The Columbus Blue Jackets keep circling Carson Soucy, and the signs are getting louder.
Soucy has been at camp on a professional tryout, and Mark Scheig reported that the Blue Jackets are pointing toward signing him to a contract. That makes sense with Dante Fabbro and Damon Severson both injured, leaving Columbus in need of help on the blue line.
Rick Bowness doubled down on Soucy’s camp performance, saying, “He’s still here because we’ve been very happy with what he’s done. He’s played very well. He’s what we need.”
There’s also another wrinkle in Columbus: a defenseman could wind up being part of the rumored Kirill Marchenko trade talks with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Those discussions were mentioned as happening today.
Out in Edmonton, the Oilers are showing a serious appetite for Kirby Dach. Frank Seravalli said on Casino.org that “The interest in Edmonton borders on drooling; the Oilers are intent on acquiring Dach at some point, whether that’s before the season starts, at the March 1 trade deadline, or next summer as a free agent.”
And then there’s the Dylan Larkin situation, where the list keeps shifting but the market still hasn’t caught up.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the Detroit Red Wings are hoping Shawn Horcoff’s interim GM tag can help jump-start trade talks. Larkin’s list has grown to around eight teams, according to Elliotte Friedman’s report on Friday, and Larkin understands this is taking longer than he expected.
Detroit has told teams it doesn’t want a futures-heavy return, but that may be where this heads anyway. Cap space is tight for the clubs on Larkin’s list, with only one team carrying more than $1 million in space, so any deal would have to be money-in, money-out.
Pagnotta also said there are teams not on Larkin’s list that have shown interest since June: Montreal, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Carolina and San Jose. The Red Wings have already turned down offers from the Bruins and Wild.
In Other News...
Oilers Opening Night Roster Battle Just Sent A Clear Message
The Oilers opening-night roster picture is already taking shape, and the clearest early winner from camp has been Owen Michaels. Edmonton kept Michaels with the NHL group for the season opener after he outperformed expectations in camp and showed the kind of dependable two-way game that coaches trust when the games start to count. It is another sign that this roster is still being sorted with performance and injuries both shaping the conversation.
Josh Samanski, meanwhile, is headed to Bakersfield as the Oilers continue trimming the group and setting roles for the start of the season. Dave Babcock pointed to the areas Samanski still has to clean up before he can work his way back, with the organization looking for more consistency in the defensive end and at key detail spots that matter in close games. The move leaves Edmonton with a clearer sense of who has earned the first chance, even as the bottom of the roster remains very much a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Final Cuts Leave Fans Watching One Opening Night Choice
The Oilers have trimmed their group down to 23 players for the season opener against the Vancouver Canucks, and the final roster decisions came with a few clues about how the coaching staff sees the first night unfolding. Edmonton also laid out its expected forward and defensive pairings, giving fans a clearer picture of the lineup shape as the regular season gets underway.
There was movement at the edges of the roster, with Josh Samanski heading to Bakersfield in the AHL while Owen Michaels remains with the club for opening night. Mike Babcock also confirmed the goaltending plan for the opener, adding another layer to a roster picture that now looks set, even if a few of the choices at the margins will keep drawing attention until puck drop. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Search At Centre Suddenly Carries Two Very Different Stakes
The Oilers search down the middle has taken on a different feel, with Elliotte Friedman reporting on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast that the club has been looking into a right-shot centre. Edmonton has checked on a couple of intriguing names, including Kirby Dach and Shane Wright, as it continues to sort out its depth at the position and consider what kind of help makes the most sense for the roster.
There is a clear split in how those options would fit the team. Dach would bring a more immediate path if Edmonton wants someone who can help sooner, while Wright represents the sort of longer-view swing that would be about more than just this season. No deal has materialized, and no negotiations have been confirmed, but the Oilers appear to be weighing urgency against upside as they size up the market. [Read more 🡒]