What can Edmonton get for Milan Lucic and Jesse Puljujarvi?
Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic: It is not automatic that Milan Lucic stays in Edmonton this season. Lucic owed just $16 million of actual money as opposed to $24 million salary cap-wise ($6 million AAV).
Several teams have looked into the services of Lucic because of what he can still provide. The trick is finding a team that can take on his salary or as much of it as possible. Also, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal touches on ten reasons why an NHL team should trade for Milan Lucic.
Physicality is great but even with some of the other skills, Lucic has improved the Oilers very little, if any.
Nugent-Bowman looks at what kind of return Puljujarvi could entice? The problem is Jesse Puljujarvi was brutally misused by the previous regime. Sadly, an ultimate course begins and ends with an eventual trade.
Unless Edmonton sweetens the pot some, Milan Lucic and Jesse Puljujarvi may just end up on the roster still. Then, there is Rasmus Ristolainen but first a little on Edmonton’s assistant coach situation.
Jim Matheson: The jury is still out on who Edmonton hires to fill out its coaching staff. Names ranged from Ray Whitney to Stu Barnes. Also, there appears to be a possibility Edmonton goes the junior route to fill its vacancy.
Rasmus Ristolainen and the Winnipeg Jets?
WGR 550 reports: So many reports linked Rasmus Ristolainen to the Tampa Bay Lightning. On the other hand, what about the Winnipeg Jets? It would take some maneuvering considering several Jets players may or may not get traded. The right package makes it easier to stomach letting Ristolainen go.
A move like this likely requires a closer AAV to offset what Rasmus Ristolainen makes salary-wise. For better or for worse, Winnipeg needs a top-four right-handed defenseman and badly. Finally, it comes down to how much of a package the Jets need to offer.
This will not be as cheap as one thinks, That becomes the going theory anyway. Buffalo press eye players like Nik Ehlers, Jack Roslovic, and even Mathieu Perreault.