In today’s NHL rumors, we look at the Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, affordable forwards at the trade deadline and Dion Phaneuf possibly leaving LA.
Oilers GM Search Starts This Week
TSN Insider Bob McKenzie is reporting that the Edmonton Oilers will start contacting teams later this week about potential GM candidates. They’ve held off because they needed to wait for permission to speak to some people (they still may not fully have that yet).
Who is high on the Oilers radar while Bob Nicholson and Craig MacTavish run things with the help of Keith Gretzky?
TSN's @frank_seravalli joined @Lowetide to discuss:
– #Oilers deadline strategy
– Their GM search
– NHL Trade noteshttps://t.co/VrBjPwDz27 pic.twitter.com/NdpsHfVuTz— Tyler Yaremchuk (@tyleryaremchuk) February 7, 2019
See who the leading candidates are at the below link.
Oilers Not Trading Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, a trade that would including sending away Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is not in the cards for the Edmonton Oilers. Dreger says the Oilers have far too many players who are not effective on the roster and moving one of the better and more productive members of the team simply doesn’t make sense.
"This road trip we played two really good games & two bad games. We've got to find that consistency." Nugent-Hopkins as #Oilers go 2-2-0 on four-game swing pic.twitter.com/aIcqZOUEiK
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 9, 2019
Dreger says, “when I look at the Edmonton Oilers, you can count on probably six – maybe seven – fingers how many players are players of substance – with all due respect to those who are earning a living as NHL players. And I’m not trying to be disrespectful.”
A List of Budget NHL Forwards Available
Jared Clinton of The Hockey News took a closer look at some of the more affordable names on the NHL Trade Deadline market at forward. With names like Micheal Ferland and Ryan Dzingel being more expensive, are there deals out there to be had?
Kings and Phaneuf Parting Ways?
The Los Angeles Kings are going to sit defenseman Dion Phaneuf as a healthy scratch and that’s leading to speculation he might be a potential buyout candidate in the summer.
#LAKings' Dion Phaneuf will be a healthy scratch tonight in Philadelphia.https://t.co/ni45jm7L4V
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 7, 2019
At $7 million per season for more than this year, how will this work the LA Kings?
Senators Going to be All-In Come 2021
Eugene Melnyk spoke to a group of corporate sponsors and partners on Wednesday. He explained exactly how he sees the team’s future.
Is it true the Senators plan to be a cap team by the time 2021 rolls around?
