On the Edmonton Oilers …
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: If the Oilers are looking to make some changes to the dynamic of their team, one player they could look at moving is defenseman Oscar Klefbom.
Do the Oilers look at Boston Bruins left-handed defenseman Torey Krug or the Buffalo Sabres right-handed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
Krug’s no-trade clause kicks in before the start of next season, and the Bruins are believed to be wanting to get bigger.
The Oilers already have left-handed defensemen in Darnell Nurse, Kris Russell, and Andrej Sekera. Krug is on the small side at 5′ 9″ and 186 pounds, makes over $5 million a season and will be a UFA in two years.
Ristolainen has four years left at $5.4 million.
The Oilers could look at moving forward Zack Kassian to clear up some salary cap space. Kassian is a fourth liner that makes $1.95 million.
With the need for a top-six winger, the Oilers could look at Michael Grabner or Thomas Vanek. Vanek might be a one-year deal, with Grabner likely wanting a three-year contract.
On the Washington Capitals and John Carlson …
Chris Nichols of FRS Hockey: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1260 and was talking about pending unrestricted free agent defenseman John Carlson. The Capitals are going to try and re-sign him, but it’s going to be simple.
“Because I think if anything, the money Oliver Ekman-Larsson has got on the table from Arizona right now – eight years, $8.25 million – I think the John Carlson meter probably hit the $8 million mark in these playoffs. And I’m not sure whether the Caps can do that or not.
“But the cap is going up and where there’s a will there’s always a way. So it’s too soon to say that they’ll just have to absolutely let him go and cash in somewhere else. He does like it in Washington, and he’d like to stay. But the question is how much of a discount is he prepared to take.”