Latest on Kevin Shattenkirk, Canucks shopping Chris Higgins, plus updates on the Wild and Red Wings.
Should the Oilers pursue Kevin Shattenkirk?
Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk could be a good fit with the Oilers.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Citing an ESPN.com rumor suggesting St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk could become a salary-cap casualty, Jonathan Willis believes Shattenkirk could be of interest to the Edmonton Oilers. Willis considers the soon-to-be 27-year-old “one of the league’s best offensive defencemen and is precisely the kind of player that Edmonton’s power play has been missing for the last few years.” He believes the Oilers have the depth in future assets to put together a competitive offer, but thinks it could also cost them center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Shattenkirk, whose annual cap hit is $4.25 million, is also eligible for UFA status in July 2017.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Shattenkirk is available, I believe Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli is very interested. A Willis notes, however, sorting out a possible return and extending the blueliner beyond his current deal to keep him in Edmonton won’t be easy. Shattenkirk could command $6.5 million next summer on a long-term deal via free agency. The Oilers can’t part with assets for a player who could depart as a free agent next year.
Wild could seek a top-line center.
STARTRIBUNECOM: Michael Russo suggests the Minnesota Wild may have missed their chance last week to add a young first-line center when the Columbus Blue Jackets dealt Ryan Johansen to the Nashville Predators for blueliner Seth Jones. “So, where does the Wild go from here?,” asks Russo. “Don’t get your hopes up for Steven Stamkos and Anze Kopitar. Eric Staal’s on the downslope of his career, and David Backes, maybe available in the offseason, is 31.” He notes Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins could be available but wonders if he’s any better than Wild center Mikael Granlund, while San Jose Sharks center Logan Couture has injury concerns.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Wild want Nugent-Hopkins, it’s going to cost them a defenseman. While the Wild have depth in that department, the Oilers could want an established top-two blueliner. Not sure there’s a fit there. Jonas Brodin’s been underwhelming this season, Mike Reilly and Matt Dumba are inexperienced, and they recently re-signed the undersized but effective Jared Spurgeon. They certainly aren’t moving Ryan Suter.
Canucks shopping Chris Higgins.
THE PROVINCE: Jason Botchford reports Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning released a statement yesterday saying he’s attempting to trade winger Chris Higgins, who’s signed through 2016-17 at an annual cap hit of $2.5 million with a limited no-trade clause. Benning is making this move as part of his efforts to transition toward a younger roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hampered by injuries, Higgins has struggled this season. It’s possible Benning could find a taker from a playoff contender seeking checking-line depth near the trade deadline. Otherwise, he could face trying to trade the 32-year-old winger in the offseason or buying out the final season of Higgin’s contract.
Latest Red Wings News.
THE DETROIT NEWS: Ted Kulfan reports the Red Wings still have moves to make to accommodate defenseman Kyle Quincey’s return to the lineup. Blueliner Jakub Kindl cleared waivers over the weekend and will be demoted, but they still need to free up more cap space. Kulfan claims GM Ken Holland tried for several weeks to trade Kindl. Possiblities could include demoting defenseman Alexey Marchenko (he’s waiver-exempt) or little-used forward Joakim Andersson.
Nothing says expand your ntc list like calling a press conference to say we dont want this guy anymore and probably wont let him play for us….bound to get some good value that way for Higgins. Vancouver has an odd way of doing things.
Crazier still is the talk of Montreal wanting him back!
Ya sure to spark some offense
Surprised we don’t want we seem to be taking other team cast offs like parenteau and grabner! Lol
Huh?
surprised the leafs don’t want Higgins we took cast offs like parenteau and grabner! lol
Now with a Lower Body Injury to Drew Miller, Poor guy just gets back and another Injury after 2 games that pretty much opens space for Qs return hopefully Miller’s Injury isn’t serious we need his PK skills.
Can’t see a Shattenkirk to Edmonton deal going down, The Blues would want at least Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in return. And I seriously doubt that the Oilers will give up Nugent-Hopkins unless Shattenkirk signs an extension there and don’t see that happening. Edmonton isn’t a playoff team right now and it would be a waste for him to go to a non-playoff team he needs to go to a playoff contender in the east at the trade deadline.
I agree with it doesnt make sense for Edmonton to give anything up for rentals, but that being said I also agree he is what the Oilers have ben lacking for some time and would improve them alot…maybe go after him as a UFA if they can move some salary out. Nurse Klefbolm Shattenkirk would be a gteat way to start next season and depending on what players left in the salary trimming the improved blueline and health of some others I could see them being pretty close if not for sure in the playoffs next year. Usually I am not one to say” but next year…” about the Oilers but I finnaly do feel that they are a piece or maybe 2 away from being a playoff team and a very good offensive D man like Shattenkirk is one of em.
Shattenkirk is signed up for one more year after this one, so he wouldn’t be a rental. But in saying that I don’t think Edm should go out and trade for him cause imo there is zero chance he will want to resign with them, unless they majorly overpay for him, which they cant afford to do.
I bet he is looking to go closer to home, one of the NY teams maybe.
Hmm never really thought of that King…good point. Wonder if Buffalo would consider…or vise versa Fransons short term deal could be a factor.
I do not follow any of the players close enough, but would this make any sense?
Shattenkirk to Islanders, Hamonic to Edmonton, RNK to St. Louis? Plus or minus bits and pieces to equal value out?
Fire away!
I mean RNH!
I like the 3-way deal
I like it, the only problem is that RNH is signed to the 2020-21 season and Shattenkirk is a UFA after the 2016-17. Shattenkirk can walk if he wants, then what do the Oilers have. Unless the Oilers are allowed to talk to Shattenkirk about an extension then this would be a bad move by the Oilers.
Sorry, just read you post again. Hamonik would go to the Oilers. I think that would be an overpayment for Hamonik. The Oilers need a number 1 d-man who can anchor the powerplay, which Hamonik can’t.
That is why I said plus or minus bits and pieces. Maybe they need to throw in a pick or a prospect to make it all work.
The Oilers need a player that can help out now and a few years to come, not pieces or picks. They have enough of those in the system.
Whenever EDM comes up, we always get a list of reasons why they wouldn’t trade this/that/the other of their young offensive stars. No deal is ever good enough. Honestly, I think this is the way management thinks, too. And so they continue to have huge holes in the other parts of their roster…
They could take a page out of the book to the Leafs re Kessel. Did they get a good deal? No, it was widely panned. Was it the right move? Obviously. EDM is not going to get the perfect deal, they just need to accept it and get on with it.
Well said Dan, I too am getting sick of the Oilers wanted this guy or that guy but then giving a long list of untouchable players. Its ridiculous how they always seem to grossly overvalue their players.
I agree king and Dan. Moving kessel definetely helped the leafs! The oilers need to trade an rnh or eberle to get a dman everyone knows they need defense just put up or shut up
I agree, how many guys do they need in their top 6?
They can’t maintain a top 6 of RNH, Eberle, Hall, Yakpov, Draisaitl and McD in the long run. Just doesn’t work in the cap era.
I’m sure they would love to trade eberle or Yakupov but they have no depth on RW unless Draisaitl can move there.
I know they have lots of prospects but they should seriously look at a top 4 dman with top two potential and a depth RW prospect as a return for RNH
Just wondering where this list of untouchable player’s has been printed? Bottom line is no one really knows what has been said in trade meetings.
radar it is speculation that makes a whole lotta sense! the oilers need d in a bad way and have a bunch of talented forwards that they could move for defense but for some reason haven’t yet
I could understand the speculation if we were dealing with the old Oilers management but how can you speculate with the new group. We are at the halfway point in the season and with this new management. Chiarelli has proven in the past that he is not afraid to pull the trigger, but you don’t do that until you assess what you have. He even said at the start of the season that he was going to take some time to assess the team. I believe he will make some surprising trades by next year that will cause a stir with the fans.
Shattenkirk + McDonagh was a solid Olympian pairing…just saying.
Yandle for Shattenkirk. Rangers need a rh powerplay defenseman, and both need to be resigned
Rangers would say have to send back RH replacement ala Klein+a forward for one of the best 2 way RH D in the league. We would all prefer Girardi but that will not happen.
Klein+Hayes…perhaps
Dare I suggest I would move heaven and earth to move Bouwmeester first? Sure he munched minutes, buts that’s a big cap hit for 20 offensive points a year and a minus rating…..
I have always said Edmonton would be a good place for him, we are already well aware he likes living on the prairies. Maybe a package involving Eberle,
I really don’t get the fascination some people have with RNH. Sure he’s a young talented player but he’s somewhat injury prone, plays a soft game, hasn’t really been putting up a lot of points and he’s signed for 5 more years at 6 mil per year. I’m sure if the Blues could afford to give him that, they’d just keep Shattenkirk.
How is RNH injury prone? The only year he missed any amount of time was his rookie year when he played a total of 62 games. Last year he just missed 6 games and year previous he missed 2. Then in the lockout shortened season he missed 4 games, but also played every game before than in the minors.
As an Oiler fan I really do not see Peter Chiarelli doing anything with the Oilers defence until after the season it over. Yes I agree in order to get what the Oilers need on defence they are going to have to trade an Eberle or a RNH, but they are both signed to long term deals and to trade them for a guy like Shattenkirk who can walk after the 2016-17 season would not be a good move, unless they are able to talk to Shattenkirk and sign an extension before a trade is made.
I think J-Bo would be a good fit from STL. I have said it for a few years now. And I am not 100% Shattenkirk would want to leave Edmonton in a year and a half by that time it will be Mcdavids team and only a matter of time until the Stanley cup parade.
Yeah I have been thinking about J-Bow as well, but he comes with a 5.4mil cap hit and he also has a NTC. Also Eberle would be who St. Louis would want back imo. That would be a big cost to pay for 32 year old J-Bow who is on the decline of his career.
Not sure on this one myself, seems kinda steep for what he brings and at 32 with 4 years left on the deal (I think its 4 maybe 3) not sure JBo is a direction the Oilers should be looking, maybe ok for a year or so but going down the road I think age maybe an issue.
Which is the exact same thing Edmonton fans said when they drafted Hall, RNH, Yakupov, Draisaitl, etc.
eberle or RNH, and Schultz for a sign and trade with stl for shatts.
thoughts?
St. Louis would not take Schultz. Hitchcock would chew Shultz up like a piece of Hubba Bubba. The only reason he is still playing for the Oilers is because they don’t have anybody else that they can put in is spot.
Shattenkirk is a good coveted d man without a doubt. I’d be hesitant to move him for a RNH or Eberle or anyone who is young and on a long term deal unless your looking to move that player. If you can get an extension out of Shat then fine but I dont know if it is too early for that to happen.
What Edmonton really needs is Chara Chiarelli’s old friend. A guy to clear the front of the net and teach the younger guys. I know it’s not a long term fix but I bet Boston would love to clear that cap space. Can probably get him for next to nothing.
Boston could really use Eberle they need a scoring wing.
How about Chara,Subban possible #1 goalie to grow with the young guys and Carlo really good defensive prospect for Eberle.
As a Bruin fan I say No Thanks! Carlo upside is way too big. He’s 6’5″ can skate very well, already plays a solid d game and has the potential to round out offensively. Chara and Subban by all means, the return package need something just not sure what, wont be Eberle.
? nugent-hopkins for hamonic