Category Archives: Edmonton Oilers
Could the Oilers trade Ryan Smyth?
Darren Dreger: Sam Gagner, we know. Ales Hemsky, we know. Ryan Smyth is expected. There’s no dialog between Craig MacTavish and Ryan Smyth. The belief is that Smyth wants one more crack with a winning team to see if he can win the Stanley Cup. He’s still effective, at least in the offensive zone, so I expect his name will heat up as we get closer to the deadline.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=441829
Oilers and Sens trade rumors
Who might be available and who might be on the move in Edmonton?
Dreger: Sam Gagner, we know. Ales Hemsky, we know. Ryan Smyth is expected. There’s no dialog between Craig MacTavish and Ryan Smyth. The belief is that Smyth wants one more crack with a winning team to see if he can win the Stanley Cup. He’s still effective, at least in the offensive zone, so I expect his name will heat up as we get closer to the deadline.
Do you think the Oilers will trade their first-round 2014 draft pick? If not, who are they taking? Sam or Aaron?
No chance the Oilers are dealing away a probable top three draft pick. GM Craig MacTavish was singing a different tune a few months back, saying he was open for business to deal the team’s first-rounder but that was before his club tumbled to the current depths of 29th in a 30-team league. It looks like Buffalo (30), Edmonton (29) and Calgary (28) are in a group for the first overall pick in the lottery. The Oilers won’t take Kootenay forward Sam Reinhart (not big enough).
Do you suppose would be trading partners noticed Ales Hemsky’s strong game in Chicago?
Edmonton Oilers’ winger Ales Hemsky has sat in a barber’s chair recently and his hair is so short you’d swear he was going for a job interview. Which, in a way, he is, although how his hands look might well be more important than how his hair looks to any rival general managers if they have a hankering to trade for the unrestricted free-agent.
As much as the Oilers have noticed the buy-in from Hemsky, who has had no gripes about being a third-liner this season, often playing with centre Boyd Gordon, with some second unit powerplay gravy, anybody watching Hemsky roar around the best defenceman in the NHL, Duncan Keith, Sunday night in Chicago, had to be impressed. Great rush, and a nifty tuck under the pads of Hawks’ rookie goalie Antti Raanta, who was flummoxed on the play.
A Perfect Fit?
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal believes Andrew Ladd of the Winnipeg Jets is exactly what the Oilers need. Staples considers the idea of the Oilers trading Gagner for Ladd, Blake Wheeler or Dustin Byfuglien. With Mark Scheifele and Brian Little solidified at centre on the top two lines, Gagner could have to play on the wing in Winnipeg.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=440836
Could the Oilers move Gagne, Eberle and Yakupov?
The Edmonton Oilers are likely moving Sam Gagner — to the wing on Friday and, if the buzz is true, out of Edmonton before the trade deadline.
It is only a matter of time before we start seeing casualties of a rebuild gone horribly wrong, and speculation is that it will begin with him.
But it probably won’t end there.
Edmonton Oilers GM Craig MacTavish gets into shouting match with fan, insists success is coming
He has to resist the temptation to make a deal, any deal, simply for the sake of doing a deal and trading future for the present to appease the fan base.
That does not mean he’s going to do nothing.
“The next deal is going to be an important deal for us,” said the rookie GM who returned from the World Junior to watch a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning and a 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
Gagne and the Oilers believe it is time for a change
Sam Gagner: He was not eligible for a no-trade clause when he signed his three-year extension last summer (It kicks-in next season). Craig MacTavish graciously promised to honour it this season, but as Edmonton searches for answers, it sounds like both sides believe it is time for a change, not that anyone is commenting. Should a deal happen, no doubt MacTavish will try to make it a soft landing.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2014/01/30-thoughts-canadas-olympic-squad-still-has-holes-to-fill.html
Oilers could be busy at trade deadline as they have marketable assets
I know the trade deadline is two months away, but what would the market be for unrestricted free agents like Ales Hemsky, Nick Schultz and Ryan Jones? Second or third-rounders because they are players contenders would want? What about Devan Dubnyk/Ilya Bryzgalov and Corey Potter?
Rumors from the Edmonton Journal
Most people think the Pittsburgh Penguins will dangle defenceman Simon Despres to get a forward at the NHL trade deadline because they have Derrick Pouliot, who was outstanding in the world junior hockey championship, coming and they like blue-liner Brian Dumoulin, who they acquired in the Jordan Staal trade.
EDM VERY active to make a move now
Intriguing to see #Oilers Scott Howson in press box in LA. Couple that with word EDM VERY active to move now, Hemsky/Gagner in mix.
— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) January 5, 2014