Weekly Rumours: Looking at the Big Name Free Agents
3 years ago
It seems like this is the third year in a row where we heard that there was an unprecedented amount of trade chatter leading up to the draft. There were multiple insiders who said that they couldn’t believe the amount of high-end, quality players who were reportedly available.
Well, the draft has now come and gone and while some interesting moves did go down, it was far from what I was expecting. There is still plenty of time for some big names to get moved, but I would expect that a lot of teams are going to start shifting their focus to free agency, at least for the next few days.
Over the next 24 hours, I would expect that most of the trades we do see will mostly be cap dumps. I believe that’s certainly the case with the Oilers. I can’t imagine Ken Holland going out and trading for a third-line centre or a top-four defensemen before first exploring the free-agent market. If he does make a trade, it will likely involve one of @Kris Russell or @Alex Chiasson.
Who are some free agents that Holland could be talking to once that window opens tomorrow? Well, they’re being connected to some big names, including the number one goalie on the market.
@JACOB MARKSTROM
Oct 2, 2019; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) scores a third period goal against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
I’m just not sure how the Oilers could fit Markstrom’s cap hit in. A lot of reports are suggesting that he’s looking for a six-year deal worth around $6 million a season. The Oilers only have $7 million in cap space right now, so I’m just not sure how it’s going to work. Pierre LeBrun mentioned the possibility of the Oilers throwing more term at Markstrom in order to get him at a lower cap hit, but even if it was a seven-year deal worth $5 million a season, it would be hard for the Oilers to fit him in.
Now, if they can move on from both Kris Russell and Alex Chiasson, then I could see it working out, but that’s far from a certainty. Some people have floated the idea of trading Mikko Koskinen to make room for Markstrom, but I don’t see why a team would trade for Koskinen at $4.5 million when there are so many other options on the free-agent market.
Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see Markstrom in Edmonton, I’m just not sure if the Oilers have the money to make it work. The Calgary Flames are reportedly also interested and considering the fact that they have around $10 million more cap space than the Oilers, I wonder if that might be a better fit.
TYSON BARRIE
A lot of people have been connecting Tyson Barrie to the Oilers over the last month or so and I can see why. The Oilers will likely be without their powerplay quarterback Oscar Klefbom for most, or all, of next season and Barrie is very good at running a powerplay. Over the last three seasons, he’s played 758 minutes on the powerplay and scored ten goals and 57 assists. He ranks eight in points/60 among defensemen who played at least 500 powerplay minutes over the last three seasons.
The only defensemen ahead of him are Torey Krug, Victor Hedman, John Carlson, Keith Yandle, Brent Burns, John Klingberg, and Erik Karlsson. So I have no concerns about his ability to help the Oilers powerplay.
My concerns come at even-strength, where he isn’t a great defender. His numbers are still pretty good though. He’s also a right-shot defenseman, so it doesn’t make him a perfect fit considering the Oilers have Adam Larsson, Ethan Bear, and Evan Bouchard on the right side.
Pierre LeBrun noted that the Oilers could offer Barrie a one-year deal and sell him on the idea of having a bounce-back season while getting to play on the best powerplay in the league, and then hitting the market again next offseason. I could see that scenario playing out, but I would still like to see the Oilers bring in a left-handed d-man for next season. There is also talk that the Calgary Flames are interested in Barrie. It could turn into a Battle of Albert bidding war.
@TAYLOR HALL
Mar 6, 2020; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Arizona Coyotes left wing Taylor Hall (91) against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome.
There have been people connecting Taylor Hall to Edmonton, Frank Seravalli wrote last week that he could see the Oilers being interested if they traded Nugent-Hopkins, but I just don’t see how this is a fit and I would not move Nugent-Hopkins in order to bring in Hall.
Edmonton only has around $7 million to spend and Hall is going to cost at least that much. Even if they moved out Russell and Chiasson, I don’t think the money would work. It’s a pipe dream to put it bluntly.
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Avalanche have been downplaying their interest in Hall but others are saying that might not be true. Hall and the Avs seem like a great match. Some other teams to keep an eye on are the Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators, who both have cleared out a bunch of money over the last few days.
He’s going to get paid and there will be plenty of suitors. What’s really interesting to me is how long it will take Hall to make a decision and how it will affect the second-tier of free agent wingers.
ALEX PIETRANGELO
Things sound a little quiet around Pietrangelo right now. Obviously, the Oilers are not in the mix, but there is a lot of talk surrounding Pietrangelo and another Pacific Division team. Despite the fact that they are currently over the cap, the Golden Knights are reportedly very interested in Pietrangelo and there is talk that he’s very interested in them.
They would have to move out some serious money and that will not be easy. Marc-Andre Fleury is the big name that gets thrown around a lot and Vegas has offered a second-round pick to every team in the league just to have them eat half of Fleury’s salary and couldn’t find a taker. Other names that they could move include are Nate Schmidt, Alec Martinez, and Paul Stastny. I could see the Oilers being interested in Martinez. Frank Seravalli told TSN 1260 today that he could see the Jets being interested in Stastny.
Vegas seems to be the front runner if they can clear out the money with St. Louis and Florida also being very interested.
QUICK NOTES
- The Blackhawks will not be bringing back @Corey Crawford next season, which adds to the complicated and flooded goaltending market. Don’t think he’s a good fit in Edmonton, but he’ll take one of the open spots around the league.
- Elliotte Friedman said on Twitter, there had been rumblings that Tuuka Rask would retire if the Bruins traded him and while Rask didn’t go that far in his recent interview with the Boston Herald, he made it clear he wants to stay in Boston.
- I would be stunned if @Henrik Lundqvist did not sign with the Capitals tomorrow.
- There have been a lot of interesting buyouts and players not being qualified. I’ll take a closer look at those players in my next piece.
- The teams who do have a lot of cap space will be fascinating to watch. There are 5-6 teams that could turn themselves into contenders really quick if their owners let them sign some good free-agents to short-term deals.
Recent articles from Tyler Yaremchuk
