Rumor: Rumors & Proposals Thread | With Klingberg in the Mix Who Are Our 7D After the Deadline?

[Bryanbryoil]

Misa vs. Hagens, 2025 vs. 2026 draft, NCAA free-agent class: Wheeler’s mailbag

It's time for a giant prospects mailbag after unveiling the top 100 drafted prospects list and a new 2025 draft ranking.

www.nytimes.com

Scott Wheeler talking about NCAA free agents and this one caught my eye. We're low on LHD prospects and there's a connection to Edmonton.

What's the connection to Edmonton? We are pretty set on LD for at least 2 years. That said Ekholm will start to slow down and will likely be more of a 2nd/3rd pairing guy at some point.

 

[TB12]

Hilarious that the Oilers need to be cautious with Kane's LTIR, yet as Theodore was falling from getting hit Vegas was tweeting out "he's out until game 1 of the playoffs" lol. Those cap circumventing f***s.

What's the connection to Edmonton? We are pretty set on LD for at least 2 years. That said Ekholm will start to slow down and will likely be more of a 2nd/3rd pairing guy at some point.

Guy Gadowsky, the dad, is from Edmonton.

 

[Heavy Dee]

It's a fireable offense if the Oilers don't absorb Kane's LTIR into deadline cap space while other organizations like the team they're battling with for the division title does it every year.

Bowman has his faults but I don't buy for one second that he isn't aware of this and had a long talk with Kane and his camp about the intentions here. There's zero motivation for Kane to intentionally screw the team by coming back for the regular season. Bowman is a seasoned GM, I'm sure there's a plan here beyond McCarron for a 2nd and money in money out at the deadline. Seravalli is well plugged in but he also has his share of moronic takes, with this being another one.

Kane also knows if he comes back before the end of the season and screws up the Oilers TDL plans, its likely his ticket out of town this summer.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

It's a fireable offense if the Oilers don't absorb Kane's LTIR into deadline cap space while other organizations like the team they're battling with for the division title does it every year.

Bowman has his faults but I don't buy for one second that he isn't aware of this and had a long talk with Kane and his camp about the intentions here. There's zero motivation for Kane to intentionally screw the team by coming back for the regular season. Bowman is a seasoned GM, I'm sure there's a plan here beyond McCarron for a 2nd and money in money out at the deadline. Seravalli is well plugged in but he also has his share of moronic takes, with this being another one.

I don't disagree. Absolutely Bowman is preparing for all prospective scenarios with Kane including a healthy one back in the regular season. It's interesting that Seravalli a month ago projected Kane back in the playoff with certainty then this past week moved the bar to say prospectively Kane could be back in regular season. Bowman picked up the pieces when the team failed to prioritize their two young bluechip NHL players and decided to roll this season on a trade deadline with accruing cap. It is a significant leap of faith bet in this prime window year with Draisaitl and McDavid salary and status considerations.

The McCarron for a 2nd pick is a different video and one I wasn't commenting on. Obviously a speculative hot take and a clear overpay that likely isn't a team consideration. McCarron though as a target fits some of the bigger body, physical bottom six support piece which is being talked about as a team need.

Will add with Kane having a material change to his contract status coming into effect on March 1 it's probably not coincidental to have some noise surface of a regular season return within the realm of possibility.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

I respectfully disagree. He doesn’t even know line changes that will happen - and he’s friends with Knoblauch. I don’t think the management team leak anything outside the management team unlike prior regimes. Now- if they trade for Rantanen - then I will concede…


It was. I think those were the EIG days and he is very close to the Nichols family (like he loves to mention on his show almost daily)

I also wonder of Bob gets less Insider info from other teams, because they don't want to leak it to the Oilers themselves lol

 

[Speed220DChalavan]

If Kane doesn't play along, you bench him and you don't play him in the regular season or playoffs.

It would be selfish of him to come back early, given what other players have done in similar situations.

It would be an example of puting himself above the team.

 

[Messrules11]

If Kane doesn't play along, you bench him and you don't play him in the regular season or playoffs.

It would be selfish of him to come back early, given what other players have done in similar situations.

It would be an example of puting himself above the team.

What an awful take. Bench and don’t play him in the playoffs? The guy has a contract to play for the Edmonton Oilers you know.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

thats a new one a player is selfish if they return to the line up when they are healthy and don't help cheat the system.

 

[Heavy Dee]

thats a new one a player is selfish if they return to the line up when they are healthy and don't help cheat the system.

Or equally as selfish if you knew you needed surgery at the end of last season but waited for the following season to start before having it.

 

[McHelpus]

thats a new one a player is selfish if they return to the line up when they are healthy and don't help cheat the system.

Vegas and Tampa won cups from it, it's not even cheating at this point.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Someone mentioned Simpson just sounding brutal, it's his birthday and I think he's half cut

 

[Messrules11]

Vegas and Tampa won cups from it, it's not even cheating at this point.

And yet Stone and Kucherov are 2 of the most hated players in the league. I can’t imagine why.

 

[belair]

thats a new one a player is selfish if they return to the line up when they are healthy and don't help cheat the system.

It's not even about selfishness. How does it benefit the player coming back for games 70-82 of garbage hockey if it potentially means his team can't take full advantage of a trade deadline in a year where the team is competitive.

All of these players want to win a Championship. If Kane is 'healthy enough' to return April 1st, but he's only coming back at 85%, he's not healthy enough to return.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

That was crazy to hear the skate blade come off lol

 

[Whoshattenkirkshoes]

Vegas and Tampa won cups from it, it's not even cheating at this point.

I know Tampa did it, but honesty they still would have won the cup had they not done it. Killorn was a week away from being traded and NOBODY in Tampa wanted Kucherov injured that year.

If they trade Killorn they still easily win the cup. Juggernaut of a team that year.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

Vegas and Tampa won cups from it, it's not even cheating at this point.

Yeah and everyone in here shitted on them for it and especially shitted on Mark Stone. Now if Kane doesn't pull a Stone he's a piece of shit too can't make this stuff up.

 

[McHelpus]

Yeah and everyone in here shitted on them for it and especially shitted on Mark Stone. Now if Kane doesn't pull a Stone he's a piece of shit too can't make this stuff up.

Kane was legitimately hurt last year and he decided to play through it. What did that get him? A loss in the finals.

 

[belair]

I think Dallas hit a home run with that Granlund trade. He's just a good, well-rounded veteran forward who I could see following a similar career path as Joe Pavelski.

To get both him and Ceci so early for just a 1st and a 3rd is pretty sneaky.

 

[bellagiobob]

It's not even about selfishness. How does it benefit the player coming back for games 70-82 of garbage hockey if it potentially means his team can't take full advantage of a trade deadline in a year where the team is competitive.

All of these players want to win a Championship. If Kane is 'healthy enough' to return April 1st, but he's only coming back at 85%, he's not healthy enough to return.

I can see how coming back for 10 games benefits a player who has missed an entire year. Not saying Kane can't be effective if he comes back game one of the playoffs, but if he's the type of player that needs a rampup period, then that's our main deadline acquisition, a healthy Kane. A playoff ready beast mode Kane is my #1 priority add for the playoffs. Perfect world he feels he doesn't need the rampup and sits till game 1 and we add at the deadline, but I want whatever the circumstance is that makes him a difference maker starting in game 1.

 

[foshizzle]

I also wonder of Bob gets less Insider info from other teams, because they don't want to leak it to the Oilers themselves lol

Valid point.

 

[BarDownBobo]

It's not even about selfishness. How does it benefit the player coming back for games 70-82 of garbage hockey if it potentially means his team can't take full advantage of a trade deadline in a year where the team is competitive.

All of these players want to win a Championship. If Kane is 'healthy enough' to return April 1st, but he's only coming back at 85%, he's not healthy enough to return.

The obvious benefit would be getting back to game speed. We’re seeing it already with Klingberg and how he’s looking better and better with each game as he gets back from his injury. Playing those 10 or so games, and getting big minutes where the stakes are much lower could be exactly what it takes for Kane to be ready to go come playoff time.

I have no idea if it’s realistic with the surgeries he’s had, but to me a healthy Kane who’s up to game speed for Game 1 of the playoffs is the best addition this team can make.

 

[Tarus]

Yeah and everyone in here shitted on them for it and especially shitted on Mark Stone. Now if Kane doesn't pull a Stone he's a piece of shit too can't make this stuff up.

You're making a false equivalency here.

People might have complained about the Stone injury, but a lot of it had to do with how transparently duplicitous the injury claims were along with how little enforcement the NHL does in making sure the teams are honest in their medical claims. Stone himself was actually putting his team first when he probably would have preferred to play hockey. To him, winning in the playoffs with a reinforced roster was more important than 10 - 20 meaningless regular season games leading up to the playoffs, he was making a sacrifice for his team and teammates.

If Kane scuttled the Oilers deadline plans because he wanted to come before the playoffs even when it would be better for the team that he didn't, then yes - that would actually be quite selfish of the player and a pretty good reason to not be all that happy with him.

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

Someone mentioned Simpson just sounding brutal, it's his birthday and I think he's half cut

That doesn’t make it any better lol. Day drinking is one thing, day drinking on the job is another. Not like he’s operating heavy machinery but ffs be a professional.

There’s plenty of talent that never earned an NHL salary that would love that job and got mouths to feed.

 

[Fourier]

It's not even about selfishness. How does it benefit the player coming back for games 70-82 of garbage hockey if it potentially means his team can't take full advantage of a trade deadline in a year where the team is competitive.

All of these players want to win a Championship. If Kane is 'healthy enough' to return April 1st, but he's only coming back at 85%, he's not healthy enough to return.

Given that Kane has yet to be able to really fully start his rehab from what was basically 6 significant abdominal/core surgeries (two torn hip adductors, 2 hernias and 2 torn abdominal muscles), it is hard to imagine that he would be anywhere close to being fully ready by April 1. Had the knee surgery not set him back then I think there would be a case to make that staying out the whole year was anywhere close to as dubious as the Stone/Kucherov cases. Stone had an injury where predicting the recovery time was pretty standard and which once healed would not have hindered him playing. This is hardly the case with Kane.

 

[McDNicks17]

I think Dallas hit a home run with that Granlund trade. He's just a good, well-rounded veteran forward who I could see following a similar career path as Joe Pavelski.

To get both him and Ceci so early for just a 1st and a 3rd is pretty sneaky.

Ceci has been horrendous for them so far.

At least Granlund will make it worthwhile.