Around the league (signings, RFAs injuries)

[Carl Yagro]

So, the Oil trade a 1st & 2nd for AHLer Griffin Reinhart.

Their prized FA #1 D-man of the future, Justin Shultz is now a Cup champ in Pittsburgh. Likely to be a bottom pairing guy in the NHL from now on.

Still needing NHL caliber D, they trade their leading scorer and former #1 overall for Adam Larsson, who is or will be a top 4? This frees up cap space for a 7x7, FA power forward. A "real leader" and solid citizen.

Because they probably really wanted be rid of the contract of RNH, another former #1 overall, but likely garnered zero interest in exchange for said NHL caliber D. Now they have a $6mil a year 3rd line center. Didn't RNH replace a similar smallish tweener center and 1st rounder named Sam Gagner?

They still have a former #1 overall in Yakupov who is barely a 4th liner at this point and can't even fetch a 3rd rounder back. Maybe a couple of pucks but certainly not a bag of pucks.

No team in history has or will ever have the kind of draft luck that the Oilers have had. They've wasted most of their 10 year lottery winnings but somehow won the lottery again & again. So it is impossible for any team to follow their tanking strategy. Being struck by lightning twice is a more viable path to a championship.

McSaviour actually looks like someone who will finally be able to bring them back to their glory days. Sigh. Hockey Gods.

[SKYO]

^all that and now McJesus is pissed that Hall his bro is traded.

http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hocke ... hall-leave

Mcdavy - Hall combo will never be anymore, till the world cups and olympics.

[Lancer]

A lot will depend on who signs where come 1 July.

If Edmonton signs Demers and Lucic, they may be better. Playoffs better? Unlikely. They still have a shit blueline and putting Larsson and Demers in there isn't enough to fix it. Besides, Talbot isn't worth the hype. A lot can happen to their vaunted 'New Kids on the Bus'.

Montreal, IMO, got better in the near term with Weber. He's not as dynamic as Subban, but he brings more maturity and management evidently was through with PK. I still wonder why, but maybe it was a situation of Montreal not being big enough to handle PK's ego.

Toronto will be Toronto. They're not done tanking yet. The Toro... I mean National media will run through the city's stock of tissues now that they are robbed of their chance to gush about Stamkos as the new Captain of your Toronto Maple leaves.

I wouldn't be surprised if Detroit makes a run at Eriksson. They seem to love players like him and he likely wouldn't mind riding shotgun to Zetterberg.

I think we may as well get used to hearing the news that Darren Helm will be Benning's big FA signing...

[Mickey107]

A lot will depend on who signs where come 1 July.

If Edmonton signs Demers and Lucic, they may be better. Playoffs better? Unlikely. They still have a shit blueline and putting Larsson and Demers in there isn't enough to fix it. Besides, Talbot isn't worth the hype. A lot can happen to their vaunted 'New Kids on the Bus'.

Montreal, IMO, got better in the near term with Weber. He's not as dynamic as Subban, but he brings more maturity and management evidently was through with PK. I still wonder why, but maybe it was a situation of Montreal not being big enough to handle PK's ego.

Toronto will be Toronto. They're not done tanking yet. The Toro... I mean National media will run through the city's stock of tissues now that they are robbed of their chance to gush about Stamkos as the new Captain of your Toronto Maple leaves.


I wouldn't be surprised if Detroit makes a run at Eriksson. They seem to love players like him and he likely wouldn't mind riding shotgun to Zetterberg.

I think we may as well get used to hearing the news that Darren Helm will be Benning's big FA signing...

Helm? With the mileage on him? If that's the best JB can do, year 3 will be the end of his tenure..

[Hockey Widow]

Come on Lancer, Helm AND Fiddler

[Lancer]

Come on Lancer, Helm AND Fiddler

Okay, okay... I mean, it's not like Benning has a boat-load of centre-wingers to choose from and you do need to maintain that veteran leadership to mentor the kids... who will be watching from the press-box. Let's not forget the likes of J-M Liles or Tom Gilbert to bring some experience to the blueline now that they're letting Hamhuis walk for nothing.

In all seriousness, though, I wonder if a reclamation project like Cowen (hope not) or Wiercoch (a decent home-province gamble) isn't in the books as well?

[Madcombinepilot]

Just so long as Benning doesn't drop 5x5 on Brower....

[2Fingers]

I love the comments on how the other GM were not aware that Hall was available?

How stupid are they if they didn't realize that Edmonton needed D and would trade almost anyone for the right deal.

[Hockey Widow]

I love the comments on how the other GM were not aware that Hall was available?

How stupid are they if they didn't realize that Edmonton needed D and would trade almost anyone for the right deal.

How many times have we seen this movie? How many times have we heard GMs say they talk to every other GM frequently? Sometimes every couple of days during certain times of the year.

Yes some GMs saying they would have surrender 2 firsts plus a second pairing D. Well Edmonton wanted a top pairing RHS on D. Did those same GMs understand that? Did they have that to give?

A lot of GMs said the same thing about the Seth Jones trade. That they could have offered more. But Nashville wanted a top 6, young, proven centre. Edmonton did offer up RNH in that one but got shut out. Maybe if they had offered up RNH plus their first they might have got him. Doubtful though as RNH maybe a top 6 centre but he isn't going to carry a team.

[2Fingers]

I love the comments on how the other GM were not aware that Hall was available?

How stupid are they if they didn't realize that Edmonton needed D and would trade almost anyone for the right deal.

How many times have we seen this movie? How many times have we heard GMs say they talk to every other GM frequently? Sometimes every couple of days during certain times of the year.

Yes some GMs saying they would have surrender 2 firsts plus a second pairing D. Well Edmonton wanted a top pairing RHS on D. Did those same GMs understand that? Did they have that to give?

A lot of GMs said the same thing about the Seth Jones trade. That they could have offered more. But Nashville wanted a top 6, young, proven centre. Edmonton did offer up RNH in that one but got shut out. Maybe if they had offered up RNH plus their first they might have got him. Doubtful though as RNH maybe a top 6 centre but he isn't going to carry a team.

Agreed - I think.

I just think this is GM double speak to say to their fans they didn't know X player was available before their fans demanded to know why no offer was given. Some deals are done very quick and sometimes there is a small circle that is aware but all GM should know strengths and weaknesses of each team to know to offer.

[Mickey107]

I'm really wondering what Edmonton's plans are for Yakapov.

Beginning to think they might be planning to keep around as a back-up plan to play with McDavid if whatever else they try doesn't pan out. They did have some chemistry together at times last year.

[SKYO]

In all seriousness, though, I wonder if a reclamation project like C̶o̶w̶e̶n̶ Wiercoch (a decent home-province gamble) isn't in the books as well?

If we can deal Sbisa to a team wanting a big gritty guy on defense after they strike out on July 1st, Wiercioch would be a smart pickup to play on the bottom pairing, he also has great possession numbers in the league of all things.

But my hope was to get a more experienced Russian dman to play with Tryamkin though, like Detroit's Marchenko.
http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/hoc ... r.php?7808

[rikster]

Did those same GMs understand that? Did they have that to give?

I think any GM who claims he wasn't aware Hall was available is practising CYA big time...

If I was an owner I'd be all over my GM after seeing what a Team Canada winger on a cap friendly contract was dealt for...

It's maybe the worst excuse a GM could give his owner....

Another Benning trait that I enjoy...he's a bit odd and goofy at times but the guy loves the rink and loves scouting and is always working the phones...

Too bad some in the media and many fans need time to catch up and only after deals like the Hall deal does he get some respect...

Take care...

[Hockey Widow]

Ducks trying to get Bieksa to change NMC to NTC. They don't want to trade him, have told his so. They just don't want to have to protect him next year. If he does not agree they may have to buy him out before the expansion draft, otherwise they would risk exposing one of their top four D.

[SKYO]

ahah shitty situation for the Ducks to be in^ why they gave Juice a NMC is beyond me.

Apparently the Habs are going all in on Lucic, they've always been after a power forwards.

Or the Ducks in Lucic's preferred Cali district comes in with an offer for Lucic, veteran squad way closer to a cup run compared to the oil.