Name a top trade target or impending free agent and they seem to be linked to the Edmonton Oilers. While the team clearly needs to help superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they have cap constraints because of those players as well and holes to fill all over the roster. The team must be confident that they can perform some cap magic, as they have their sights set on making a big splash this off-season. TSN’s Darren Dreger backed up previous rumors today that the Oilers have been talking to the Arizona Coyotes about elite defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. In fact, Dreger notes that discussions have been preliminary, but the interest is serious. It’s a complex situation given the cap situations in both Edmonton and Arizona, but the teams appear to be working through their options when it comes to moving Ekman-Larsson, a proven top-pair commodity. Of course, it’s worth noting that Ekman-Larsson has a full No-Movement Clause and could nix a deal to Edmonton if he chooses. Dreger adds that the Boston Bruins also remain interested; Ekman-Larsson may very well prefer landing alongside Charlie McAvoy on the top pair of a perennial contender.
- The Oilers are also known to be eyeing an addition in goal and have kicked the tires on a number of netminders on the trade block. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the latest name on that list is the Carolina Hurricanes’ Petr Mrazek. LeBrun believes that Mrazek could be more of a fallback option if Edmonton cannot add Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray or Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper or can’t woo Jacob Markstrom in free agency. Of course, if Mrazek is even available for trade, it may mean that Carolina has already landed one of those three Oilers targets for themselves. Mrazek had a fine season for the ’Canes, but the team is looking to upgrade at starter. Unfortunately for Edmonton, Carolina’s castoff would still be an upgrade for them.
- From GM Jim Benning’s comments since his Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the postseason, it should come as no surprise that he is listening to offers for restricted free agent forward Jake Virtanen, according to Dreger. Virtanen has failed to live up to the expectations of being the 2014 sixth overall pick, but is still due a significant upgrade over his expiring $1.25MM AAV. The cap-strapped Canucks have greater needs than Virtanen’s third-line scoring totals and may be able to put his cap space to greater use via trade. Dreger reports that there is plenty of interest in the 24-year-old power forward, who could still grow into the dangerous scorer that he was in junior.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning are less than a day removed from taking home the 2020 Stanley Cup title, but GM Julien BriseBois is already back at work. LeBrun speculates that Tampa must clear at least $10MM in cap space in order to re-sign RFA’s Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev, and Erik Cernak and to rebuild a defense with numerous pending UFA’s. As such, BriseBois can’t afford to waste any time with free agency approaching. LeBrun notes that the two most talked-about names on the Lightning roster right now are forwards Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde. However, he notes that both players have full No-Trade Clauses and would have to accept any trade. As a result, LeBrun believes there is a growing suspicion that the Bolts may trade a player or two that no one is suspecting in order to clear cap space. That could mean one of the RFA’s themselves is dealt, or perhaps it could be a player lacking trade protection, such as Brayden Point or Andrei Vasilevskiy. One way or another, the Cup-winning roster will look very different next season.
Sad to say TJ and Gourde in all likelihood will be gone. It has to happen if we want to resign our RFAs.
Johsnon & Gourde are only gone if they agree to it. They control all the cards with their full no-trade clauses. I can’t see either one of those guys agreeing to go to a team that isn’t a contender.
If the bs could get him and keep McAvoy and DeBrusk you make the trade but they need to find someone to put on the a line with Krejci and DeBrusk but with just little more than 14 m I don’t see it happening
In less you get Seattle to take one of are bad contracts maybe even Krejci’s contract would be ideal
Krejci’s contract is up after this season and won’t be under contract when the expansion draft rolls around
O for some reason I thought they said it was this offseason because I remember people in my area (N.E) when they talk about the draft they would say him or Rask would would be a big help (salary reasons) to the B’s
The solution to the Lightnings’ cap problem is obvious if people are being honest…trade Stamkos.
They won it without him. They might not have won it with him.
And instead of removing multiple key pieces, they could move him for picks and solve most of their problems.
No. An elite forward worth 8.5 AAV is worth more than two second or third line forwards making 10-11 AAV, even if it’s combined. Especially when it’s your captain!
Stamkos has a no-movement clause. The Lightning can’t just trade him to a non-contender with a ton of cap space. He would have to approve any move. That complicates things
you guys act as if he thought this through lol
So, instead of trading the guy who did not help them win, they should trade a few of the guys who did?
If talent and pedigree alone won Cups, this wouldn’t be this group’s first.
“They won it without him. They might not have won it with him.
And instead of removing multiple key pieces, they could move him for picks and solve most of their problems.”
I put out an idea and then explained the rationale in full sentences.
Instead of replying with any sort of counter argument in full sentences that give reasons, logic, etc. you “LOL” like a baby amused by their suddenly warm diaper.
More power to you if that’s your thing.
ohh youre actually mad now, thats pretty sad dude.
Were it true, it would be. Instead, your need to straw man it is what is sad.
I was just correcting your inaccurate statement.
Your the one who sounds like a Brady who wet him self getting all upset because he laughed at your post sorry LOL at it
There’s no way Stamkos accept a trade out unless it’s to a cup contender and I highly doubt TB wants to trade him they’re only hope is they go into next season with the team they got and hope next season Seattle takes one of their bad contracts
Unless someone retires I’m not sure if they have someone that may want to go out on top
In between the misspellings and attempted insults, you at least offer a real counterargument.
Stamkos’ refusal is the main (only?) thing that would stop such a deal, as there would be a good market for him.
But, players will often waive their NTC knowing the team doesn’t want them (see Hornqvist) anymore. If he waives, the Lightning solve their cap issues and can bring back the team mostly intact.
The only team to repeat in the cap era (2017 Pens) did so by bringing back most of the same team.
yep ur mad
Coburn can go bye bye also. They gave up a kings ransom to get him and I’ve never figured out why.
What did they give up to get him? What’s a kings ransom? Gudas?
You keep saying they won it without them. That is wrong. Throw out games before the playoffs and the fact he scored in the few minutes he did play if you want. He was still far more important than you think.
Even though Stammer didn’t play, he played the best two minutes of hockey you’re probably going to see in the playoffs,” teammate and playoff MVP Victor Hedman said. “I’m at a loss for words how much he means to us in that room, even though he’s not playing.”
Thank you for a cogent counterargument. Bonus points for capital letters and punctuation.
I’m not calling him a bum, he’s a great player but chemistry is more important than talent. They never won with him. They won without him. Every else slotted perfectly into their roles. It makes more sense to lose the one piece they won without instead of multiple pieces that they won with, especially when they could get a haul of draft picks for him to extend their window.
And Hedman would look just fine wearing that C.
Your arguement makes business sense but I’m not sure there’s that much of a market for Stamkos. Who wants that contract with the injury risk associated with it? We don’t even know when he’ll be available to play again. I think it’s likely he’ll need another surgery to fix the core muscle issue that continues to plague him. And if that’s the case, and if the season were to start as early as Jan 1 (ish) then LTIR might come into play.
But the NMC issue is serious. It would mean having to force out the team captain and one of the most popular players in fanchise history. It would be very ugly for JBB.
Could see someone throwing an offer sheet to some of thoseTB guys.
I would say Kilhorn get traded to the Bruins, Johnson and Gourde get moved and Cerrili goes to Calgary, they want to keep Serg and Cernak. Highly unlikly Stammer gets moved even though Point could slide into his position. Stamkos and the Lightning org just put out something that Stamkos will be ready to play for next season
No chance Killorn gets traded to a rival division team. No chance. He might get traded but NOT to the Bruins.