The Edmonton Oilers have been rolling. Led by their stars, the team has come out of the gate swinging, looking every bit like a legitimate contender. While not exactly a surprise, the Oilers have done so through a myriad of injuries.
As players begin to return to health, let’s take a look at some of the rumours surrounding the team.
Michkov on the Oilers’ radar
The biggest rumour this past week was the idea that the Oilers might be able to trade for Matvei Michkov. The Philadelphia Flyers adopted a defensive style in Michkov’s sophomore season, which saw his production decrease after a 26-goal, 63-point rookie season. His icetime decreased last season as well, as Michkov was reported to be in poor shape. Though it was not the storybook season fans had envisioned for Michkov, the Flyers were a surprise playoff team and made it to the second round.
Now in his third season, the Flyers are struggling. Michkov’s points per game is once again lower than the season prior. The team’s struggles have led to speculation about their direction and if veterans might be traded. Shipping off a young talent like Michkov, who had been seen as a cornerstone, is a whole new level.
It is unlikely players of his skillset and pedigree get moved, and it seems shortsighted to prioritize the system of a struggling coach over a potential star player. Regardless of his playstyle or position, the Oilers should be eager to add a talent like Michkov if they have the opportunity.
Whether or not they could afford the trade cost is a different question. The rumoured packages involve Isaac Howard, a first-round pick, and a mid-round pick. This would be an extremely affordable package for the Oilers, and one that they should not have a problem parting with. More than likely this would not be the best offer that the Flyers can extract for Michkov.
Can Edmonton afford a deal?
Some across Oil Country might not feel the same. The team has limited trade assets, and some might prefer another player, whether for their position or disposition. While he is young, Michkov has already proven himself as a capable NHL scorer.
With many expecting the Oilers to be set with their blueline and willing to test how their goaltending situation plays out, adding a forward is already a popular idea. With some young centres pushing for bigger roles, Owen Michaels and Josh Samanski, as well as an established checking centre in Jason Dickinson, there is not necessarily a huge need down the middle either. Adding a player as impactful as Michkov has already been is tough enough, but it is even more unlikely a player with his upside is available. In short, the Oilers should absolutely look into Michkov but fans should not hold their breath.
Hometown remix jerseys
The NHL is soon releasing a set of Hometown Remix jerseys for each team. There have been rumours surrounding the primary colours of each uniform, and the aforementioned Flyers are expected to debut their new threads in early November.
Fans got a glimpse of the Oilers new look as the team sported some accessories in practice. The uniforms appear to be mostly black with orange highlights. The helmets are matte black, giving a different look than usual.
Some fans are concerned about the black base colour, finding it a tired trope. Others, worried about a potential resemblance to less popular iterations of past alternates. Regardless, the experiment goes on. Time will tell when the New jerseys will debut.
DeBrusk’s connection to the team
Players with ties to Edmonton are always popular in the rumour mill, and Jake DeBrusk is no different. To some extent a connection between DeBrusk and the Oilers will always be in mind, but while the Vancouver Canucks flounder he remains a topic of conversation.
Are the Penguins looking to sell?
Speaking of struggling teams, as the Pittsburgh Penguins continue to lose there will be speculations of the team selling. There are a number of veterans on the team who could help fetch the Pens a big haul.
While it is too early for career Penguins to be involved in rumours, others like Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson are beginning to generate more chatter. Given the Oilers roster and cap constraints, Rust and Rakell are the more likely targets. Rakell does offer some positional flexibility at centre, while Rust would seem to fit the Oilers stylistically.
The Penguins do have some lower profile options who might be of interest. Ryan Shea has worked out really nicely for the Oilers, and Filip Hallander has shown some promise as well. Perhaps the Penguins have more under the radar players who could be solid additions.
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