Latest on the Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues and Florida Panthers.
Will Chiarelli Trade Oilers’ Young Guns?
SPORTNET.CA: Mark Spector reports new Edmonton Oilers GM and president of hockey operations Peter Chiarelli has put Oilers young guns Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov on notice with his comment that he’s traded young players in the past. During his tenure as Bruins GM, Chiarelli traded away Phil Kessel and Tyler Seguin. Spector also notes the Oilers have an extra first-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft (received from Pittsburgh in the David Perron trade) plus two second-round picks and possibly two third-rounders. They also have promising Darnell Nurse and Leon Draisaitl in their system, which gives Chiarelli plenty of assets to draw upon to address their goaltending and blueline needs via trade.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson also notes the Oilers’ young guns have been put on notice. While Chiarelli’s predecessor Craig MacTavish told Hall, Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle they won’t be dealt, that might not be the case now. Hall tells Matheson he doesn’t want to be traded. David Staples, meanwhile, dismisses speculation out of Boston suggesting the Bruins offer up Milan Lucic for Hall or Eberle.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yes, Chiarelli has dealt young players in the past, but only if they didn’t appear to be a good fit within the coach’s system. That’s why Kessel and Seguin were traded. Chiarelli didn’t move them just for the sake of doing so. Yes, he could trade one of the Oilers young forwards, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will. He could opt to see how they perform this season under a new head coach before deciding if one or more should be moved. If Chiarelli does move one of them, it will be for a significant offer to address one or both of the Oilers biggest needs, which is a proven starting goalie and a top-two defenseman.
No, Chiarelli won’t trade Hall or Eberle for Lucic as that move won’t address the Oilers’ biggest needs. And no, he won’t trade the first-overall pick, as that will be used to select Connor McDavid. Chiarelli has plenty of other options to draw upon. I expect he’ll shop the Penguins’ first-rounder and one of his second-rounders. I wouldn’t be surprised if Draisaitl or Yakupov are shopped.
Could the Bruins move Chara or Seidenberg?
CSNNE.COM: Joe Haggerty reports age and injuries are taking a toll on Boston Bruins defensemen Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg. He speculates the Bruins could explore trading one of them. Both have no-movement clauses, but Haggerty wonders if Chara might waive his now that Peter Chiarelli, who helped bring him to Boston, is no longer the Bruins general manager. Haggerty also speculates Chiarelli, now the Oilers GM, could pitch an offer sheet to Bruins RFA blueliner Dougie Hamilton, but he expects the Bruins will match any offer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins will match any offer for Hamilton, but they’re also squeezed for cap space this summer and could attempt to shed some salary. During the season when trade rumors popped up over Seidenberg, the blueliner said he’d be willing to waive his movement clause, depending upon the trade destination. Seidenberg is younger and less expensive than Chara, which could make him easier to move. Then again, Chara is still a well-respected defenseman and leader. If he’s willing to waive his movement clause, there will be interest in him. A club with cap space seeking blueline depth could have interest, though the Bruins will likely have to pick up part of his salary.
Blues could face offseason changes.
STLTODAY.COM: Jeff Gordon recently speculated the St. Louis Blues could face offseason changes behind the bench and among their core players if they make another early playoff exit.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the Blues currently down 3-2 in their opening round series against the Minnesota Wild, the possibility of another disappointing finish to their season looms large. If the Blues come up short again, head coach Ken Hitchcock could be fired. As for the core players, winger TJ Oshie lacks a no-trade clause and could be the most likely candidate to move. Team captain David Backes could also be shopped, provided he’s willing to waive his NTC. I don’t expect Vladimir Tarasenko, Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk or Jaden Schwartz become trade candidates.
No major offseason moves for the Panthers?
FOX SPORTS FLORIDA: Jameson Olive reports it’s looking more likely the Florida Panthers will stand pat in this summer’s UFA market. Scottie Upshall and Tomas Kopecky are their only UFAs and they could be replaced from within the organization. Olive wonders if the Panthers can avoid arbitration with forward Jimmy Hayes, and thinks they’ll stick with Al Montoya as Roberto Luongo’s backup. He also feels the Panthers will re-sign Jonathan Huberdeau to a two-year bridge deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers are likely to promote a couple of promising young forwards into full-time roles next season. Still, one shouldn’t dismiss the possibility of adding a veteran scorer via trade to bolster their offense. I think they’ll avoid arbitration and re-sign Hayes. Montoya has another season left on his contract and I expect they’ll keep him. Unless Huberdeau gets an offer sheet, he’ll get a bridge deal.
Good to see a new message in Edmonton. The $6 million contracts and the assurances of no trades had created a sense of entitlement. With the Islanders on the upswing I can see a hall or Eberle a good. Reinhart Decolle plus coming back?
Wow. Finally. The clown show in edmonton looks like it might be over.
ibhope Chiarelli completely guts the staff in Edmonton. A total culture change.
To me it all started with how they treated Souray.
And thank you Spec, Lucic does not get Hall or Eberle or any other of the oilers young core simply because he has 1 year left on his contract.
i also find it funny that the rumor when Chiarelli was in boston a week ago was that Lucic was on the block because they didn’t like him in Boston amy more and now that Chiarelli is in Edmonton, the rumor is that Chiarelli might want to bring him to edmonton.
I really do not care what Edmonton does, just happy we don’t have to see Mac T or alowe infront of a camera again telling us the oilers are making progress anfbold moves and all that poop.
peace!
The boneless MacTavish should have been canned the day he fired Ralph Krueger by Skype rather than face-to-face.
A classless move agreed but I still feel MacT desrves more than 2 years as GM. I think if he stayed on as Chiarelli’s asst no harm can come from that.
MacT was terrible at assessing talent. Paying Nikitan like a top 3 Dman, signing Scrivens and Fasth and thinking they were starters, Schultz is a potential Norris candidate and the list goes on. He had no training for the position and was in over his head from Day 1.
On a separate note, the last player the Oilers need is an overpaid, lazy, ignorant buffoon like Lucic
I agree. I think that MacT has a lot of potential as GM or assGM. MacT made obviously some rookieGM mistakes coming in to Edmonton, but I believe he is a very smart hockeyman. Much much better than Lowe, Howson and so forth. MacT is only in his beginnings in hockey management. He will be very solid the next 15-20 years.
It seems that history has proved Krueger right. He seems like he was a really good fit in hindsight and it was the wrong move to can him. Krueger would have benefited Oilers development.
It would be very interesting if Chiarelli swung a trade for Lucic to Edmonton. Lucic brings some swagger which is needed to a team with a fragile psyche.
Totally agree with George. Now it’s time to shake up this core and get a number 1 dean and Goalie. Anderson and webber for the right package of Hall and pics for Webber and yak upon for Anderson and Cowan.
Maybe a trade with the Sabres with Pysyk and Yaks being the main principles would be a win-win for both teams. Pysyk will be a solid NHL defenseman and he is from the Edmonton area.
You mentioned this before havent you? I think Yak might be a little steep for a D prospect (granted a good one) but perhaps with McDavid an option may be to resign Roy to an affordable deal (he meshed well with Yaks and really seemed to help him) and possibly move Draisitil to the Sabres for a D prospect like Pysyk and a little something extra, to me another big center behind Eichle could allow the Sabres to rid themselve of Hodgson and leave them strong down the middle for years to come. I agree the Sabres and Oiler seem like they could be good trade partners.
This is a much better trade option for the Sabres. We have no need for Yak. I don’t think he will fit in with what the Sabres are trying to do.
Yeah Shticky I did mention trading Pysyk to Edmonton but didn’t say for Yaks in my other post…I wasn’t implying an even up trade as the Sabres would have to add a sweetner. As for Drasaitl being involved I wouldn’t think so with Reinhart being here to center the second line plus we have Girgensons at center also. The Sabres need wingers. If Chiarelli learns his lesson managing the cap by his mistakes in Boston Pysyk makes sense as he’ll be cheaper to sign. I think Hodgson will be a compliance buyout this summer.
No chance you trade a #3 overall player for a prospect D , Draisitil will be a star player. A big centre who is ripping up the WHL . He is also large which is something the Oilers don’t in their system anywhere. Sorry , no way they make this trade. I think Buffalo and the Oilers would be good partners, just not this deal. Also think Tampa and Florida can be good trading partners.
I hate to give us Pysyk – though the Sabres have 3 young right handed defenseman and Risto and Bogo are staying for sure.
Oilers were a little unlucky to have the lucky first pick in a draft where there were no one “better” than Yaks to choose from. For some reason, I have a hard time picturing Yakupov on the Oilers long term. I can totally see Chiarelli pull the plug on him if he doesn’t show chemistry with any of the top centers.
I have a hard time with this idea….no one better? Yaks was a mistake plain and simple for a management team that failed drafting to assess needs, the Oiler a team that has a top line set on wing took another scoring winger leaving Galyenchuk Murray Lindholm Dumba Trouba Reinhart Matta..Oiler management and scouting missed aessesing the needs of the club it has nothing to do with there was no one better available. This year was a major issue scoring wingers? No the D, centers and goaltending have been an issue for quite some time, its not new. Not like a front 8ffice with a clew would throw their hamds up in the air and say I dunno no one seems better we should just pick this guy. Really it was a pretty good year.
I know it sounded fishy when I wrote it, but I think you know what I mean. The Yakupov draft was no Tavares, McDavid, Crosby draft. You need a little bit of luck where the bricks may fall. (They got a real break with McDavid this year)
In fact, I also consider it a missed opportunity. Teams tend to overvalue the draft selections at each years draft. Edmonton should have used that opportunity to trade their first pick for a kings ransom. They didn’t need Yakupov, but they needed other pieces. Yakupov would have brought in several good pieces at the time. So standing pat and drafting was a fail in hindsight. So much fail for Edmonton for so many years. But now things are looking up in many aspects.
Can’t agree, Eakins started Yak on the 3rd line and gave him no power play time. The year before he was their top scorer. Eakins crushed this kids spirit and his confidence went into the toilet. When Hall was hurt he was on the first line power play, he was also producing . Hall came back and they took him off this line. Just too many high end wingers trying to get top minutes. Trade Eberle, lots more money and refuses to check anyone. Yak does hit players and does go to the net.
The best time to trade Chara was last year or two years ago while he was still thought of as a Norris candidate. He’s simply a depreciating asset, that no longer plays physical. Might want to wait until midseason to trade him, hoping his play improves and that their is a team in need of his skill set and leadership, but under no circumstances should Boston retain any salary. Plus his actual salary $$ are less then his salary cap hit. Except for Mcquaid and Miller the bruins defense played way to soft this year. Hamilton at 6’5″ need to be more willing to get physically involved. Personally hope Chara ends up in Edmonton for Yakapov. Before you oiler fans say no way, I say look at your new gm and then think again.
Lmao yep, I can definitely see something along these lines happening….someone off that bluline in Boston is an Oiler with in a year. Funnier thing will be if it was Yaks going the other way is he will put up 40 goals in Boston.
not an oilers fan but no way the oilers give up a young player for chara he will be lucky to be able to tie his skates next year! that sounds like a leafs fan trade proposal lol
@jello
What’s with the clown comments all the time? If you read what was said you’ll see Schticky suggesting “something along those lines could happen”. No where does he state chara will be in Edmonton. Then you have to say it sounds like a Leaf trade. Grow up man, try working on your reading skills before you say anything.
mikeyj… maybe follow the comments and take your own advice I replied to caper saying chara to edm not shtickys comment! quit being such a clown
Any Sabres trades will likely wait for a coach. Though one of the D prospects will be gone for help up front, possibly along with their second first round pick (ROR, yaku, or possibly an offer sheet for Tarasenko)
Please – no Yak in Buffalo – the 2nd coming of Max Afiniganof
I’m very aware of Afinogenov and Yakupov is a better overall player. But how good? Nobody knows, not you or me and not Chiarelli. Next season will dictate Yakupovs path.
Miller is a complete liability. He is terrible on his pivots, he reacts slowly, has no speed, makes terrible reads, can’t make a breakout pass nor can he make the simple 5 foot ones either, he rarely makes a physical play that has any impact on a game, he impedes our transition game all the time. He is as useless as an ice cream shop in hell.
The Canadiens exposed and exploited him when they eliminated us. Anyone who skates with two functioning legs has a field trip when they match up against him. All in All, he is the weakest link in our entire d-core. I’d take Hal Gill out of retirement and pay him 7 million for the next ten years before watching Miller play another game as a Bruin. Ok, maybe not, but still he is brutal…I don’t know what you see in his game…
Well, Kevin Miller must have been doing something right, as he was a +20, when he got injured! Sure, he made some mistakes in the series against Montreal, but he’s shown improvement. Besides, the Bruins/Habs 7 game series could have gone either way. It was a tight series.
Some just can’t see beyond the bottom line of a series win and all that matters is there was one winner – so the other team automatically becomes a “loser.” This season there were those gloating over the fact Montreal were up 3-0 in their series with the Sens without examining he fact that all 3 were one goal games and, in terms of goals scored, a diminishing series – 4-3, 3-2, 2-1 and 1-0 (until the other night). Had they swept we’d then have heard that the Sens were “no match” for the mighty Habs – from these same quarters.
Edmonton has an issue attracting free agents and retaining players coming up to UFA status. Chiarelli is going to have to work hard to change that dynamic and make the Oilers an attractive place for players to come and stay.
I suspect McDavid + managerial culture change = radically altered landscape with respect to all of that.
Edmonton is going to be fun to watch this summer. There phone is going to be ringing non stop.
Edmonton is super interesting right now. Bob Nicholson and Peter Chiarelli + McDavid + new arena + new coach to be named.
In my belief the McDavid-factor alone will be a big commercial boost for the Oilers. They can sell a shit ton more of merchandise. Oilers will probably be featured on significantly more TV programming on US networks, which you could probably monetize. The new arena, with expanded seating numbers, will probably meet or exceed projections regarding purchases. Oilers can’t afford, in business terms, to trade McDavid pick or not drafting McDavid.
Oilers is the team to watch. A lot is going for them in terms of personnel changes + new arena + new coach.
Oilers can’t afford to trade the McDavid pick. McDavid alone will sell a shit ton of merchandise. He will put the Oilers onto US TV programming which in turn creates opportunity to monetize that. McDavid will also sell more season tickets in a new arena with expanded seating. McDavid will have the Oilers meet or exceed all projected business ventures they currently undertake. So, in short, Oilers can’t afford, in business terms, not to select McDavid.
Oilers is the team to watch. A lot is going for them in terms of personnel changes + new arena + new coach.
Oilers can’t afford to trade the McDavid pick. McDavid alone will sell a ton of merchandise. He will put the Oilers onto US TV programming which in turn creates opportunity to monetize that. McDavid will also sell more season tickets in a new arena with expanded seating. McDavid will have the Oilers meet or exceed all projected business ventures they currently undertake. So, in short, Oilers can’t afford, in business terms, not to select McDavid.
I don’t share your opinions on Yakupov. Way to early to right him off. I still see him as a 40 goal, 70 point winger in the next 2 seasons. He is very 1 dimensional as are many young players but he’ll learn. The biggest issue in his development has been the lack of continuity. How many coaches has he played for already? The answer is to many. You can’t teach what he brings to the ice. He has world class offensive skills, He’s a shooter & in time he will be significantly better. That doesn’t mean he won’t be moved at some point but he will be a 40 goal 70 point player some where for many years in the next 2 seasons.
Agree Yakupov is a monster. I would love to see him in Boston any day. I think the Bruins should target Pateryn from the Canadiens. He is the player we need on our blue line today. He can become a good top 3 or 4 defender in the NHL if you ask me.
as a habs fan everyone has tinordi and beaulieu ahead of patyern but I agree patyern could be a solid dman
I disagree with them. Pateryn is the most sound, intelligent, aggressive and competitive one out of the bunch.He is complete, well balance and can fine tune his game to make the Nhl and be a good contributor to any team. The other two have holes in their game that they won’t ever fix up nor do they have attributes or skill sets to compensate or offset their weaknesses. They don’t have the right mix of skills sets and mental capacity to be pro players in my opinion. Career minor leaguers. I am being objective, if they were Bruins I’d say the same.
bealieu attitude might hurt him but tinordi will be a long time nhler
All things considered, Seidenberg should of been moved two years ago.We needed the cap space to retain Boychuk and Chiarelli should of anticipated that because even I could foresee that problem coming ahead back then. He was already thirty plus and was clearly not going to improve or be as useful as Boychuk. That mistake was the final straw that cost Chiarelli his job.
The Seguin deal was inevitable. He was never going to post up the numbers he is producing in Dallas behind two elite centermen nor could he do that playing on the wing.He had to go, the only mistake was failing to acquire Benn from Dallas. The possibility was there at the time if you ask me because Benn didn’t quite hit his full stride yet but he was still showing some significant upside. Both players had posted similar stats yet Seguin was younger. Seguin for Benn, one for one would of been a fair deal, if not a better one for Dalls but still an improvement over the actual transaction that transpired. Benn’s size, accurate shot, release, ability to play in a multitude of positions and style of play was the perfect match for our needs back then and he is still the type of player we need on our roster today. Moving Seguin was the correct decision, the return wasn’t adequate. Benn should of been a Bruin and we would have another cup to show for it if he was with us.
Well, for one thing, Seidenberg has a NTC and, so, would have been more difficult to move than Boychuk. However, I agree, Boychuk was a major loss to the Bruins. As for Benn coming to Boston – i don’t think so. Dallas wouldn’t have made the trade. They wanted Tyler Seguin as the centre for Benn, and, in fact, they’re dynamite together. Why would Dallas trade away one good player, simply to get another one back, and a problem child, at that! No, what the Bruins should have done, is bring along Seguin as the 3rd line centre, for a couple of years. Then, they should have traded David Krejci for some good assets and promoted Seguin to the 1st line centre position. Now, Krejci has turned into a walking injury, waiting to happen. I hope he comes back next year and has a strong season, but don’t count on it.
Wasn’t there a rumor that there was a Vanek for Sequin trade being discussed and it fell through?
Just a quick thought on the possible offer sheet by Chiarelli for Hamilton In Boston. i could be wrong, and I am going with the assumption that the offer sheet will likely be over 5 million per season. This would then cause the Oilers to send a 1st, 2nd and 3rd rd picks back to the Bruins. It is also to my understanding that These picks cant be picks the oilers have acquired in trades from other teams? Thus the 1st rd pick going back would have to be the 1st overall pick. Maybe Lyle has a better knowledge of how the offer sheets work
If so, what would be the Bruins thoughts on not matching?
it wouldn’t be this years pick it would be next years and it would have to be more than 5 million for the bruins not too match
No they wouldn’t be able to make an offer sheet until on or after July 1. That would be after the draft so they would recieve picks from future drafts. If mcdavid and any moves the oilers make improve the team in the standings the 1st round pick would be later in the first round depending on where they finish so theoretically they would not be able to draft a player of hamiltons calibre. But they have to decide if it’s worth the risk which in his case it probably is.
If oil offersheet hamilton this summer(witch they should) the compensation picks would be 2016 draft picks so not this years first over all
This team has finally hired a leader at a GM level
I just hope he trades Taylor Hall for the mistake of drafting him, the guy again should have Sequin this guy could have played on this team with no talent and been better looking with his track record before going to Dallas and now look at his record being in Dallas! the writing is on the wall.
now the first thing Edmonton needs in abonafired goalie for once.
Also two number 2 defense that they passed from Chicago and Boston pick up for a couple of draft picks
in the end its time to build this team and Connor McDavid so he wants to stay in Edmonton for a long time not a short time, his desire is to play in Toronto. That may happen one day but right now lets trying to get him to love the Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton to start with
If Edmonton wins a cup in a few years Chiarelli will get the credit but it will be with all the guys Mactavish drafted. Just like in Boston Chiarelli ruined the team and won the cup with previously drafted guys. Just look at Bostons drafts before and after Chiarelli.