The latest on the Oilers’ recent scouting of the Blue Jackets plus updates on the Senators and Sabres in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
LATEST ON THE OILERS’ RECENT SCOUTING TRIP TO COLUMBUS
THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline took note of the Edmonton Oilers scouting the Columbus Blue Jackets last week even though the two clubs don’t play each other until late January.
The Oilers need goaltending help, sparking rumors that they might have been looking at the Blue Jackets’ netminders or their opponents. Jackets starter Elvis Merzlikins’ $5.5 million annual average value through 2026-27 would be difficult for the Oilers to take on unless Jack Campbell ($5 million AAV through ’26-’27) was included in the deal.
With the Jackets playing the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens last week, Portzline wondered if the Oilers were scouting the Bruins’ Linus Ullmark or the Canadiens’ Jake Allen, though the latter didn’t play against the Jackets.
The Jackets could end up placing Spencer Martin on waivers with Daniil Tarasov due to return soon from his AHL conditioning stint.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Martin faced the Bruins last week, giving up three goals on 28 shots in a 3-1 loss. If he was being scouted by the Oilers, they might pick him up if he hits the waiver wire.
Martin carries a very affordable cap hit of $762,500, though the cap-strapped Oilers might be able to squeeze into their payroll if he becomes available on the waiver wire. However, there is persistent speculation that the Oilers could recall Campbell from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.
ARE CHANGES COMING FOR THE SENATORS?
OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch reports Senators interim general manager Steve Staios has a lot on his plate these days.
The club’s ongoing on-ice struggles have Senators fans calling for head coach D.J. Smith to be fired. The front office wants to be patient with Smith as they like his approach and management is trying to give him more support. However, Staios’ patience could soon wear thin.
Garrioch doesn’t expect Staios to swing a blockbuster trade. Teams have called about Drake Batherson but the Senators don’t want to go in that direction. Staios is working the phones and there’s a chance Dominik Kubalik could be traded before Shane Pinto returns to the lineup in January. Kubalik is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staios could find that a coaching change could be his easiest route considering the difficulty of making a significant trade that improves his roster with so many clubs pressed for cap space this season. I think that’s more likely to occur if things don’t improve soon for the Senators.
UPDATE ON THE SABRES
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Mike Harrington weighed in on the Sabres’ recent struggles. While forwards Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn are sidelined, others have regressed so far this season.
General manager Kevyn Adams didn’t do anything to replace Quinn when he suffered an Achilles injury in June. He also lost out to the Detroit Red Wings in the Patrick Kane sweepstakes.
Harrington believes the Sabres cannot wait until the trade deadline as they need an injection now to snap them out of their funk. They need help up front and have plenty of draft and prospect capital to entice a rival club to make a deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are four points out of a wild-card berth. A string of wins could propel them into a playoff spot but those have been difficult to come by thus far.
Adams could be working the phones but he’s likely finding suitable deals difficult to come by right now. The Sabres will be worth monitoring in the rumor mill if they don’t start gaining ground in the standings.