NHL Rumor Mill – November 24, 2023
The latest Oilers’ speculation, the Flyers are willing to wheel and deal, an update on Patrick Kane and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE OILERS
TSN: Chris Johnston said the Edmonton Oilers are exploring their options to save their season. That includes external discussions with other clubs but it will be difficult to find a club as desperate as they are or to avoid a bad trade by overpaying for help.
Johnston believes the Oilers are looking internally as well and that could include bringing back Jack Campbell from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. He had a shutout earlier this week.
Johnston’s colleague Ryan Rishaug expressed his belief that all assets other than Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and their 2024 first-round pick are in play as the Oilers try to find a fix for their problems.
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell (NHL Images).
Rishaug acknowledged finding a true goalie fix or a major upgrade on defense is tough to achieve right now. He instead suggested adding a player like the Minnesota Wild’s Pat Maroon as he would bring championship experience, positive energy and physicality to the lineup.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman also noted the Oilers’ concern about making a bad trade as well as the possibility of recalling Campbell if he’s rediscovered his game. He also cited an NHL general manager saying if the Oilers want to include their first-round pick in a trade they had better put top-of-the-draft protection on it.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Caleb Kerney noted there was some speculation linking the Oilers to Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek. It was based on Mrazek having played for Oilers general manager Ken Holland when they were with the Detroit Red Wings.
Kerney doesn’t think Mrazek would be a fit for the Oilers. He pointed out that the 31-year-old goaltender’s best years are behind him plus he’s frequently sidelined by injuries.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers are in a bad place right now. They’re not dealing from a position of strength so they’re going to get squeezed by rival clubs as they try to find a suitable goaltender.
It will be difficult to land any kind of upgrade for their roster without giving up that first-round pick as part of the deal. If they are willing to move it but make it top-10 protected, that could be a deal breaker for most clubs.
The harsh truth is recalling Campbell could be their only solution. They could sign free-agent Jaroslav Halak but at this stage of his career, he’s best suited for backup work. Even then, there’s no certainty that he’d be able to help them. The Lightning placed Matt Tomkins on waivers but he didn’t do enough in his few appearances this season to suggest that he’d be an improvement over Campbell and Stuart Skinner.
I don’t think the Blackhawks are looking at moving Mrazek. If they are, the Oilers could be on his 10-team no-trade list.
FLYERS READY TO WHEEL AND DEAL
TSN: Darren Dreger reports the Philadelphia Flyers are interested in becoming a wheeler or a dealer as they look to build a strong foundation for the future. They’re willing to listen on every position (but not every player). He believes they could entertain offers on defensemen Sean Walker and Nick Seeler.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman pointed out that Walker has “really impressed in Philadelphia.” He thinks there will be plenty of interest if the Flyers don’t extend him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dreger’s report will further stoke speculation over the future of Flyers goalie Carter Hart. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer and has surfaced of late as a possible trade target for the struggling Oilers. Flyers GM Daniel Briere has previously said he’ll listen on anybody (including Hart) but that doesn’t mean he’s rushing to move him.
UPDATE ON PATRICK KANE
TSN: Darren Dreger speculates that Patrick Kane could reach a decision on where he’ll sign sometime next week. He felt it was a bit of a stretch suggesting that the 35-year-old free-agent winger could decide this week given that he and his family would be celebrating American Thanksgiving.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman ran down the list of potential destinations for Kane. Along with the usual ones (Toronto, Dallas, Florida, Buffalo, Detroit), he also thinks the Colorado Avalanche have made a pitch plus rumors continue to swirl about the Vegas Golden Knights. However, Friedman also suggested that Kane might prefer an Eastern Conference club as he wouldn’t have to travel as much as he would in the Western Conference.
THE MERCURY NEWS: Curtis Pashelka wondered if there was the possibility of a team with salary-cap space like the Sharks signing Kane to a “somewhat richer contract” (agreed to by Kane and a contending team), and then flipping him to that contender while retaining part of his annual cap hit in exchange for an asset.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said no. Such a series of transactions would constitute salary-cap circumvention.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane has the right to take his time to reach a decision over where he’ll play this season. Still, more than a few fans will be glad to see this ongoing media guessing game come to an end.
MORE “32 THOUGHTS” TIDBITS
SPORTSNET: In his latest “32 Thoughts” column, Elliotte Friedman observed the Columbus Blue Jackets are going through the same kind of difficulties this season as the Oilers. He noted that Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson expects his veteran players to be much, much better. Friedman thinks the Jackets could ask some of their veterans if they’d prefer playing somewhere else if things don’t turn around soon.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those veterans include Johnny Gaudreau and Patrik Laine. Both have been big disappointments thus far. They carry some form of no-trade protection on their contracts but could be willing to waive them for the right destinations. Then again, their hefty contracts would be difficult to move this season.
The Montreal Canadiens continue to discuss a contract extension with goaltender Sam Montembeault. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Friedman doesn’t see the Canadiens waiting until the trade deadline.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montembeault has been linked to the Oilers as a possible trade target. However, he’s putting up decent stats with the rebuilding Canadiens, who must sort out who will tend their net in the coming years. With Jake Allen aging and Cayden Primeau yet to establish himself as an NHL goalie, I think they’ll get Montembeault signed to a new deal.
Friedman said the injury-depleted Avalanche are looking for scoring depth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would explain why he thinks they’ve made a pitch to Patrick Kane.
If the Calgary Flames decide to trade some of their pending UFAs, interested clubs will want to know if they can negotiate with those players beforehand.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That could affect the type of returns the Flames would get for those players.
Edmonton, Edmonton and Edmonton what to do.
This team by some pundit was considered a Stanley Cup favorite.
They are not a bad as their record but they own and deserve their record.
All the talk is about the goaltending and although not good, he isn’t getting much help. It seem if the Oilers give up a goal, the collective heads drop to the ice and say “here we go again.”
The goalie names being mention are not what anyone calls elite or top or middle tie; so not sure how that helps.
For my eyes it’s all mental and until you change the self pity attitude and pick your head up and say “not today” i don’t see anything changing.
However if a goalie is what you want may i suggest calling San Jose and inquiring about MacKenzie Blackwood. 3.97ga and .896sv% not great numbers but use to seeing a lot of rubber and single handedly has gotten San Jose points when they didn’t deserve any.
A small as it might sound maybe Edmonton just needs a goalie to steal one or two games for them and the confidence is restored and the team goes on a roll.
Or maybe it’s just more meh.
You can put an all-star goalie in the EDM net and get similar results UNLESS they improve their Defense, either through trades or improved systems.
Their D isn’t good enough, and while their G aren’t good enough either, their D-zone coverage is a tire fire. They’re more than a G away from improving. They are simply done for this season.
Re; The Oilers🍁
They have there futiure Starter in 24 yr old
Stu Skinner…👍
He is only in his 2nd year in the NHL and still developing his game, Goaltender’s take time breaking in young at 23 -24 years old,
Look at local kid Phillys Cater Hart, same thing he is only 25 yrs old and not quite hit his stride as yet
Oilers d has been Just Terrible so far this season,
The New System Woody & Mansion had introduced did not work, But it was something they had to try to fix….⁉️
I think we will see a improvment with Paul Coffey runing the d… or i hope we will see a difference.
We do need to Trade Jack Campbell out when he gets his game together….🤔 and it will cost us
a lot to move him and his $5.M contract for the 3 more years like a
A 1st pick, if they miss the playoffs it would Not be the 2024 1st pick they trade or its top 8-10 protected…❓
then it would have to be a unprotected 2025 1st Pick a Very Good prospect like Hollaway or our Top AHL prospect in Bako, Xavier Bourgault….
I think lots of Rebuilding team would be all over that
The Oil can get a good young d/man in the top 10 selections in the 2024 draft as the cuboard is bare in Bako with good d prospects..
We only have 2 at pressent that could make the team in a few years But Both are RD/men
Beau Akey & Maximus Wanner… We do need a Good top 4 LD d/man in the next 3 years so draft is important this year to get a good lefty
Blockbuster
Oil trade 1st unprotected one of their 6th rd picks plus Skinner and Kane
Bruins move
Ullmark. Debrusk Zyboril
RNH in place of Kane.
STEP 1: The oil needs to get rid of kane!!! He destroys every team with his name on the roster.
Why would Boston do that when they have 1 loss in 17 games and are 1st overall in the league? That makes no sense.
That trade would make that 1st round pick lower as well. And why would Boston want a troubled player like Kane? That’s a great way to ruin the chemistry they have.
No way that 1st is unprotected unless it was swayman and cambell went back the other way. While those arnt bad pieces it’s still bostons extras for value.
I don’t understand why any Bruin trade proposal with a goalie includes Ullmark. Doesn’t he have a Modified No-Trade Clause with 16 teams this year and 15 next?
If you just won the Vezina and want to stay put you simply list any NHL team with goalie problems. Why would you have a burning desire to leave Boston? You’re winning. You’re not overworked.
He’s not going to approve a trade and the Bruins will be moving Swayman and his new arbitration-awarded salary next year.
No control over their cap space and no prospects that could play a top 6 or top 4 pairing. Bruins management needs to stick with status quo and it seems to be working
Am I wrong or are all the Ullmark traders into the bong?
The absence of Corey Perry from the line-up and he and Petr Mzarek’s absence from Thanksgiving morning practice has the internet crazy.
It could be Marek needed a maintenance day, and Corey Perry needed to accompany his wife to a medical procedure, but the Edmonton fan base on you tube has them (or at least Perry) packed to catch a flight to Edmonton after their Friday night game, and the Blackhawks “weaponizing” (I hate this GOP word!) their Cap space until 2026-27 to free the Oilers of jack Campbell albatross, since the Blackahwks aren’t winning a Cup before that (or expecting NHL advancement go Gajan or Drew Commesso?)
Totally agree on “weaponizing” – they should take that – along with “boots on the ground” – and shove them where a proctologist does his or her best work.
Ok.
Seemingly lost from every pundit’s talk about the Oilers are the M-NTC’s for anyone making enough money—-that—if moved—would give them room to bring in a decent goalie OR defenseman. Heck the goalie in the minors has a limited move NTC. Obviously not a full no move, or he wouldn’t be in the minors. But here we are. They have 65K in cap space. So, major assumptions are in play. We assume that despite all the M-NTC’s people would be ecstatic to depart and waive? We assume that people want their other garbage players who don’t have NTCs. We assume other gm’s think there’s a way to fleece them out of a first round pick that’s probably gonna be top ten or a little later with the expected year end push. This season is over. A competent management would stay the course and weather the fan/media storm.
I have mixed feelings about Kane on the Avalanche. All though he would be obviously great on the team, will he play some defense? I remember watching him on Rangers, he didn’t seem interested. I don’t know if that is because of issues with hip or indifference? Concerns me. The Avalanche have enough bad habits at times and that’s when The wheels come off. So, if they are fortunate enough to get him, I hope he comes to play and not rest on his laurels as they say. I would rather the Avalanche maybe get another defenseman or a forward other than Kane, but we will see? GO AVS!!!!
I don’t get where all this talk about Kane and how bad he is as a teammate comes from. Obviously from people who haven’t been following his story in Edmonton. He has been terrific in Edmonton. He has his family and he is a pillar in the community doing all kinds of charity work while not looking for accolades. He is also producing on the ice.