• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Draisaitl, Russell, Ekman-Larsson, More

By Jim Parsons September 16th, 2020

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

In an Edmonton Oilers news and rumors update, there is talk about Leon Draisaitl heading back to Europe, speculation the Edmonton Oilers have been in talks with the Arizona Coyotes about a couple of players and debate about which defenseman the team might look to trade. Plus, could the Oilers look to the Pittsburgh Penguins to help answer their third-line center questions?

Draisaitl Heading Back to Germany?

According to source out of Germany, it sounds like Leon Draisaitl is interested in returning home to play in Germany for the time being. The talk is that he would join the Cologne Sharks of the DEL.

Leon Draisaitl Edmonton Oilers
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

For Draisaitl, heading to Germany in the offseason isn’t exactly front page news. But, for fans wondering what this means when the reports suggest playing with the team, the first thing to note is that the term “play” might not be an accurate description of what Draisaitl would be doing. More realistically, it would be more like “skate” with the team as his involvement would be limited.

Technically, Draisaitl is allowed to practice with the team, but cannot play any games unless the Edmonton Oilers loan/assign him there. It’s a stretch to believe this would happen based on the insurance issues and risk of an injury.

As Mark Spector of Sportsnet reports, “this ISN’T a lockout, where players are free to play elsewhere. Draisaitl’s playing rights controlled by Oilers.” It doesn’t really hurt to have skating, but playing games where he could get injured is a bad idea.

Oilers Interested in Oliver Ekman-Larsson?

Now that a new general manager in Bill Armstrong is expected to join the Arizona Coyotes imminently, it will be interesting to see if there is any further speculation when it comes to Oliver Ekman-Larsson and a possible connection to the Oilers.

Arizona Coyotes Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Arizona Coyotes Oliver Ekman-Larsson (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

There’s been talk the Coyotes might be willing to move Ekman-Larsson and that he may not be opposed to joining the Oilers because of his past history with head coach Dave Tippett. And, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, both the Oilers and Calgary Flames have looked into the availability of the defenseman.

It would be an interesting change in direction for the Oilers if they chose to heavily pursue this. Ekman-Larsson is an $8.25 million defenseman for the next seven seasons. That would require the Oilers completely shift the way they spend money in a lot of areas.

So too, if the Oilers are considering Darcy Kuemper in trade (which there are also rumors they might be), that’s close to $13 million in salary coming in. GM Ken Holland would need to around the same amount out.

Related: Oilers Goaltending Strategy This Offseason

Which Defenseman Goes?

All this talk about adding a defenseman suggests that one of Edmonton’s blueliners (if not two) will not be with this roster next season.

Adam Larsson gets a lot of talk when it comes to trades, but without Matt Benning and Ethan Bear locked into new contracts yet, Larsson is the only option for the Oilers on the right side. He is a lock top four minutes. Benning might be convinced to sign a bit of a longer term to avoid his arbitration numbers and Bear should get a deal, it’s just a matter of what that deal will look like.

Kris Russell Oilers
Kris Russell, Edmonton Oilers, Oct. 21, 2017 (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

But what about Kris Russell? Bruce McCurdy of the Edmonton Journal writes:

In a perfect world Holland might prefer to move out the last year of Kris Russell‘s hefty pact, and given that over 60% of it has been prepaid, there may be interest among clubs with budget constraints. Which may be quite a few clubs, if whispers in the wind are to be believed.

source -‘Ken Holland faces critical decisions about Edmonton Oilers’ roster in the coming weeks’ – Bruce McCurdy – Edmonton Journal – 09/16/2020

Jared McCann for Oilers Third Line Center?

Jared McCann is pending RFA out of Pittsburgh and there are reports that the Penguins are actively looking to move him. Josh Yohe of The Athletic writes:

Jared McCann is a player the Penguins are willing to move. They like McCann but have soured on his ability to be their No. 3 center moving forward. There is a division in the organization, as some believe McCann is better at center while others believe his ideal position is at left wing.

source – ‘Yohe: What we know about the Penguins’ offseason plans’ – Josh Yohe – The Athletic – 09/09/2020

McCann is coming off a year that saw him put up 35 points in 66 games, and just because the Penguins might not think he’s their third-line center, does that mean he’s not a third-line center in the NHL? He played with seven forwards on the Penguins roster more than he played with Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby, meaning he should be able to produce offense.


Sign up for our regular 'Rumors Newsletter' for all the latest.

Catch up on all the latest NHL Rumors

  • Tags
  • Jared McCann
  • Kris Russell
  • Leon Draisaitl
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 20th 6:10 PM
Column

Red Wings News & Rumors: Protocol, Rasmussen, Howard & More

Jan 20th 6:00 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ Forward Depth Leading to Wins

Jan 20th 5:35 PM
Column

Islanders Weekly: Shutouts, Injury Scares & Scoring Concerns

Jan 20th 4:33 PM
Archives

2010 NHL Entry Draft: 5 Forgotten Picks

Jan 20th 4:15 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

3 Pros and 3 Cons to Golden Knights’ Goalie Split

Jan 20th 4:05 PM
Florida Panthers

Panthers Offense Flourishes but Goaltending & Special Teams Need Work

Jan 20th 3:15 PM
Column

Red Wings Wednesday Weekly: Hockey is Back Everyone!

Jan 20th 2:35 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Seeing Hot Starts From Some but Serious Concerns Linger

Jan 20th 2:20 PM
NHL Entry Draft

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini’s Top 75 Rankings

Jan 20th 1:50 PM
Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers’ Goaltending & Defense Among Standouts Through Week 1

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information