NHL rumblings: Oilers’ next trade target, Sabers in on Thomas, plus latest on Predators, more
The Edmonton Oilers made a transfer Monday and are poised to make one other earlier than Friday’s NHL trade deadline.
Or they hope to.
First, I actually just like the Connor Murphy fit in Edmonton. It’s precisely what the Oilers wanted on the again finish to assist quiet issues down a bit. He’s a defense-first man, and Edmonton did not have sufficient of these.
According to league sources, seven playoff groups over the previous week confirmed curiosity in Murphy. The Chicago Blackhawks needed to do Murphy a strong to indicate how a lot they respect the veteran, in order that they made positive Edmonton was of curiosity to Murphy — particularly since Murphy continues to be on the lookout for his first style of a traditional playoffs (he performed his solely playoff video games in the Edmonton bubble with no followers in 2020). So good on the Hawks for locating him touchdown spot.
Chicago instructed groups on Monday that they needed to behave shortly, so each staff was able to pay the second-round value and be match for Murphy was going to get him. The Oilers stepped up shortly.
Now the Oilers want to maneuver Andrew Mangiapane (who cleared waivers) and his contract (one more yr at $3.6 million next season), they usually hope to do this over the next day or two to allow them to transfer on to their second goal, discovering a third-line heart.
Oilers broadcaster Bob Stauffer has talked about Nic Roy of the Toronto Maple Leafs as a attainable match, which might make sense based mostly on what I feel the Oilers have recognized as a necessity: both a third-line heart or a top-nine ahead in common who has the ruggedness and bodily attributes you want for playoff hockey.
Roy, who has one more season left on his contract at a $3 million cap hit, suits that standards, however so do others. I ponder if Edmonton might get Toronto to take Mangiapane in a possible Roy trade if the Oilers have the required sweetener.
Or might an even bigger goal, like Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues, make sense? He’s received two years left on his contract at a $6.5 million cap hit, so St. Louis would wish to retain some wage there. And what’s the price of doing that? But in phrases of Schenn’s bodily make-up and Stanley Cup-winning pedigree, it is an attractive thought.
If the Oilers go the winger route, pending Nashville Predators unrestricted free agent Michael Bunting might additionally match the invoice, given his physicality and ruggedness.
Sabers in on Thomas
The value remained sky excessive for Blues heart Robert Thomas as of Tuesday, and I imply, it ought to!
No. 1 facilities who’re 26 years previous and signed to time period on a good contract virtually by no means develop into obtainable on the trade market. So I do not blame St. Louis one bit for asking for what feels like an enormous value.
Colleagues Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston reported Tuesday afternoon concerning the Buffalo Sabers’ eager curiosity in Thomas. Given Josh Norris’ struggles to remain wholesome, this is smart on a number of ranges for the Sabres.
As talked about earlier than, the Utah Mammoth are additionally among the many groups in conversations with St. Louis on Thomas.
The query is whether or not the value will soften by Friday at 3 pm ET or whether or not the Blues are comfortable to simply maintain Thomas and check out the market once more come the offseason. They’ve acquired a variety of market information on the curiosity in him.
What’s humorous is that I received fully reverse reads on the Thomas conditions from two staff executives on Monday, one predicting Thomas for positive will get handled by Friday’s deadline and the opposite predicting the Blues will wait till the summer season to revisit that file.
Johnson not obtainable
Teams have known as on Columbus Blue Jackets heart Kent Johnson after his latest scratch, however the response from the Blue Jackets has been that they don’t seem to be in transferring him.
Johnson is having a down yr, however the fifth decide from the 2021 draft continues to be solely 23, and Columbus very a lot nonetheless believes in the participant he might be.
Predators obtainable
The Nashville Predators are open to transferring some elements regardless of staying in the periphery of the playoff race, a league supply stated Tuesday morning.
The Preds have plenty of pending UFAs in Michael Bunting, Erik Haula, Cole Smith and Tyson Jost.
On Friday, they received the ball rolling, sending UFA-to-be to the Minnesota Wild, per The Athletic‘s Michael Russo.
Capitals on the lookout for scoring
After onerous however not getting Artemi Panarin, who was dealt from the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings earlier than the Olympic break, the Washington Capitals proceed to search for a scoring winger. But that additionally might be an offseason factor.
The viable choices for what they’re searching for will not be many for the time being. And given that they are no lock to make the playoffs, it’d make more sense to attend till the summer season. But I would not completely rule it out this week.
Carlson shocker?
Sticking with the Caps, I used to be requested on The Athletic Hockey Show on Monday a few title from left subject — somebody nobody is speaking about — to maintain an eye fixed on earlier than the deadline. I stated John Carlson as a result of that might be a shocking trade.
I feel it is unlikely Carlson will get dealt as a result of Washington desires to stay in the race and would not need to take away from the staff. But with Carlson a pending UFA, it will not cease groups from calling on him, and I imagine some have. I feel it must be a very good supply to get Washington’s consideration, although.
Pettersson not a must-trade
Teams proceed to test in with the Vancouver Canucks on Elias Pettersson, and the Canucks have instructed groups that they are open to transferring him — however he is not a must-trade from their perspective. Vancouver is more than advantageous if he stays put by way of this deadline.
Pettersson has six more years on his deal at an $11.6 million common annual worth, so a staff would actually have to make certain a greater model of EP40 goes to indicate up more usually than not with a change of surroundings to deal for him.
The Carolina Hurricanes, the Kings and the Detroit Red Wings are fits I ponder about. But I feel it is more possible than not that Pettersson stays put by way of this deadline.
Garland on the transfer?
According to league sources, trade speak picked up Tuesday with a number of groups on Connor Garland.
Garland’s six-year, $36 million extension, signed on July 1, would not kick in till next season, however the Canucks are just about listening to all of their veterans. Garland turns 30 next week. That’s the form of trade you usually see in the summer season, however given the place Vancouver is in tank mode, it isn’t shocking to see the Canucks prepared to interact on it.
Myers’ choice
We nonetheless await a call from Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers.
I’m instructed there’s nonetheless a deal on the desk from Detroit that wants his consent through his no-move clause. His camp, led by veteran agent JP Barry, desires to be affected person, although, to see if the market will confide in different groups. That’s smart. I feel there’s nonetheless hope that the Dallas Stars will make a pitch.
Either manner, I used to be instructed Tuesday morning that Myers nonetheless desires to be affected person. I do assume Myers might find yourself waiving to go to Detroit in the top if the market would not broaden. We shall see. But both manner, I do not assume Myers stays put. He can management his destiny now together with his full no-move, which, come July 1, shifts to a 12-team, modified no-trade.
Better to manage issues now.
Price for Ristolainen
Sticking with right-shot defensemen, the value on Rasmus Ristolainen, in keeping with league sources, is a first-round decide and a prospect, however the Philadelphia Flyers are prepared to be versatile relying on the staff and what they’ve that makes more sense for them.
Either manner, it is a excessive value, accurately on condition that he is not a rental. Ristolainen has one yr left at a $5.1 million cap hit.
Kings’ next transfer?
What now for the Kings after the blockbuster trade for Panarin earlier than the Olympic break and a coaching change this week?
Despite not sitting in a playoff spot, I do not see the Kings promoting. I do not assume they need to do this to captain Anze Kopitar in his remaining season. I do not assume the Kings will do an entire lot more earlier than Friday’s deadline, but when something, it might be a comfortable deal for a rental costing a mid-round decide.
It’s the offseason that intrigues me most for the Kings, with Kopitar’s retirement and ample cap area. I feel they may go big-game looking. There’s no title too large, relying on who’s obtainable this summer season.
