The show rolls on for the Edmonton Oilers, who continue to find victories. As much as the team has been quite strong the past half decade, a start this strong has been hard to come by. Still, worries persist that the team does not have enough control of play to maintain their success.
Let’s take a look at the chatter around the team in this week’s rumour roundup.
Rumblings about Binnington…again
Once again rumours surrounding Jordan Binnington have surfaced. Joel Hofer has fully taken hold of the starting role for the St. Louis Blues, serving as a reason the Blues might be interested in moving Binnington.
While in the past these rumours have carried a lot of weight, things are looking good for the Oilers goalies. Binnington might be seen as an upgrade over Tristan Jarry, but Jarry has played well behind a more sound defensive effort. Frederik Andersen will, presumably, return from injury soon. Devon Levi has starred, rising to the opportunity at hand.
Even below the NHL level there is a lot for the Oilers to feel good about. Eemil Vinni and Samuel Jonsson both impressed in expanded opportunities with Matt Tomkins elevated. While Vinni, Jonsson, or Nathaniel Day are not ready for NHL consideration, the depth and youth are a good sign.
While some argument might be made that Binnington can be an immediate upgrade, the cost seems to be too steep for the Oilers. Even a swap of Jarry for Binnington straight up might only serve to cost opportunity for Levi.
Josi wanting to leave the Predators
The Nashville Predators have already made a lot of moves under new GM Chris MacFarlane. Still, speculation around the trajectory of the team remains. With a lot of veteran players, the Predators are a popular candidate to sell if the team falls out of playoff relevance. For now, the team has remained in the mix, but it has not curbed wistful yearning over some potentially impactful deadline targets.
Recently it is captain Roman Josi who is drawing speculation. The left shot still has a lot to offer, but comes with a large cap hit and will not be cheap to trade for. Ryan O’Reilly could serve as a great defensive foil down the middle. Steven Stamkos or Jonathan Marchessault could bolster the offence as snipers.
While all these veterans can bring something to the Oilers lineup, it is hard to say that Josi best fits their needs. It might be O’Reilly who fits that bill, but then again opinions would be split on that.
Walman in Babcock’s doghouse
Perhaps the yearning for Josi has more to do with the struggles of Jake Walman. Walman’s icetime has quickly eroded, now firmly in coach Mike Babcock’s doghouse. Clearly Babcock appreciates less risky options, which might inherently limit Walman’s ability to make an impact.
As much as it would be ideal for Walman to bounce back, it is somewhat difficult to imagine Babcock changing his tune. With steadier options ahead of him on the left side, Walman will be relegated to third pairing minutes. His skillset does not fit Babcock’s vision for such a role, and his salary does not match either.
Instead, the Oilers might be best served looking for a trade partner. Teams desperate for skill and upside on the back end might value the chance to acquire Walman. The price might be fairly low, perhaps even involving another player in need of new environs coming back to Edmonton. Desperate teams like the Chicago Blackhawks or Toronto Maple Leafs might make some sense.
Lambert on waivers
Earlier this month Brad Lambert was placed on waivers by the Winnipeg Jets. Lambert went unclaimed, but that does not mean that teams are uninterested. It is not uncommon that players who clear waivers are traded for afterwards, allowing the acquiring team to start them in the AHL. For example, Aatu Raty was recently traded under such circumstances.
This could be the case for Lambert. Once highly touted as a prospect, Lambert has had trouble progressing, seeing his production decrease each season since 2023–24. A change of scenery could be exactly what is needed for Lambert to regain some positive momentum. While visions of a top line centre have diminished, there might still be a middle-six future for Lambert.
Beyond the potential upside, Lambert could provide some immediate support as a right handed centre. Owen Michaels is currently the only option the Oilers have, and Lambert could at least be a low cost option to reinforce the position. As much as the idea is intriguing, Lambert does not seem to fit what the Oilers or Babcock are looking for in their bottom-six.
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