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The Web is burning up with discuss of the Philadelphia Flyers buying and selling Travis Konecny, presumably to the Edmonton Oilers.
It began June tenth when the Athletic’s Commerce Board reported: “(Philadelphia) GM Danny Briere is open for enterprise and listening on nearly anybody who would assist the group get youthful and match into his long-term imaginative and prescient. So sure, he’s listening on the likes of Carter Hart (No. 5 on the commerce board), Travis Konecny (6) and Scott Laughton (21). Konecny could be an amazing, top-six pickup for a contender. Edmonton and Carolina make sense as suitors.”
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Extra lately Anthony Di Marco of the Fourth Interval stated: “It has been on the market for a day or so now, however EDM has proven ‘first rate’ curiosity in Travis Konecny. Unsure what a precise return might appear like, however I’ve heard Philip Broberg’s identify tossed round.”
The Cult of Hockey’s Kurt Leavins had this to say: “There will likely be many examples floor this Summer time of Oilers Normal Supervisor Ken Holland kicking tires on a participant. To me, Holland shouldn’t be doing his job if he doesn’t try this. But it surely doesn’t imply that every inquiry is a critical commerce chance. Instance: The Philadelphia Flyers are open for enterprise this low season. And a contact of mine with connections to the participant experiences that the Oilers are one of many groups that has reached out to ask about Travis Konecny. There may be heaps to love concerning the speedy, versatile, aggressive ahead with plenty of end… The London, Ontario native would most likely not be averse to signing long-term North of the border. Konecny could be a real High-6 prize for Edmonton. We will see if there’s any hearth from that little bit of smoke.”
My take
1. Worth is the difficulty, primarily by way of Konecny’s cap hit, but in addition by way of acquisition value. Konecny has two years left on a take care of a $5.5 million cap hit. The Oilers have proper now about $6 million in cap area. They should work out new contracts for Evan Bouchard, Klim Kostin, Ryan McLeod and Raphael Lavoie. They could additionally wish to signal a number of of Nick Bjugstad, Derek Ryan, Mattias Janmark and Devin Shore. If they’d nobody to signal they may afford Konecny. However they don’t have nobody to signal. They’ve loads of gamers to signal.
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2. Konecny is clearly a stable attacking winger and properly value his personal cap hit. He’s participant. Of the 456 NHL ahead who performed at the least 200 minutes this 12 months, he ranks forty sixth in even power scoring, simply behind Zach Hyman. However is he the participant the Oilers want proper now? That’s much less apparent.
3. In reality, it received’t be apparent what precisely the Oilers want till subsequent February on the commerce deadline. By then the workforce will know if Stuart Skinner and/or Jack Campbell are stable sufficient to rely on within the playoffs. They’ll know if Cody Ceci has recovered from damage and in a position to play in addition to he did in his first 12 months with the Oilers. They’ll know if there’s some main damage to a key participant, one who will want a substitute for the playoffs. What all which means is that if they in some way twisted and turned and contorted their roster this summer season (maybe by buying and selling three out of 4 of Warren Foegele, Brett Kulak, Cody Ceci and Kailer Yamamato), they may herald Konecny, however then nonetheless be left with a serious want on the deadline, one they’ll haven’t any cap area to handle.