Well, so much for that Raanta guy.
The Finnish UFA goalie signed a deal this morning with the Chicago Blackhawks. Goodbye Ray Emery next season?
I don't understand this move at all. For one thing, the Hawks are in the Stanley Cup Finals...oops, I meant Conference Finals. Still two games to go before the cup thing. Nevertheless, what message does it send to Emery and Crawford that the team is bringing in perhaps the best UFA goalie from Europe? I wouldn't want to distract them at this specific moment.
And aside from that, I thought I read Raanta wanted to go to a team that can offer him a chance at becoming the starter? I wouldn't normally stick up for Corey Crawford, but his playoff stats are pretty good.
What I think happened is Raanta wants to win a cup, even if he's sitting on the bench when it happens. Understandable, sorta?
Where do the Oilers go from here is anyone's guess. Actually, it's not that confusing. If I have to read one more "rumor" about the Oilers going after Jonathan Bernier, I'm going to scratch an eye out. There's a glut of back-up level goalies available every summer. The Oilers will sign one and be done with it. There's no reason to deal anyone for any thing.
Other Oilers Notes:
- The OKC Barons are down three games to two in the AHL Western Conference Finals. It's going to be pretty hard to fight back from that. The good news is, the Oilers have found out about five Barons are good enough to play in the NHL next season if required to do so. We're not talking top-end guys...Just people to fill out the Bottom 6 and the 5/6 D pairing.
- Valeri Nishushkin has become the most hyped player in the NHL draft. I heard one person suggest this morning he could go in the Top 2. Ummm, no. Jones and MacKinnon are fairly safe locks in the 1 and 2 spots. I think it would be dumb if Tampa does not recognize Drouin's season and take him 3rd. Where Nishushkin becomes a draft factor is #4 down...I'm thinking he, Barkov, and Monahan will go 4, 5, and 6 in that exact order. Good news if you're Nashville, Carolina and Calgary. Bad news if you're the Edmonton Oilers.
- I got absolutely blasted for suggesting the Oilers should deal their 7th overall pick for Columbus's 14 + 19 picks, but if the first six in the draft taken are Jones, MacKinnon, Drouin, Nishushkin, Barkov, and Monahan, I'm absolutely making the deal with Columbus. I believe there's a significant drop off between those six and the rest of the field in the draft.
- I've been reading different Oilers sites around the web lately. Please, people who are east of Winnipeg, stop. Seriously, you have no idea and it's hurting me and other Oilers fans.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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