NHL Rumor Mill – November 25, 2023
The Oilers continue to dominate the media trade chatter. From Leon Draisaitl’s future in Edmonton to their reported interest in the Canadiens goalies, check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: In his latest mailbag segment, Eric Duhatschek was asked what he would do if he were the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers and the club missed the playoffs this season. He said his first order of business would be determining where things stand with Leon Draisaitl.
With a year remaining on his contract, Draisaitl is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July 2025. Duhatschek would want to know if Draisaitl wants to stay in Edmonton with Connor McDavid and try to win the Stanley Cup or if he’s sick and tired of the pressure of playing there and “scuttle off to somewhere warm,” like Matthew Tkachuk did last year with his trade to the Florida Panthers.
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).
Duhatschek feels there are three paths here. One is Draisaitl stays long term, the second sees him depart as a UFA in 2025 and the third is moving on after trading him for the best possible return. If Draisaitl drags his feet over his plans beyond next season, the best option is moving him rather than wasting a year and an asset.
If Draisaitl agrees to stay, the goaltending would be the priority. He suggested going after someone like Nashville’s Juuse Saros while the rising salary cap would make it possible to leave Campbell buried in the minors if his contract proves untradeable.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that Duhatschek is talking about what he’d do in a hypothetical situation. He’s not saying Draisaitl wants out or that the Oilers will acquire Saros.
Nevertheless, I agree that figuring out Draisaitl’s future should be the priority after this season whether the Oilers make the playoffs or not. If he’s willing to stay and the Oilers are willing to pay him top dollar (which he’s earned), then addressing the goaltending becomes the focus if it isn’t suitably dealt with during this season.
If Draisaitl is noncommittal about staying in Edmonton then they must trade him to the highest bidder next summer. That also means letting interested clubs talk to him about a contract extension as that’ll ensure the Oilers get the best possible return. The assets they receive could help them address their immediate and long-term issues.
Trading away Draisaitl might not sit well with team captain and franchise star Connor McDavid. That’s the risk they’ll have to take. And if he’s not happy with the club’s direction, then it could be time to seriously consider trading McDavid and starting a roster rebuild under new management.
If Draisaitl wants to stay, then moving McDavid isn’t something to worry about unless the Oilers keep spinning their wheels. That means landing a true starting goaltender who can carry this team and offset their porous defense, which would be the next issue requiring serious attention.
Saros would be a prime target but he might not be available. Predators general manager Barry Trotz has repeatedly said he intends to open contract extension talks with his starting goalie next summer. Unless Saros wants to test the market in 2025, the Oilers will have to look elsewhere for help between the pipes. Speaking of which…
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marco D’Amico cites TSN’s Pierre LeBrun saying that the Oilers have not had any recent trade talks with the Montreal Canadiens regarding their three goaltenders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That means a trade is imminent. Kidding! I’m kidding, of course.
The Oilers reportedly scouted the Canadiens goalie trio of Sam Montembeault, Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau. However, they’re also scouring the rest of the league to find a suitable upgrade in the crease. Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has likely set a high asking price hoping to take advantage of the Oilers’ desperate situation.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Caleb Kerney noted recent rumors linked the Oilers to Philadelphia Flyers netminder Carter Hart. He thinks the only way the Flyers would agree to move Hart to Edmonton is if the Oilers sent them Stuart Skinner as part of the return. He suggested adding a first-round pick, a second-round pick, one or two top prospects and a roster player along with Skinner in the deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holy overpayment, Batman! That’s waaaay too much for Hart, though I don’t doubt Flyers GM Daniel Briere would give that offer serious consideration. Nevertheless, I don’t see the Oilers making that pitch.
TSN’s Darren Dreger said on Thursday that Briere is willing to listen to offers that will bring in a solid foundation to make the Flyers better. He’s reportedly listening on every position but not every player, with Dreger suggesting pending UFA defensemen Sean Walker and Nick Seeler as possible trade candidates. No mention of Hart’s potential availability.
The complete lack of any semblance of consistency being displayed by the Senators 16 games into the season suggests it’s time to part ways with the coaching staff. Smith may be “well liked” by the players but it seems this bunch needs the fear of God rammed into them in order to get an on-ice response to the multiple millions being earned by a good bunch of them. 2 goals in 6 seconds. Asinine.
Can you say Claude Julien.
I’ve been saying (hoping) for this for some time.
The talent is there. Consistency of effort is not. Time for a change.
Coach Q is the one that can save the season!
I don’t know if expectations are a bit high here. They are still a young team who like many good ones, tend to be inconsistent, so much so that inconsistency is also inconsistent. You’d hope after this and other ruts like this is a growing experience that hopefully makes them better.
Ron, I don’t think there was as much “expectation” as there was “hope” – most realize that, for the most part, this is mostly a very young team and therefore more prone to brain fart collapses than is the case with veteran-laden teams.
Mistakes born out of ill-advised eagerness I can understand and accept as long as they learn from them. What I cannot accept, as a fan, is a visible lack of effort. Not at any stage of the season or even individual game. Not at the salaries they are receiving.
You sound like me, George. Perhaps the lesson for both of us is that rebuilds take more time than we realize, and certainly more time than we want. But your boys are at least further ahead than mine.
You haven’t been keen on Smith for a while. Maybe you’re right in this instance. But Edmonton has tried to improve by firing coaches as if it were a ceremonial event.
LJ. there are a lot of similarities when comparing Edmonton to Ottawa in terms of head coaches – certainly since the turn of the millennium.
In that span Edmonton has had 12 different head coaches – Kevin Lowe (1999-2000); Craig MacTavish; Pat Quinn; Tom Renner; Ralph Krueger; Dallas Eakins; Todd Nelson; Todd McLelland (did they suddenly realize they’d hired the wrong Todd the first time?); Ken Hitchcock; Dave Tippet; Jay Woodcroft; Kris Knoblauch. The longest serving was MacTavish from 2000-01 to 2008-09.
Ottawa, meanwhile, has had 11 different coaches: Jacques Martin (1996-2002 and 2002-04); RogerNielsen; Bryan Murray (2005-07 and 2008)’ John Paddock; Craig Hartsburg; Cory Clouston; Paul MacLean; Dave Cameron; Guy Boucher; Mark Crawford; D.J. Smith. The longest serving was Martin, with Smith now at 5 … and counting.
The argument I can give is that the inconsistent schedule may be the root cause of their inconsistent play. No coach may alter that.
That applies to all teams … Ottawa certainly isn’t alone when it comes to an inconsistent schedule
How about Gerard Gallant??
Ron is Caleb Kerney your own Fox in Toronto….do you know if Caleb was recently struck in the head with a puck when he wrote that trade proposal? Holy homer!
With all of the teams that are underachieving and have superstar talent on their team, it sure seems like John Tortorella’s style of coaching would help all of these teams. Why is he such a divisive coach. It seems like “he” would have the Oilers and Sens playing a much different style of Hockey. Ask Mike Modano why he won the Cup…He’ll say that Hitchcock taught him to be a two-way player.
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, # protected maybe❓
Or
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 Trade as re-builds look like 6 + years to get going
like the Sen’s, Sabers, Ducks, CBJ,
its a Long process
If Nashville go’s that route in a year as there team is Getting Old if UFA Nashville’s Juuse Saros goaltender may not want to be part of a long Rebuild and could test the Market. there Goaltender of the future is only 21 Yaroslav Askarov, would not be surprised to see him up with the big team backing up in the 2024/24 season, as back up goaltender 28 yr old is a UFA in july Kevin Lankinen..
they have a few young picks forwards and d/men but no one the says (Superstar on the Preds)
they look like they could pick in the top 5-6 at next years draft. The Preds top 4 on d are Old 32,33,34,34,
up front top 4 forwards are getting there too at
29, 30,32, 34, youngest at 29 yrs old Filip Forsberg being there best forward not a lot after that….🤔
Preds look Primed for a re-build, 9 picks in the first 4 rounds of the 2024 draft, and 2 first picks next season… maybe more on the way young prospects and picks….
Teams like the Oilers or any team for that matter need to draft & develop goalies. Starts with patience & a very good goalie coach otherwise just another goalie goes on the heap. Stop gap lousy goalie signings are bad GM moves. The focus has to go onto systems & team D play. Idc about stifling scoring when have to bite the bullet to win. Oiler player just won’t commit to that.
What is up with with moderation of comments?
It really disinterests me to post while I’m waiting around.
I don’t need to hang around trying to banter while held up.
Just saying it could streamline much better.
The reason why you had to wait for your comment to appear is because you changed your screen name from “Gordie” to “Blind Bay Bomber”. If you change your screen name, it’s as if you’re a new poster commenting for the first time. That means your post is held in moderation until approved. If you’re going to continue using your new screen name, it’s now been approved and you shouldn’t have any further issues.
Ok ty for the explanation. Much appreciated & I find your blog one of the best around. 👍
So what is everyone’s take on Quinn Hughes season to date?
Norris worthy?
Hart worthy?
Thx in advance
Norris and Hart worthy if he maintains his current pace throughout the season.
I’m with you on that. Long season left to go & he has to maintain. He’ll need his team mates to be productive & continue to buy in to what RT & staff are instilling.
The Norris & Hart trophies need support to win. EK winning the Norris was on points alone & imo doesn’t best describe a true Norris winner. Hughes is much more than points alone. He drives play & leads his team.
LJ.
The Habs and the Sens are in different places and points in development.
Swens have missed the playoffs six years in a row and have made a number of foolish acquisitions while maintaining the same braintrust. Last year Dorion was being hailed as GM of the year before the season started. They are a young team with high expectations to get it together already.
The Habs are a young team that has gone through a total change of management and coaching and the bulk of the future is still winding through the minors. I for one have no expectations of the team this year other than to play entertaining hockey.
i stated that playoffs were a wing and a prayer.
Yes, HF30, I agree.
It’s a tough league. The Habs are one of the youngest teams. But saying playoffs were beyond reach (which I did say) isn’t the same as saying one cannot be frustrated by poor effort, or by not seeing at least some signs of improvement. You know well the scoring stats, where almost every skater on the team is underperforming.