It's all happening.
And when I say "it's all happening," I could mean everything, and I could mean nothing. What?
Sam Gagner
Gagner wants a No Trade Clause in his new contract, because he's tired of being the subject of trade rumors. It's been that way for the last five seasons, and I can't say I blame him for being annoyed by it. Many in Oilersville reacted in anger to the news, because the Oilers only have one guy (Shawn Horcoff) with an NTC (actually, for now it's a NMC and it's creating all sorts of problems). Some have speculated he could be moved by the Oilers at the draft over the NTC request. I can't see it. Gagner will be re-signed, perhaps as soon as today. Five year term, $4.75mil per season with some sort of modified NTC included. The team and the player will meet in the middle. That's my hope.
Keith Acton
Acton is the new Associate Coach of the Edmonton Oilers. The team announced this morning that Kelly Buchberger and Steve Smith also get to keep their jobs as assistants. Meh. None of these moves offend or excite me. It will be Dallas Eakins team next season regardless who helps him coach.
Ales Hemsky
Rumors are beginning to heat up for Hemsky. But that being said, I have yet to read one rumor suggesting what the Oilers can get in return for the winger. I was told by someone who knows the situation that the Oilers will likely only deal Hemsky after July 5. They're banking on the weak UFA crop, and the disappointment teams will feel after not being able to pick up a player from it, to increase Hemsky's trade value. I'll be surprised if he's moved over the next 48, but it's not impossible either.
Kris Letang
This is a head-scratcher. Sounds like the Penguins offered all they could for the defenseman, and he still turned it down. Bad for Pittsburgh. Double bad. As good as Letang is, knowing he wants all the money in the world and he's refusing to sign an extension at this point will greatly reduce his trade value. Obviously, there's more to this story than we've heard.
Vincent Lecavalier and Danny Briere
I don't think the Oilers will get either because teams in the NHL are going to completely overpay for them. As much as the Oilers need to add quality and depth, they need to be forward-thinking when it comes to their salary cap position. Let the other teams in the league worry about overpaying 30+ year old centers.
Tyler Bozak
This might be a more realistic UFA target for the Oilers. I expect to hear more about this as we get closer to July 5. And this only happens if the Oilers keep Gagner and if they don't draft a center.
Dion Phaneuf
The Oilers very well might be interested. They aren't going to give up Oscar Klefbom, Sam Gagner, Jeff Petry, or their 1st round draft pick for an overpaid defenseman with only one year left on his contract...But once you get past how much Phaneuf gets paid in his current contract, you realize there's a pretty solid defenseman there who plays a position of need for the Oilers and would certainly improve the team. I know everyone in Edmonton hates Phaneuf for some reason I don't get, but they need to relax and think about the big picture. If the Oilers can get him in a way that doesn't hurt the team's long-term potential, I say do it.
Dave Bolland
I'm really not understanding resistance to this one. Is he or is he not the best 3rd line center in the NHL? He's everything the Oilers were lacking last season. I'm not sure I'd give up a 1st and two 2nds for him, but it wouldn't hurt to make some sort of reasonable offer.
Shawn Horcoff
I still am not at liberty to explain the entire Horcoff situation, but I'm losing my patience and sooner or later I'm going to blurt. I'll give you folks more to consider today: Horcoff wants to be bought out. There's a couple teams who he'd like to sign with, and would sign him if he cap hit was, oh, $2.4mil instead of $5.5mil. If he WANTS a buyout, the best way he can make one happen is to do everything possible to make it impossible for the Oilers to deal him. With his NTC contract (after July 1) he can name 10 teams he'd be willing to go to. It's completely possible he'll name the 10 teams with the worst cap positions in an effort to force an Oilers buyout. It isn't going to work. Horcoff will never play for the Oilers again and the team might prove their point by sending him to the minors next season. There's more to this story that I can't and won't get into at this time. But for now, let's just say, Horcoff is taking a risk by trying to force the Oilers to buy him out.
Ilya Bryzgalov
I keep hearing this is more and more likely for the Oilers. Mind blown. I think it would likely be a one-year deal at a small amount of money, giving the Oilers an out if Bryzgalov is bad, and giving Bryz all sorts of options if the season goes well.
Eric Belanger and Ben Eager
Will both receive buyouts, as they have no trade value. Won't be compliance buyouts, as they don't make enough money for those to work. Neither will be back with the Oilers next season.
Ryan Jones and Lennart Petrell
I haven't heard anything suggesting the Oilers will re-sign either player.
Darnell Nurse and Rasmus Ristolainen
Someone from the hockey world yesterday was saying on Twitter that Nurse is more or less a better version of Theo Peckham. I'm not sure if he's that bad. Where I'm getting confused is, most scouts believe Ristolainen is the better prospect, and yet, everyone insists Nurse will be the second defenseman selected in the draft. Of course, people keep saying the Oilers are going to take him, even though everyone connected to the team keeps talking about how bad the level of forward prospects is in the franchise. I think the Oilers will deal down and try to get an extra pick before they'd take Nurse or Ristolainen. And if they do take a D at #7, it will be Ristolainen, not Nurse.
Carolina/Tampa Bay Flip?
Was listening to Team 1260 on the drive in today and I heard it suggested that Carolina and Tampa Bay could flip picks if Seth Jones is still available at #3. That makes complete sense to me. The Lightning have a decent group of young defenseman. Picking up Elias Lindholm or Valeri Nishushkin makes more sense than Jones. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, would be a brilliant place for Jones to play.
All I know is, this would be great news for the Oilers.
1. Colorado - MacKinnon
2. Florida - Drouin
3. Carolina (from Tampa) - Jones
4. Nashville - Barkov
5. Tampa (from Carolina) - Nishushkin (as it is rumored that they really, really like him)
6. Calgary - Monahan or Lindholm
7. Edmonton - Monahan or Lindholm
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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