Oilers can hope Puljujarvi’s trade value increases by remaining in Finland
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: So Jesse Puljujarvi has said he’s going to spend the rest of the season in Finland. This is a good idea coming off surgery and needing to regain his confidence.
It could also be a decision by him and agent to try and force the Oilers to trade him this season. His trade value hasn’t been high.
The Oilers could still trade him at any point this season, but it seems less likely to happen now. If he continues to have a good season in Finland, it will only increase his trade value. GM Ken Holland could still try to convince him to give the Oilers another shot next year, but that seems unlikely.
What the Rangers could have offered the Oilers
Jim Matheson: Safe to say that the New York Rangers have brought up a former first-round pick and center Lias Andersson when looking at Edmonton Oilers Jesse Puljujarvi.
Believe that the Oilers rather get a winger back in any trade involving Puljujarvi.
What will the Canucks do with Troy Stecher?
Harman Dayal of The Athletic: Vancouver Canucks pending restricted free agent defenseman Troy Stecher has had his name in and out of trade rumors.
He is now on their third pairing. Does the 26-year old have a long-term future with the organization? He has arbitration rights this offseason.
“The way I’d look at this if I were Stecher’s agent, I would be saying to myself if this team wants me, then they’re gonna qualify me and if the numbers make sense in arbitration, I’m going to arb because then I’m one (year) and out (onto the open UFA market),” said one player agent. “When I say going to arb, I mean filing — 95 percent of cases where you file you still settle — but that’s the tool I’d be using. I certainly wouldn’t be negotiating over the summer.”
When looking at comparables, $3.5 million could be average, which would be an increase from the $2.325 million he’s making this season.
Stecher may be closer to $3 million, and that may be too much for the Canucks to pay. $3 million-plus would put him in the top-four money range and maybe too much for a third pairing guy.
There is nothing to suggest that the Canucks are shopping Stecher. A source is saying that there are only a few teams that view him as a No. 4 or 5 defenseman. He could get some trade interest from teams looking for a bottom pairing defenseman.
A team like the Ottawa Senators could view him as a stop-gap top-four defenseman according to a source.
“You’re lucky if a team wants him for a third-round pick, in my opinion,” said the source.
If Chris Tanev moves on this season/offseason, it could create more of an opportunity for Stecher.