There’s a lot moving around the NHL right now, and the latest chatter touches three very different situations: Montreal’s coach, Minnesota’s stalled contract talks, and a wild trade concept involving Philadelphia’s brightest young scorer.
In Montreal, the message from Geoff Molson is clear: the Canadiens are not in the business of replacing Martin St. Louis.
The coach has one year left on his deal, but the organization seems happy with what he’s doing and wants him in the fold longer term. The final call still belongs to St.
Louis, but the Canadiens appear prepared to go bigger, with more money and a longer contract. For now, they may simply be waiting until everyone is back from the offseason before putting the extension to bed.
The Quinn Hughes situation in Minnesota is moving much more slowly than expected. Elliotte Friedman said he’s surprised the talks over Hughes’ next contract haven’t picked up speed, and he pointed to the possibility that Hughes and some of his U.S.
Olympic teammates have spent the summer enjoying themselves instead of focusing on business. So far, there hasn’t been much in the way of real negotiating, according to Friedman.
He’s not sounding alarm bells yet, but he did note that if Hughes still doesn’t have a deal once the season starts, that would suggest something unusual is going on. He also said the situation could be connected to whatever Cale Makar signs.
Then there’s the most eye-catching idea of the bunch: Matvei Michkov and the Oilers. Philadelphia’s young scorer is a dangerous talent, but things could be getting a little uncomfortable with coach Rick Tocchet.
His ice time and production have become part of the conversation, and there are questions about his defence, conditioning, and his relationship with the coach. If that tension grows, the Flyers could eventually explore a trade.
That’s where Edmonton enters the picture. The Oilers could put together a package centered on Isaac Howard, a young defenceman, and multiple draft picks. It’s a pure hypothetical for now, but the fit is easy to see: Edmonton would land a top-six winger who could skate with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, while Philadelphia would collect several young assets and picks if it decided Michkov wasn’t the right long-term piece.
In Other News...
Oilers Camp Depth Already Facing An Early Problem
Training camp was supposed to give the Oilers their first real look at how much depth they can trust after another long spring, but the early list of absences already complicates that picture. Edmonton said Matt Savoie and Frederik Andersen will miss camp because of injuries sustained during offseason training, while Mattias Janmark and Alec Regula also won't be available after surgeries tied to previous injuries.
For a team trying to sort out roles and combinations before the season gets rolling, the timing is less than ideal. The Oilers haven't detailed the specific injuries involved, and the club said updates on each player will come when appropriate, leaving camp to begin with more questions than the staff probably wanted at this stage. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Camp Plans Already Face A Problem Before It Even Starts
The first signs of trouble for Oilers training camp arrived before a puck had even dropped, with the club saying Matt Savoie and Frederik Andersen are not expected to take part as they work back from offseason injuries. Edmonton also indicated Mattias Janmark and defenseman Alec Regula are unlikely to be ready for camp after recent medical procedures, leaving the team to sort through an early round of absences before the real work begins.
For a club trying to get its roster and lineup settled, the timing is hardly ideal. The Oilers did not offer any return timeline for any of the four players, which leaves their availability open-ended as camp approaches and puts extra attention on the next wave of updates from the medical staff. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Prospects Get An Early Checkpoint In First Battle With Calgary
Tickets are now on sale for the NextGen Showcase, giving Oilers prospects an early chance to measure themselves against Calgary rookies on Sept. 14 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. For Edmonton, its a useful first checkpoint before the real ramp-up begins, with preseason games set to start Sept. 19 and the regular season opener waiting at home against Vancouver on Sept. 29.
Stan Bowman has already made it clear this will be the only rookie game between the provincial rivals this year, which adds a little more weight to a matchup that can otherwise get lost in the noise of September. It also means one quick look at the young depth chart will have to carry a lot of the scouting value, especially for fans trying to get their first read on who might stand out when the Oilers proper begin their exhibition slate. [Read more 🡒]