- If play resumes, the Oilers should have a pair of players back in their lineup. Head coach Dave Tippett told reporters, including Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic (Twitter link) that defenseman Mike Green (knee) and winger Joakim Nygard (upper body) have both recovered from their respective injuries and will be ready to go whenever the puck drops. Green was one of Edmonton’s trade deadline additions but played in just two games before getting hurt while the speedy Nygard has nine points in 33 games in his rookie campaign.
Oilers Rumors
Edmonton Oilers Tell Philip Broberg To Remain In Sweden Next Year
The Edmonton Oilers have informed prospect Philip Broberg that they would prefer him to remain in Sweden for another year, rather than have him come to North America and play in the AHL, according to Postmedia’s Jim Matheson. Broberg, the team’s eighth-overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft, did play a full season with the SHL last season as an 18-year-old, but did not show the offense the Oilers were hoping for in his first pro season.
The Oilers were quite enamored by Broberg’s 6-foot-3, 203-pound frame as well as his fast and impressive skating, when they shocked a few by taking him with the eighth-overall pick, but general manager Ken Holland has preached speed when drafting and signing players since he took over last year. Broberg is an example of that. He has averaged 14 minutes a game in his first season in the SHL, but has received little to no power play minutes. He finished his season with one goal and eight points in 45 games for Skelleftea. The hope is that soon-to-be 19-year-old will accrue more minutes in the SHL and have a chance to develop his offensive skills. He did score one goal at the World Juniors in December, but also was asked to take a lesser role and focus on defense for Sweden.
The Oilers have several defensive prospects, so the team likely could hold on for another year without Broberg in the immediate system. The team is likely going to give every chance first to their No. 1 prospect, Evan Bouchard, who has fared quite well in Bakersfield of the AHL this past year, and likely will be given a shot at winning an job with the Oilers next season. The team also has Dmitri Samorukov, who played a secondary role with Bakersfield this year and might now get a chance to take on a bigger role next season.
Prospect Notes: Rasanen, Niemelainen, Berglund, Farrance, Harris
There have been many international prospects over the years that have turned to the NCAA to try to help get ready for the NHL or bolster their chances of getting drafted. There aren’t as many that have gone the other way but it appears that’s the case with Oilers prospect Aapeli Rasanen. The 21-year-old recently wrapped up his junior year at Boston College but Jeff Cox of the New England Hockey Journal reports (Twitter link) that the forward has informed the team that he’s leaving and is returning to Finland to play professionally. Rasanen grew up playing in the Tappara so it’s likely that he would rejoin that program.
- Still with the Oilers, Sportsnet’s Mark Spector notes that Edmonton is hoping to sign defensemen Markus Niemelainen and Filip Berglund. Both players were draft picks in 2016 and have until June 1st to sign their entry-level deals. Niemelainen played in 55 games with Assat Pori of the Finnish SM-liiga this season while Berglund suited up in 52 contests with SHL Skelleftea, his fourth straight year of being a regular in that league. They’re also both under contract for next season already (Berglund for two more years) but both countries have a transfer agreement with the NHL so those deals shouldn’t get in the way.
- Predators prospect David Farrance is coming off a very strong junior year with Boston University that saw him collect 14 goals and 29 assists in just 34 games. While it certainly seems as if he’s ready to turn pro, AHL reporter Mark Divver mentions (Twitter link) that the 20-year-old hasn’t yet decided whether or not to return for his senior season. With Nashville’s back end being filled with low salary players, it’s quite possible that Farrance could immediately make the jump to the NHL like Dante Fabbro (a Boston University alum) recently did.
- Canadiens prospect Jordan Harris has given a verbal commitment to return to Northeastern for his junior year, reports Sportsnet’s Eric Engels (Twitter link). Last month, GM Marc Bergevin mentioned the possibility that Harris could forego the rest of his college eligibility and turn pro but that doesn’t appear to be the plan. Harris had 21 points in 33 games this season while chipping in with a goal in five games for Team USA at the World Juniors.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Raphael Lavoie To Entry-Level Deal
The Edmonton Oilers announced they have signed forward Raphael Lavoie to a three-year, entry-level contract. The 19-year-old, who was the team’s second-round pick in 2019, should give the Oilers another solid prospect for the future. The deal with a $70K AHL salary breaks down as follows:
2020-21: $700K salary, $92.5K signing bonus, $133K GP bonus
2021-22: $800K salary, $92.5K signing bonus, $33K GP bonus
2022-23: $833K salary, $92.5K signing bonus
There were scouts who thought that Lavoie could easily go late in the first round before last year’s draft. The 6-foot-4 winger had shown flashes of brilliance in his draft year playing for the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL, but inconsistent play is what held him back to the second round even though Lavoie dominated in last year’s playoffs where he scored 20 goals and 32 points in 23 games.
Regardless, he returned to Halifax this season after going in the second round, scoring 18 goals and 44 points in 30 games before joining Team Canada for the World Junior Championships in December where he had two assists in seven games in a limited role, but helping his team capture a gold medal. Halifax then traded him to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens where he has tallied 20 goals and 38 points in 25 games with them.
Considering that Lavoie will be turning 20 in September, it’s likely that Lavoie will turn pro and join the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL next season in hopes of taking his career to the next level. The Oilers hope that Lavoie can fast track to the NHL sooner than later as Edmonton is always on the lookout for top-six wingers with speed who can help complement Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. If Lavoie can put it all together in the AHL in the next couple of years, he could be a key part to their future.
A Case For Edmonton To Re-Sign Mike Smith
When Mike Smith signed with Edmonton in free agency, the move raised some eyebrows. He was coming off a season that saw him post the lowest save percentage of his career and with Mikko Koskinen having several question marks, some were expecting the Oilers to add a more proven goaltending option. Instead, he has rebounded quite nicely and has posted the second-highest point total among NHL netminders since January while helping Edmonton get into second place in the Pacific Division. As a result, Sportsnet’s Mark Spector suggests that the soon-to-be 38-year-old has done enough to warrant another one-year deal for next season. Despite the strong record since the turn of the calendar to 2020, his overall numbers on the season (2.95 GAA, .902 SV%) aren’t the best so the Oilers may be able to get him cheaper than his current price tag of a $2MM base salary plus another $1.75MM in performance bonuses ($500K of which have been reached so far).
NLA’s EHC Biel-Bienne Pursuing NHL Free Agent Targets
The Swiss season is over, as the NLA has decided to cancel the remainder of its season. However, that will give perennial contender EHC Biel-Bienne even more time to plan ahead for what they hope is an impact off-season. According to Swedish news source Hockey Sverige, the club plans to go after some impending NHL free agent defensemen. The trio specifically named are all Swedes and include the Anaheim Ducks’ Christian Djoos and Joel Persson and the Carolina Hurricanes’ Gustav Forsling.
Djoos, 25, was just recently traded to the Ducks by the Washington Capitals and is set to be a restricted free agent this summer. A former AHL standout, Djoos grew into a regular contributor for the Caps in the previous two seasons, but roster and salary cap pressure forced him back to the minors this year. However, since the trade to Anaheim he has played exclusively in the NHL, recording three points in nine games which is technically a career-high clip albeit in a small sample size. Given Djoos’ history and RFA status, he seems the least likely of the listed names to jump to Switzerland this summer.
Persson, 26, is an entirely different case, other than the fact that he too will be an RFA. Persson has no NHL history other than his 13 games this season with the Edmonton Oilers. An undrafted prospect who turned heads in the SHL, Persson signed with the Oilers back in 2018 but was loaned back to Sweden last season. He was extended and came over to suit up for the Oilers this year, but failed to impress and has spent the bulk of the season in the AHL. Persson was dealt to Anaheim for next to nothing – ECHL goaltender Angus Redmond and a 2022 conditional seventh-round pick – at the deadline and has not played for the Ducks yet. He could very well depart North America after a disappointing year, but may choose to head elsewhere rather than go back to Sweden. Biel could be an attractive option in this case.
Forsling, 23, is the youngest of the players named and is also the hardest to speculate on. After beginning his pro career with considerable NHL action in each of his first three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, the young defender has played exclusively in the AHL this season following an off-season trade to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes are exceptionally deep on the blue line and that isn’t about to change. Heading into next season, Forsling will be eighth or ninth at best on the organization’s depth chart. As such, if the team opts to make him a qualifying offer, he could choose instead to depart North America and play a top role somewhere else. However, it’s fair to argue that remaining in the AHL may still be the better decision for his career. Of the players named, Forsling would be the least likely to stay with Biel long-term, but could produce the greatest immediate impact.
At this point, it is difficult to project that any of these three names will end up jumping to the NLA to play for Biel, especially given that all three are restricted free agents and that Djoos and Forsling have considerable NHL experience for their ages. However, if the top Swiss club pushes hard, potentially using this extended off-season to their advantage, they may be able to convince one of these three or another NHL free agent that a move to Biel to play a top pair role is the right call.
Edmonton Oilers Express Interest In Bringing Back Anton Slepyshev
Two years ago, the Edmonton Oilers allowed rugged winger Anton Slepyshev to return to Russia rather than bring him back. The 6-foot-2, 221-pound forward played three seasons for the Oilers, but struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout that time. The team was eager to move him at the trade deadline in 2018, but was unable to do so. Instead, they let the 25-year-old (23 at the time) to sign a two-year pact with CSKA Moscow in the KHL and made sure to give him a qualifying offer in order to retain his rights.
Fast forward two years and Slepyshev is coming off a breakout year in the KHL with 18 goals and 45 points in 54 games. Now, with his rights still owned by the Oilers, the Edmonton Journal’s Bruce McCurdy writes that sources suggest there is a greater than 50 percent chance that the Oilers will bring back Slepyshev for next season in hopes of finding a better fit with the franchise.
While there was a point where Edmonton had lost interest in the forward, much has changed, according to McCurdy, who notes that management and the coaching staff have both changed. Throw in the fact that Slepyshev has taken that next step and become a key scorer for CSKA Moscow (he has scored in 23 of his last 24 KHL games), the Oilers might also be able to offer more to Slepyshev than the usual fourth-line role that he held for his first three seasons in the league. With the team constantly looking for top-six wingers, this could be a convenient addition.
The forward spent most of his time on the checking line, playing next to players like Drake Caggiula, Milan Lucic and Mark Letestu in his time. In 102 games, Slepyshev scored 10 goals and 23 points. The Oilers have Slepyshev’s rights until he turns 27 years old, which will be on May 25, 2021.
Riley Sheahan Switches Agents
In advance of another trip through unrestricted free agency, it appears Oilers center Riley Sheahan is changing things up. Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal reports that the 28-year-old has switched agents and is now represented by Ritch Winter; previously, Pat Brisson was representing him. Sheahan’s offensive pace is basically identical to that of a year ago as he sits with eight goals and seven assists through 64 games this season. He’s currently making $900K but with Edmonton’s salary cap situation, it seems unlikely that they’ll be able to give him much more than that on a new deal.
Four Players Remain Eligible To Avoid Group VI Free Agency
With the end of the season quickly approaching, we now have clarification on most of the players that are eligible for Group VI unrestricted free agency this offseason. The full list can be found here along with the breakdown of the criteria to reach this status. However, there are four players that could still avoid being in this situation which will be worth watching for over the last few weeks.
Colby Cave (Edmonton) – A year ago, it didn’t look like Cave would be in this situation. He spent the majority of 2018-19 in the NHL, getting into 52 games between Boston and Edmonton but failed to earn a regular role with the Oilers this season. Instead, he has played in 43 games with their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield this season and just 11 with the big club. That leaves him 13 games shy of remaining RFA eligible. While he won’t get there with regular season games, playoff games count as well and he’s likely to be up with them for their playoff run. With AHL Bakersfield well out of playoff contention, he’s someone they could recall right away if they wanted to knock some games off before the postseason starts.
Mackenzie MacEachern (St. Louis) – Of the four, this is the likeliest one to get to 80 and remain a restricted free agent as long as he doesn’t get injured in the near future. MacEachern has spent the entirety of the season in St. Louis, albeit in a limited role as he has averaged less than nine minutes a night in 48 games while spending a lot of time as a healthy scratch. Nonetheless, he’s just two NHL games shy of 80 and with the Blues comfortably in a playoff spot, they can afford to toss him on the fourth line a couple more times to secure his rights for another season.
Michael McCarron (Nashville) – The 2013 first-round pick saw NHL action in each of his first three pro campaigns but hasn’t since then. Instead, he has played a more limited role in the minors and a midseason trade from Montreal to Nashville hasn’t changed his fortunes much although he has nine goals in 26 games with AHL Milwaukee. He’s ten NHL games shy of 80 but barring a rash of injuries, he’s unlikely to make it back to the NHL this season or at least play enough to reach the threshold.
Boo Nieves (NY Rangers) – This is another one that didn’t seem likely a year ago. Nieves played in 43 games with New York in 2018-19 and did well enough that they gave him an early one-way contract extension to avoid him hitting the UFA market as a Group VI player last season. However, he has played in just four NHL contests this year which leaves him four shy of reaching 80. With the Rangers’ fourth line seeing limited minutes, it’s not crazy to think that they could bring Nieves up for a week or so to give him another look and ensure they keep his rights for next season.
If any of these players get to 80 total NHL games, they will be eligible for restricted free agency with salary arbitration eligibility this summer.
Pacific Notes: Turcotte, Grabner, Klefbom
The Los Angeles Kings could have some talent headed their way later this season. The Kings top draft pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Alex Turcotte, who is currently playing for the University of Wisconsin is expected to join the Kings once his season ends, according to an article about the Badgers by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler (subscription required).
Taken fifth overall by Los Angeles, Turcotte has had a solid freshman campaign at Wisconsin after coming out of the U.S. National Team Development Program. The 19-year-old center has nine goals and 26 points in 28 games at Wisconsin and Wheeler writes that Turcotte would prefer to go pro as soon as possible, making it likely that he will leave the Badgers when their season ends.
Turcotte has been dealing with a knee injury of late, having missed five straight games, but the forward is close to returning for the team’s stretch run.
- Back in July of 2018, the Arizona Coyotes were thrilled when they signed forward Michael Grabner in free agency to a three-year, $10.05MM contract. However, with the team continually adding talent over the last season and a half, Grabner has become a casualty of the team’s depth. The 32-year-old has been scratched for 16 straight games and seems to have found himself outside the team’s starting lineup. “I think it’s more a function of Taylor Hall coming in — a piece that I didn’t necessarily foresee us adding — and Barrett (Hayton) has come in and done a nice job,” general manager John Chayka said (via The Athletic’s Craig Morgan). “We’ve got a lot of depth. We’ve got a lot of good players. Look, we’re not built off the backs of one or two stars. We have depth and that’s a big part of our strategy in what we’re doing here, and Michael is a part of that depth.” Grabner has appeared in just 45 games this season with just eight goals. He scored nine goals last season in 45 games, although he was injured last season. That’s a far cry from the 27 goals he potted in the two previous years before signing with Arizona.
- The Athletic’s Allan Mitchell (subscription required) wonders what role Edmonton Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom will have next season. The scribe notes that Klefbom has spent much of the season being paired with young defensemen, including Joel Persson, Caleb Jones and Ethan Bear and wonders if that may continue next year with Evan Bouchard, who most expect will join Edmonton full-time next season. However, Mitchell also notes that he has played his best hockey next to Bear, but how head coach Dave Tippett uses Klefbom will have a big impact to the success of Edmonton’s defense.