Tag: trade rumours

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Oilers deal with yet another trade scenario before Game 6

AP

The Edmonton Oilers could put their first round series against the Los Angeles Kings to bed on Friday with a win in Game 6, but it won’t be as easy to end the ongoing trade chatter around the organization.

Amidst their playoff run, the Oilers have been phased with different trade scenarios and a new one emerged on Thursday ahead of Game 6.

According to Allan Mitchell of The Athletic, there is a strong possibility that forward Kailer Yamamoto has played his last game with the Oilers. The reporter believes the winger could be on the move, despite showing issues, “including coverage, a shooting slump and an inability to win battles” during the first round series against the Kings. Which prompted Mitchell to ask one more question to add to the pile of scenarios for this summer:

“Is Yamamoto playing his final games as an Oiler?”

Tough choices will be made in Edmonton. The Oilers will enter the offseason with $6.82-million in cap space, according to Cap Friendly, with RFA’s Evan Bouchard, Ryan Mcleod and Klim Kostin to ink to extensions. They also need to re-sign, or replace, Derek Ryan, Mattias Janmark, Devin Shore and Nick Bjugstad on the roster.

And to be honest, the Oilers have more readily available prospects that could replace Yamamoto.

And so, I would answer yes to Mitchell’s question : Yamamoto is playing his final games as an Oiler.

But first let’s see if tonight’s game shines a new light on him.

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Pierre-Luc Dubois lands back in monster trade chatter amidst Jets’ playoff struggles…

NHL.com

The ongoing speculation on the Montreal Canadiens attempting to acquire Jets star forward Pierre-Luc Dubois is still strong despite Winnipeg battling to stay alive in the postseason. However that does not stop the Habs from being interested in making a pitch to land Dubois this summer, as Sportsnet’s Eric Engels points out, provided the asking price isn’t too high.

Dubois is scheduled become a restricted free agent for the last time in his career in July, and the Canadiens would be able to sign him to an extension if they acquire him this summer. Montreal has more salary-cap flexibility this off-season compared to last summer, with $9.66 million in projected cap space for 2023-24 with 20 roster players under contract per Cap Friendly. On top of that, the Canadiens could benefit from an added $10.5 million by placing permanently-sidelined goalie Carey Price on long-term injury reserve.

It remains to be seen if Canadiens GM Kent Hughes will look to make a splash on the free agent market this summer or keep his focus on Dubois. Recently, a hypothesis emerged in which, if Dubois remains unsigned after July 1st, the Canadiens would have a four-day window to submit an offer sheet to Dubois. Seeing that Dubois will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024, this means he only has one more season to complete in order to attain full autonomy.

For now, Dubois remains focused on the postseason as the Jets need to stay alive on Thursday night when facing the Golden Knights in Game 5. Vegas could close the series at home as it leads the first round 3-1.

But then Dubois, what will you choose to do if the Canadiens keep asking to have you in Montreal?

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Oilers explore significant trade scenario admits tight playoff series

NHL.com

The first round series between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers is tied up at 1-1 and the latter are aware they needed to take the California rivals seriously.

However, reports emerge that GM Ken Holland may already be considering a significant trade for the summer, despite his team fighting a top opponent in a tight series. According to insider Frank Seravalli, the Oilers could look to trade defenseman Evan Bouchard if he doesn’t agree to a bridge deal for his next contract.

It is clear that the young blue liner will seek a raise coming off his entry-level contract after reaching the 40-point plateau for a second consecutive season, especially thanks to him joining trade-deadline acquisition Mattias Ekholm.

Seravalli doesn’t see a path for a long-term deal for Bouchard, given the Oilers’ salary-cap limitations. Edmonton is tight on money with a projected $8.5 million in cap space with 15 players under contract for 2023-24, per Cap Friendly. The insider believes the Oilers will prefer to sign him to a bridge deal and could offer up a two-year deal worth an annual cap hit of $3.5 million or $4.5 million, with the potential for a more lucrative long-term deal down the road.

“There was an avenue to extend him over the summer to a bridge deal. He (Bouchard) bet on himself by waiting to see how the year played out. Now moving forward, I think you bet on yourself and pocket whatever the number turns out to be 2 years x $3.5 million, 2 years x $4.5 million. You put that in your pocket and then work for that $8 million deal after that.”

However if Bouchard refuses, Seravalli wouldn’t be surprised to see the Oilers attempt to trade him during the summer as the young defenseman lacks arbitration rights.

Imagine if a rival club tempts Bouchard with an offer sheet knowing of the Oilers’ limited salary-cap space? While this is an unlikely scenario that rarely takes place in the NHL, the Oilers are reportedly studying all possible options for Bouchard… even amidst a tight playoff series!

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Alex Ovechkin getting played by the Capitals?!

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The Washington Capitals might not want to do it, but after the subpar season they just pulled off, failing to reach the postseason, they might not have another choice.

The disappointing results in 2022-23 have brought on rumours that three key players from the Capitals’ roster could be on the move this summer. Dan Rosen of NHL.com believes that forwards Tom Wilson, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Anthony Mantha could be traded during the offseason.


Rosen recently answered questions on the Capitals’ future and the reporter hinted at some “surgery” coming to Washington, despite management promising captain Alex Ovechkin that a full rebuild won’t take place until after he breaks Wayne Gretzky’s record for most goals in NHL history. However, the Capitals might have to start somewhere, and it could be this summer.

“Maybe Mantha gets traded. Maybe Wilson does. I don’t think you can rule it out because his contract expires after next season,” wrote Rosen.

As for Kuznetsov, there were ongoing chatter throughout the campaign that he was seeking a trade out of Washington. Though the Russian forward denied the rumours, there is rarely smoke without fire. However, Rosen fears that Kuznetsov might not bring back enough to the Capitals in a transaction this summer.

“I think the Capitals would trade Kuznetsov if they can get good value in return for the 30-year-old forward, but he’s having a disappointing season by his standards with 54 points (12 goals, 42 assists) in 76 games. He could have the fewest points in a season he played at least 70 games since he had 37 in 80 games as a rookie in 2014-15, so it might not be the best time to try to trade him.”

I’m not sure if these trade rumours will materialized in the summer, but if I were GM Brian MacLellan, I’d probably check in with Ovi first, especially if I promised him no significant changes before he makes NHL history…

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Matt Murray on the move again?!

Leafs / Twitter

There was unfortunate news on Tuesday that Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray was suffering from a concussion and that no timeline was given for his return. Despite the bad news on his health, and potentially his future in the NHL, it hasn’t stopped chatter from emerging, stating that the Maple Leafs could try to trade him or buy him out this summer due to his frequent absences from the lineup.

When Murray was brought in from the Ottawa Senators last summer, Toronto thought it had fixed their issues in between the pipes. But they kept coming back as Murray kept missing action, sparking speculation that he could be changing teams again this offseason, according to Sportsnet’s Luxe Fox.


When Fox was asked if the Maple Leafs could move on to a Ilya Samsonov-Joseph Woll tandem for 2023-24, the reporter explained that they could, but it would all depend on how both goalies do for the last stretch and during the playoffs. Fox suggested the Leafs could trade Murray to a team looking to reach next season’s cap floor as the veteran netminder’s full annual average value is $6.25 million through 2023-24. However, Toronto only carried $4.687 million, with the Senators retaining the rest.

However, I feel like a contract buyout might be the easiest route. The Maple Leafs could also buy him out before the two-week buyout window opens in mid-June, at a reasonable cap hit. It would come at $687,500 for 2023-24 and $2 million in 2024-25, when the salary cap is projected to spike.

It sounds like a move could come for Murray, but which one?

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Proposed controversial blockbuster trade involving projected first overall pick Connor Bedard!

WHL

Like all teams at the bottom of the NHL standings, the Montreal Canadiens are again in the running to win the draft lottery and this year’s winner will undoubtedly select generational talent Connor Bedard.

At the moment, the Canadiens are 28th in the league’s standings, giving them an 8.5% chance to select first overall and an 8.8% chance to pick second. However, if they failed to win the lottery on May 8, a Montreal radio station suggested a controversial blockbuster trade to make sure they get the franchise-changing player.

BPM Sports took to Twitter to asked Habs’ fans if they would consider trading Canadiens’ captain Nick Suzuki and star forward Cole Caufield to land the first overall pick and select Bedard for a rebuild in Montreal.

The radio station got close to 7000 votes and reactions on the poll, with fans refusing to part with Suzuki and Caufield if the Canadiens cannot win the lottery.

Prior to the deadline, there were a multitude of trades involving first-round picks at the 2023 trade deadline. As a result, the Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks all have two selections in the first round, and the St. Louis Blues own three. The Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins all traded away their first-round draft picks and don’t have a selection within the first 32 picks.

However, trading the two faces of the franchise in Montreal to land Bedard might not be the right call.

But also, Bedard is a beast, and one and a lifetime saviour for any club at the bottom of the standings. He racked up 71 goals and 72 assists in just 57 games for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League this season. Bedard was the first player to earn exceptional status in the WHL after scoring 43 goals and 84 points in 36 games for West Van Academy Prep’s U18 team, leading the Canadian Sports School Hockey League (CSSHL) in scoring and earning MVP honours as a 14 year old. Bedard’s dream season with the Pats is now over, and he shifts his focus to the NHL Draft lottery. Like most hockey fans whose teams are out of the postseason.

When it comes to the poll by BPM Sports, it’s a tough call, but really, the fans in Montreal seemed to have may the right one.

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