On the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators …
Jason Gregor: “I don’t trade RNH for Hoffman though. RNH can play wing and C. He is also four years younger.”
Travis Yost: “Regardless of whether or not it’s true, an RNH/Hoffman trade is fun because both are great players. So there are strengths and weaknesses on both sides of the deal. This is what the Hall trade should have looked like..”
David Staple of the Edmonton Journal: Looking at why a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Mike Hoffman isn’t a good idea for the Oilers.
“Nugent-Hopkins and Mike Hoffman have put up almost exactly the same points per game in their NHL careers, 0.67 and 0.68 per game respectively. But RNH will be 26 next year. Hoffman will be 29. Those three years are crucial in considering this trade proposal, as Nugent-Hopkins is now in his prime as an NHL player, while Hoffman is at an age where players, on average, start to drop off in terms of their performance.”
RNH has three years left on his deal, with Hoffman having two. RNH is three years younger. The Senators may want Nugent-Hopkins, but he may not have to be part of Hoffman trade. Nugent-Hopkins has looked good on the McDavid’s wing, and if McDavid or Leon Draisaitl get injured, RNH can fill in.
On the Toronto Maple Leafs and James van Riemsdyk …
TSN Insider Trading: When asked if the Maple Leafs should get ready for life with James van Riemsdyk?
Darren Dreger: There haven’t been any meaningful contract talks between the Maple Leafs and van Riemsdyk. Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello could change this quickly by calling JVRs camp and offering a six-year deal at $6 million per season.
“And that seems unlikely when you look at Auston Matthews being top priority. Then you’ve got Mitch Marner and you’ve got William Nylander and only a limited amount of cap space. But the market value for van Riemsdyk is also very significant. When we look at free agent frenzy, well you’re going to see John Tavares’ name at the top of that list on that graphic and then you’re going to see JvR. He’s a $6 million-plus player on a seven-year term according to some teams, and if he goes slightly under, maybe on a five or six-year term, then he’s probably closer to $6.5 million.”