This NHL season has been highly unorthodox, to say the least. One of the best things we have seen come out of this situation is aggressive, chippy play. But unfortunately, not everything is sunshine and rainbows. The salary cap situation has developed its fair share of NHL rumours. The Edmonton Oilers could be shopping for a winger at the trade deadline. Will the Carolina Hurricanes be able to resign a defenceman? Finally, the Boston Bruins could be shopping a first-round draft choice from 2015. Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours.
NHL Rumours:
Edmonton Oilers
Rumour: The Athletic’s Allan Mitchell is speculating that the Oilers will be looking to add a winger at the trade deadline.
Edmonton is built like a poor man’s Toronto Maple Leafs from two years ago. Elite-level talent on the top line, but beyond that, there’s nothing to write home about. In order to bolster that group, the Oilers might look to add depth scoring before the playoffs. This team needs all the help it can get. While they have been competitive in the North Division, they need to take it to the next level. You can’t win playoff games when your bottom-six forward group is the equivalent of using duct tape to build an airplane.
Options mentioned include Rickard Rakell from the Anaheim Ducks as well as Calle Jarnkrok and Mikael Granlund from the Nashville Predators. Both teams are struggling this season and should be looking to sell at the trade deadline. While none of those options will be easy to acquire, the Oilers desperately need it. Depth is something you cannot win without in the postseason and the Oilers are severely lacking in that area.
Carolina Hurricanes
Rumour: Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic is reporting that contract talks with Dougie Hamilton have been nonexistent for some time and he could test the free-agent market.
Dougie Hamilton is on his third NHL team with the Carolina Hurricanes. He is an integral part of that defensive core. Now he could be headlining the 2021 class of free agents. While the two parties were reportedly engaged in contract talks earlier in the year, those discussions have ceased since. At a time where the NHL is struggling financially, this does not bode well for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes are a team that is positioned to win big for the first time in a long time. This team could barely scrape together wins but have turned it around over the last two years. They have put together an elite defensive group and Hamilton has been a large part of that. He has helped generate offensive opportunities from the blue line. That is a rare skill and one they cannot afford to lose. While this team is deep in terms of defencemen, Hamilton’s stature and skill set are a rare combo that they cannot just let walk out the door.
Boston Bruins
Rumour: As reported by the Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa, forward Jake DeBrusk could wind up on the trade block.
DeBrusk is easily Boston’s best choice of their three first-round draft picks in 2015. That said, there is a widespread belief that he can do more on the ice than he has been contributing. DeBrusk is a player who has been a crucial component of the top-six forward group. Playing mainly on the wing of David Krejci, DeBrusk has carved out a role for himself. His recent downward trend has resulted in his role fluctuating between the second and third units.
Trading DeBrusk is a risk. This team lacks prospects and high-end young talent. Many of the stars on this team are ageing veterans. If they trade DeBrusk, they could get a decent return. But at what cost? Any draft pick or prospect they acquire will not be ready to play in the NHL yet. By trading DeBrusk, they also weaken the forward group and make their odds at a title slimmer. A difficult choice lies ahead for Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins front office.
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That does it for this edition of NHL Rumours. Be sure to check back tomorrow for more.
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