On Jacob Trouba …
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: The Jets could use some depth on the left-side, and the Oilers have left-handed defensemen that could help out the Jets – Oscar Klefbom, Brandon Davidson, Darnell Nurse or even Griffin Reinhart. The Oilers first round pick could come into play when talking about trading for Trouba.
The Oilers would have to send at least one contract to the Jets. Would the Oilers give up one of Oscar Klefbom or Darnell Nurse for Trouba?
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: Staples looking at reasons the Oilers may not be major players for Trouba.
Bob McKenzie said the Oilers will likely be interested in Trouba, though they may not be beating down the door to get him. They can take it slow. The asking price now may be different in a few weeks.
Todd McLellan, the Oilers and Team North America’s coach, had Trouba as a healthy scratch until Aaron Ekblad got hurt.
Bob Stauffer, a solid signal of what the Oilers may be thinking, never really mentioned Trouba as one of their targets dating back to the start of the offseason. It was usually Tyson Barrie or Justin Faulk. Stauffer thinks that Trouba is looking for $5.5 to $6 million a year.
Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1260 talking about Jacob Trouba.
There were rumors last spring about Trouba wanting over $7 million a season – nothing confirmed.
Trouba’s agent did say that they were working with the Jets about a possible trade since last May.
Trouba’s possible asking price of $7-plus million may have been to get out of Winnipeg.
Other restricted free agents without contracts include Rasmus Ristolainen with the Sabres and Hampus Lindholm with the Ducks. Neither of those two are close to signing new deals.
“I’m going to be writing about this on TSN.ca today, but at the low end of the spectrum you’ve got the Morgan Rielly and Seth Jones contracts – $5 million a year and $5.4 million a year. At the high end, you’ve got the Aaron Ekblad contract at $7.5 million. So I’m not saying that Ristolainen and Lindholm – and maybe Trouba falls into that category as well – I’m not saying they necessarily expect to get $7.5 million or even $7 million. But what number between – and I’m betting the clubs like Buffalo and Anaheim and whoever gets Trouba – are looking at him more like, ‘Okay, there’s Rielly and Seth Jones between 5 and 5.4. So what number between the low 5s and the mid-7s should these guys – Lindholm, Ristolainen and Trouba – get?’
“And I’m guessing that a lot of those players themselves would say, ‘Well into the 6s’ and I bet their clubs are saying, ‘Right around where Jones and Rielly are.’”