The silly season of the National Hockey League is officially upon us, as the Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for Cody Ceci trade “rumour” attests.

Hope is king in July for hockey fans, even for fans of losing teams. The pain of the last season is distant. The expectation of the new season is fuelled by the home team’s draft picks, signings and trades. Gone are at least a few players who everyone is tired of watching. Arriving are numerous unknown quantities. I’d be surprised if there are more than two or three NHL fanbases where the majority of fans do not expect their team to make the playoffs in 2016-17. Indeed, at this time of year, fans are willing to believe almost anything, including the wild Nugent-Hopkins for Ceci scuttlebutt.

How else do you explain this notion going from a muttering by hockey’s chief fabulist, Eklund, on Friday, to being chewed over as a very real possibility by a mainstream media Ottawa sports broadcaster on Monday?

Normally I pay zero attention to Eklund’s made-up stories, and so it was with this rumour, even as there was no end of chatter over the weekend on the Oilogosphere about this matter. But then came Monday’s Oilers Now on 630 CHED, and play-by-play man A.J. Jakubec of TSN 1200 in Ottawa discussing Ceci’s future contract and his overall future with the Ottawa Senators.

“When it comes to Cody Ceci we’ll see what happens in terms of contract talks,” Jakubec said. “But I think they are a lot more comfortable making that type of move if they get a real quality piece in return. Not that I think they’re going to just seek that type of move but if they get a Nugent-Hopkins or a Draisaitl back they’re probably a lot more comfortable now making that move now that they’ve got Dion Phaneuf to compliment Marc Methot and Erik Karlsson than they would have been before acquiring him.”

To his credit, Bob Stauffer, the host of Oilers Now, suggested to Jakubec that this rumour was absolute rubbish, though Stauffer put it much, much more politely. But Stauffer did say with emphasis: “I’m telling you right now I’d be stunned if Nugent-Hopkins went.”

Of course, Nugent-Hopkins has been the subject of trade rumours all summer. Stauffer suggested in early June there was more than a fifty percent chance that Nugent-Hopkins or Taylor Hall would be moved in a trade. RNH’s name came up most loudly in trade rumours for Mat Dumba of the Wild, but that rumour faded fast after the Hall for Adam Larsson trade. Even with constant talk of the Oilers still wanting Tyson Barrie, and with TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, an Oilers insider, saying he’d trade RNH for Barrie, such a deal doesn’t seem to be in the cards.

The reality of the Edmonton Oilers is that with the trading of Hall, the team is in grave danger of not having enough skill on the attack. Even with Hall and McDavid last year, the Oilers ranked only 25th in goal scoring. The only Oilers players with good-to-outstanding offensive skill left in the forward ranks are McDavid, Jordan Eberle, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, with Benoit Pouliot and Milan Lucic offering support.

Maybe rookie Jesse Puljujarvi steps up to add to that group, maybe not. As Oilers fans saw with Nail Yakupov, there are no sure things when it comes to top picks.

Essentially, the Oilers no longer are in a position of over-abundance when it comes to high-end skill in their forward group (if they ever were in that position of over-abundance). Indeed, Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli was in the old “robbing Peter to pay Paul” situation with his trade of Hall for Larsson. It was a calculated but massive risk needed to close up a gaping hole at right defence, but this team can’t afford to now lose a player like Nugent-Hopkins. As recently as last summer, RNH was rated more highly than Hall by most Oilers fans. He has shown in the past he might well have the ability to be an offensive driver on a line, playing that role in a unit with Eberle and Pouliot.

So sorry to dash the hopes of the Ottawa hockey world, but it’s hard (and sickening from the fan perspective) to imagine that Edmonton will be moving Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for a defenceman at this point, not unless that d-man is one of the NHL’s offensive kingpins on the blueline. Cody Ceci is a strong and promising young defenceman, but he’s not that.
- hunter3333

Dal Colle is very underwhelming at this point.


- Feds91Stammer

What website is that from?

The silly season of the National Hockey League is officially upon us, as the Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for Cody Ceci trade “rumour” attests.

Hope is king in July for hockey fans, even for fans of losing teams. The pain of the last season is distant. The expectation of the new season is fuelled by the home team’s draft picks, signings and trades. Gone are at least a few players who everyone is tired of watching. Arriving are numerous unknown quantities. I’d be surprised if there are more than two or three NHL fanbases where the majority of fans do not expect their team to make the playoffs in 2016-17. Indeed, at this time of year, fans are willing to believe almost anything, including the wild Nugent-Hopkins for Ceci scuttlebutt.

How else do you explain this notion going from a muttering by hockey’s chief fabulist, Eklund, on Friday, to being chewed over as a very real possibility by a mainstream media Ottawa sports broadcaster on Monday?

Normally I pay zero attention to Eklund’s made-up stories, and so it was with this rumour, even as there was no end of chatter over the weekend on the Oilogosphere about this matter. But then came Monday’s Oilers Now on 630 CHED, and play-by-play man A.J. Jakubec of TSN 1200 in Ottawa discussing Ceci’s future contract and his overall future with the Ottawa Senators.

“When it comes to Cody Ceci we’ll see what happens in terms of contract talks,” Jakubec said. “But I think they are a lot more comfortable making that type of move if they get a real quality piece in return. Not that I think they’re going to just seek that type of move but if they get a Nugent-Hopkins or a Draisaitl back they’re probably a lot more comfortable now making that move now that they’ve got Dion Phaneuf to compliment Marc Methot and Erik Karlsson than they would have been before acquiring him.”

To his credit, Bob Stauffer, the host of Oilers Now, suggested to Jakubec that this rumour was absolute rubbish, though Stauffer put it much, much more politely. But Stauffer did say with emphasis: “I’m telling you right now I’d be stunned if Nugent-Hopkins went.”

Of course, Nugent-Hopkins has been the subject of trade rumours all summer. Stauffer suggested in early June there was more than a fifty percent chance that Nugent-Hopkins or Taylor Hall would be moved in a trade. RNH’s name came up most loudly in trade rumours for Mat Dumba of the Wild, but that rumour faded fast after the Hall for Adam Larsson trade. Even with constant talk of the Oilers still wanting Tyson Barrie, and with TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, an Oilers insider, saying he’d trade RNH for Barrie, such a deal doesn’t seem to be in the cards.

The reality of the Edmonton Oilers is that with the trading of Hall, the team is in grave danger of not having enough skill on the attack. Even with Hall and McDavid last year, the Oilers ranked only 25th in goal scoring. The only Oilers players with good-to-outstanding offensive skill left in the forward ranks are McDavid, Jordan Eberle, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, with Benoit Pouliot and Milan Lucic offering support.

Maybe rookie Jesse Puljujarvi steps up to add to that group, maybe not. As Oilers fans saw with Nail Yakupov, there are no sure things when it comes to top picks.

Essentially, the Oilers no longer are in a position of over-abundance when it comes to high-end skill in their forward group (if they ever were in that position of over-abundance). Indeed, Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli was in the old “robbing Peter to pay Paul” situation with his trade of Hall for Larsson. It was a calculated but massive risk needed to close up a gaping hole at right defence, but this team can’t afford to now lose a player like Nugent-Hopkins. As recently as last summer, RNH was rated more highly than Hall by most Oilers fans. He has shown in the past he might well have the ability to be an offensive driver on a line, playing that role in a unit with Eberle and Pouliot.

So sorry to dash the hopes of the Ottawa hockey world, but it’s hard (and sickening from the fan perspective) to imagine that Edmonton will be moving Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for a defenceman at this point, not unless that d-man is one of the NHL’s offensive kingpins on the blueline. Cody Ceci is a strong and promising young defenceman, but he’s not that.
- hunter3333

What website is that from?
- eichiefs9

http://nerd.com/

Delete your account.
- Feds91Stammer

- Flyfreaky

What website is that from?
- eichiefs9

http://www.prospect-stats.com/DEV/default.html

They did some really cool work.

- Flyfreaky

Look at this, the old gang back together again.

Kinda makes me feel like riverdancin'

For the isles sake I hope he's nothing like giroux because then he would become the second most overrated player in the national hockey league

Look at this, the old gang back together again.

Kinda makes me feel like riverdancin'


- eichiefs9

For the isles sake I hope he's nothing like giroux because then he would become the second most overrated player in the national hockey league
- Bobd62

Good insult, consider me insulted.

Look at this, the old gang back together again.

Kinda makes me feel like riverdancin'


- eichiefs9

Eckland serves no useful purpose to this broadcast. I love the show & I listen most days but really. apart from being a "control freak" he adds nothing to the broadcast. He interrupts others & his knowledge is in pale comparison. History has told us that he has NO contacts. NONE, the BS by his own admission is just plus the intro makes me ,throw up!
He Knows nothing, that is proven, relies on quality guests, he looks stunned, is stunned, grabs money & now wants more! Would I support the broadcast- yes & big time but remove this ignoramus. He has no "contacts", he is an entire fraud!

I have followed this bird for the better part of 5 years & I cannot remember one useful thing he has said.

Jim Bruce

Eckland serves no useful purpose to this broadcast. I love the show & I listen most days but really. apart from being a "control freak" he adds nothing to the broadcast. He interrupts others & his knowledge is in pale comparison. History has told us that he has NO contacts. NONE, the BS by his own admission is just plus the intro makes me ,throw up!
He Knows nothing, that is proven, relies on quality guests, he looks stunned, is stunned, grabs money & now wants more! Would I support the broadcast- yes & big time but remove this ignoramus. He has no "contacts", he is an entire fraud!

I have followed this bird for the better part of 5 years & I cannot remember one useful thing he has said.

Jim Bruce
- sacredquest

People listen to the podcast?

Eckland serves no useful purpose to this broadcast. I love the show & I listen most days but really. apart from being a "control freak" he adds nothing to the broadcast. He interrupts others & his knowledge is in pale comparison. History has told us that he has NO contacts. NONE, the BS by his own admission is just plus the intro makes me ,throw up!
He Knows nothing, that is proven, relies on quality guests, he looks stunned, is stunned, grabs money & now wants more! Would I support the broadcast- yes & big time but remove this ignoramus. He has no "contacts", he is an entire fraud!

I have followed this bird for the better part of 5 years & I cannot remember one useful thing he has said.

Jim Bruce
- sacredquest

you're my hero

One trade that could work well for both teams:

To WPG: Calvin de Haan, Mattew Barzal, and Michael Dal Colle

To NYI: Jacob Trouba, 2017 Winnipeg 2nd Round Pick

What are your thoughts....
- TheUltimateJet

Pass..... Back 2 the drawing board for u.......

I've been told that former Capitals GM George McPhee could be named as soon as tomorrow.

- Eklund

You mean you read what Bobby Mac said, right?

Eckland serves no useful purpose to this broadcast. I love the show & I listen most days but really. apart from being a "control freak" he adds nothing to the broadcast. He interrupts others & his knowledge is in pale comparison. History has told us that he has NO contacts. NONE, the BS by his own admission is just plus the intro makes me ,throw up!
He Knows nothing, that is proven, relies on quality guests, he looks stunned, is stunned, grabs money & now wants more! Would I support the broadcast- yes & big time but remove this ignoramus. He has no "contacts", he is an entire fraud!

I have followed this bird for the better part of 5 years & I cannot remember one useful thing he has said.

Jim Bruce
- sacredquest

Yet you pay for a season pass...

Eckland serves no useful purpose to this broadcast. I love the show & I listen most days but really. apart from being a "control freak" he adds nothing to the broadcast. He interrupts others & his knowledge is in pale comparison. History has told us that he has NO contacts. NONE, the BS by his own admission is just plus the intro makes me ,throw up!
He Knows nothing, that is proven, relies on quality guests, he looks stunned, is stunned, grabs money & now wants more! Would I support the broadcast- yes & big time but remove this ignoramus. He has no "contacts", he is an entire fraud!

I have followed this bird for the better part of 5 years & I cannot remember one useful thing he has said.

Jim Bruce
- sacredquest

LOL..... Coming from the guy who is a season ticket holder on HB..... GTFO you are contributing to EKLUNDS pockets home boyyyyyy

Yet you pay for a season pass...
- wreckage

Yo you totally beat me to it... Damn you Wreckage... DAMN YOU

The silly season of the National Hockey League is officially upon us, as the Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for Cody Ceci trade “rumour” attests.

Hope is king in July for hockey fans, even for fans of losing teams. The pain of the last season is distant. The expectation of the new season is fuelled by the home team’s draft picks, signings and trades. Gone are at least a few players who everyone is tired of watching. Arriving are numerous unknown quantities. I’d be surprised if there are more than two or three NHL fanbases where the majority of fans do not expect their team to make the playoffs in 2016-17. Indeed, at this time of year, fans are willing to believe almost anything, including the wild Nugent-Hopkins for Ceci scuttlebutt.

How else do you explain this notion going from a muttering by hockey’s chief fabulist, Eklund, on Friday, to being chewed over as a very real possibility by a mainstream media Ottawa sports broadcaster on Monday?

Normally I pay zero attention to Eklund’s made-up stories, and so it was with this rumour, even as there was no end of chatter over the weekend on the Oilogosphere about this matter. But then came Monday’s Oilers Now on 630 CHED, and play-by-play man A.J. Jakubec of TSN 1200 in Ottawa discussing Ceci’s future contract and his overall future with the Ottawa Senators.

“When it comes to Cody Ceci we’ll see what happens in terms of contract talks,” Jakubec said. “But I think they are a lot more comfortable making that type of move if they get a real quality piece in return. Not that I think they’re going to just seek that type of move but if they get a Nugent-Hopkins or a Draisaitl back they’re probably a lot more comfortable now making that move now that they’ve got Dion Phaneuf to compliment Marc Methot and Erik Karlsson than they would have been before acquiring him.”

To his credit, Bob Stauffer, the host of Oilers Now, suggested to Jakubec that this rumour was absolute rubbish, though Stauffer put it much, much more politely. But Stauffer did say with emphasis: “I’m telling you right now I’d be stunned if Nugent-Hopkins went.”

Of course, Nugent-Hopkins has been the subject of trade rumours all summer. Stauffer suggested in early June there was more than a fifty percent chance that Nugent-Hopkins or Taylor Hall would be moved in a trade. RNH’s name came up most loudly in trade rumours for Mat Dumba of the Wild, but that rumour faded fast after the Hall for Adam Larsson trade. Even with constant talk of the Oilers still wanting Tyson Barrie, and with TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, an Oilers insider, saying he’d trade RNH for Barrie, such a deal doesn’t seem to be in the cards.

The reality of the Edmonton Oilers is that with the trading of Hall, the team is in grave danger of not having enough skill on the attack. Even with Hall and McDavid last year, the Oilers ranked only 25th in goal scoring. The only Oilers players with good-to-outstanding offensive skill left in the forward ranks are McDavid, Jordan Eberle, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, with Benoit Pouliot and Milan Lucic offering support.

Maybe rookie Jesse Puljujarvi steps up to add to that group, maybe not. As Oilers fans saw with Nail Yakupov, there are no sure things when it comes to top picks.

Essentially, the Oilers no longer are in a position of over-abundance when it comes to high-end skill in their forward group (if they ever were in that position of over-abundance). Indeed, Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli was in the old “robbing Peter to pay Paul” situation with his trade of Hall for Larsson. It was a calculated but massive risk needed to close up a gaping hole at right defence, but this team can’t afford to now lose a player like Nugent-Hopkins. As recently as last summer, RNH was rated more highly than Hall by most Oilers fans. He has shown in the past he might well have the ability to be an offensive driver on a line, playing that role in a unit with Eberle and Pouliot.

So sorry to dash the hopes of the Ottawa hockey world, but it’s hard (and sickening from the fan perspective) to imagine that Edmonton will be moving Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for a defenceman at this point, not unless that d-man is one of the NHL’s offensive kingpins on the blueline. Cody Ceci is a strong and promising young defenceman, but he’s not that.
- hunter3333

Hey dude, tampons are on sale at your local shoppers drug mart or wall greens depending on where you live..... I don't know if that applies to maxi pads as well..

You mean you read what Bobby Mac said, right?
- Conquest

was about to post the same thing, Eklund acts like he is pre-internet, and he is posting it before it goes mainstream.

Nobody told you this Eklund you read it on the internet

One trade that could work well for both teams:

To WPG: Calvin de Haan, Mattew Barzal, and Michael Dal Colle

To NYI: Jacob Trouba, 2017 Winnipeg 2nd Round Pick

What are your thoughts....
- TheUltimateJet

What in the (frank)

Off topic, how did you guys feel about getting Shane Prince? Sens fans can viewed him as a fast skater who could handle a pass. Had some skill. No game breaker but in a few years could be a complimentary piece. After the new Pittsburgh model especially, he seems like a useful player. Was he worth a third?

His speed alone seems like we should've kept him. Over Chris niel any day. Love Chris but hell, not needed today.

Barzal is a great prospect

Dal Colle has fallen drastically after not being able to crack the world juniors roster with Canada.... Something about him is off.

Wish the Leafs drafted Barzal.. hopefully Dal Colle pans out for the Isles!!

They def need to find someone to play with JT!!

Good luck to them.
- thehockeygod

Why waste resources getting a Winger for JT?
Isn't he going to leave the Isles to sign with his hometown team when his contract expires?