On the Edmonton Oilers …
Mark Spector: The odds of the Oilers buying out Benoit Pouliot are greater than them trading him.
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Oilers: Wonder about a Curtis Lazar for Griffin Reinhart trade? The Senators are feeling that he’s been spinning his wheels and Reinhart is stuck in the minors. Both are former first round picks.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friday on 630 CHED on Thursday talking about the Edmonton Oilers.
Friedman doesn’t think there is a lot of interest in Jordan Eberle and Benoit Pouliot. They Oilers have been trying for a while to move Pouliot, but can’t find anything that works. Friedman adds that he thinks if there had been more interest in Eberle, they wouldn’t have traded Taylor Hall.
“It’s very hard to make deals for guys with term now. Especially guys with term who aren’t producing. Unless you’re willing to take back somebody else’s mistake or do something in return to help out the team you’re trading with.
“You’re not trading guys like that right now and getting value unless they’re stars. So you’re kind of stuck there. And I can see it this year, the frustration that Todd McLellan and the organization has had with those two players. There’s not much you can really do except try to grind your way out of it.”
Nick Kypreos mentioned Tomas Plekanec last week, who has a year left on his contract at a $6 million cap hit. The Canadiens can’t find a team right now that wants to take that contract. Islanders Jaroslav Halak is another example as he has another year left at 4.5 million.
“So you look at guys with term now – it’s impossible. Very, very difficult. So your best option in Edmonton is find a way to make it work, because it’s going to very hard to trade those players.”
