Maybe we bring Ennis back for the 4th line, or call up Haas/Nygard.
On defense:
____ - Larsson
Nurse - Bear
Jones - Benning
Jones might play with Larsson, which means Lagesson (?) or someone else will have to slot in on the bottom pairing.
In net:
Koskinen
_____
Lot of holes for Holland to start addressing here.
Forgot Neal. I hope it's not all internal replacements though.Neal, Haas, Nygaard, Benson will fill those forward holes.
Russell likely stays on D
Maybe a Mrazek in net but could see them signing Smith on the cheap for another year.
I don't understand why we couldn't just trade AA instead of letting him walk
Yeah you and me both...haha.Forgot Neal. I hope it's not all internal replacements though.
So right now, our opening night forward group is looking like:
Nuge - McDavid - Kassian
____- Draisaitl - Yamamoto
Neal - ______ - Puljujarvi
____- Khaira - Archibald
Chiasson
since we're rumored to not be qualifying AA. Still need a 3c and a top 6 winger. Maybe we bring Ennis back for the 4th line, or call up Haas/Nygard.
On defense:
____ - Larsson
Nurse - Bear
Jones - Benning
Jones might play with Larsson, which means Lagesson (?) or someone else will have to slot in on the bottom pairing.
In net:
Koskinen
_____
Lot of holes for Holland to start addressing here.
I don't understand why we couldn't just trade AA instead of letting him walk
Honestly I think top 6 winger is a bigger hole than 3c. Worst case we plug Haas in there again or re-sign Sheahan for cheap. Keeping DRY together and finding a winger for McDavid should be one of the top priorities now (other than finding a Klef replacement and a 1b goalie to split with Koskinen, of course).Neal and Nygard will fill two of those spots, maybe Ennis for the McDavid line.
The two (now three) big holes are #3C, 1B goalie and now top pair LHD. The worst case right now is Klefbom's status being in limbo because they need that LTIR money so we should all hope, at this point, that he's ruled out for the year so they can move forward.
- The Oilers are attempting to find a taker for either restricted free agent Andreas Athanasiou and/or Matt Benning, both of whom will likely not receive a qualifying offer due to lack of cap space.
- Defenceman Oscar Klefbom’s lingering shoulder injury looms large. Sources indicate Klefbom is seeking opinions on how to move forward with the injury; if it requires surgery, he may be on the shelf long-term.
- If Klefbom is out for a long stretch, it would create opportunity on the salary cap by potentially using his $4.17 as a long-term injury exception to acquire a replacement. The Oilers are believed to have had preliminary discussions on acquiring defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the new No. 1 on the Trade Bait board, from Arizona. But there is a financial component to the potential transaction that would need to involve Arizona retaining a portion of Ekman-Larsson's salary, which the Coyotes have not been willing to budge on. Top-end defensive prospect Evan Bouchard (No. 46) and the Oilers' first-round pick could be involved in a deal.
- The Oilers are believed to have made recent progress with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ camp on a long-term extension. Nugent-Hopkins, 27, is entering the final year of his deal at $6 million. There may actually be some urgency to getting a deal done sooner rather than later, or at the very least knowing in concrete terms whether there is a deal to be had.
- If Nugent-Hopkins is not in the fold, sources suggest the Oilers are interested in targeting Taylor Hall if he were to hit the free agent market. No team since the 1947-48 Montreal Canadiens has featured three Hart Trophy-winning forwards, which would be possible if Hall is back in Oil Country alongside Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.
- Then there is the goalie market. Holland is set on acquiring a starter. The Oil have already been linked to Trade Bait in Matt Murray (No. 4), Darcy Kuemper (No. 21) and Petr Mrazek. Free agency is just nine days away and there is a slew of starters available, with many wondering whether the Oilers would take a run at Jacob Markstrom if he makes it to market.
- As reported on Wednesday, the Oilers are also in discussion to bring Jesse Puljujarvi back into the fold. Puljujarvi, 22, had 53 points in 56 games last season in Finland’s Liiga and the Oilers hold his rights until his 27th birthday. He is likely to remain in Europe until next season, but if/when a deal is worked out, it is likely to be a one-year contract worth $1.2 to $1.5 million.
- Adding Puljujarvi back to the mix would only add to Edmonton’s glut at right wing. Sources say the Oilers engaged the Boston Bruins on a left/right wing swap, Alex Chiasson for Anders Bjork. (Assistant GM Keith Gretzky drafted Bjork in Boston.) We’ll see where that goes, but the Oilers are pursuing a number of similar left/right swaps with other teams. There were rumours about the Oilers’ interest in bringing Bruins RFA Jake DeBrusk home to Edmonton. DeBrusk is No. 7 on the Trade Bait board, but given the Oilers’ cap constraints plus acquisition cost, he is likely too expensive.
Lot of it is re-hashed info but haven't seen the Chiasson - Bjork deal in a while. Why is everyone saying Bouchard + 1st? Oh god Holland.Trade Bait: Frozen cap makes ‘franchise-changing’ players available - TSN.ca
Frank Seravalli has a new article up and half of it is all Oilers.
If you trust Dreger, he thought we’d know more in the next few days on the Klefbom frontNeal and Nygard will fill two of those spots, maybe Ennis for the McDavid line.
The two (now three) big holes are #3C, 1B goalie and now top pair LHD. The worst case right now is Klefbom's status being in limbo because they need that LTIR money so we should all hope, at this point, that he's ruled out for the year so they can move forward.