Trade Rumors and Free Agent TalkTrade rumors, transactions, and free agent talk. Rumors must contain the word RUMOR in post title. Proposals must contain the word PROPOSAL in post title.
I agree with the bolded part. Elias would be a great mentor to the young oilers. He's only 34 and his salary is only $5M for the next 3 years (cap hit is higher but who cares)
There are much worse ways to spend $5MM in the NHL.
I'm not convinced Elias will be moved though. He's a very valuable player to the Devils and, as you said, a proven performer in both the regular season and especially the playoffs.
He's a player who you don't have to coach, don't need to motivate, won't whine, will work hard in all zones, is responsible on the ice no matter the game situation and a proven winner. I fail to see how that player doesn't FIT ANY TEAM, REGARDLESS OF THE STATE OF THE REBUILD.
Again. I don't think NJ trades him and if they do, I really think there's no fit with the Oilers.
"Only" and "34" don't usually coincide when your talking about an NHL player - that's getting up there. Also, the salary takes a back seat to the cap-hit, when teams are weighing the pros of bringing a certain player in, not the other way around. Sill, your correct in saying that there are a lot worse ways to spend that type of money.
And he would fit.... this year. The problem is that neither of Hall, Pajaarvi or Eberle have given any indication that they're not ready to play in the NHL and be damn good it. Throw Gangner and Hemsky into the mix, and then what becomes of Elias, a year or two down the road?
In two seasons, both Penner and Hemsky - maybe even Gagner, depending on the term of his pending contract - are going to be looking for raises. With 11M invested in 2/3 of our third line (Horcoff is unmovable with his contract), where would the money come from? Keep in mind that I'm using the term "third line" only because there's no way that any of the trio of Hall, Eberle or Pajaarvi are two or three years from being deserving of top-six play in the NHL, and using a 36 or 37-year-old Elias ahead of them, at that point, would not be doing them any favors in terms of development.
I love Elias, but like you said for your own reasons, not for the Oilers.
Only way I can see Oilers doing this is if Devils take Souray in return.
Only way I can see Devils taking Souray, is if Edmonton also takes one of Devils' overpaid players like Rolston, Salvador or White.
Which is all moot, because I'd be completely shocked if Elias waived his NMC to go to Edmonton anyways, unless he's annoyed at being shopped and Edmonton manages to really wow him over the phone.
how is elias on the pk? while unlikely people saying oilers have no need is foolish, wasnt our pk like 29th worst. any good pkers on the devils up for grabs?
how is elias on the pk? while unlikely people saying oilers have no need is foolish, wasnt our pk like 29th worst. any good pkers on the devils up for grabs?
Lol, this is not true. Gagne has played basically just as many games as Elias since the lockout, and he is (was) also a "team leader, playoff proven player and still elite". EDIT: Probably not "elite", but neither is Elias.
Dont kid yourself. Gagne and Elias are VERY much alike. The only thing difference is that you guys have a competent GM who understands the value of a heart and soul guy. If you do trade Elias (doubtful) and you do get more for him, it wont be because Elias has better value.
Gags is a choke in the playoffs, and the reason we got a **** return is the fact that Gags waived to go to TB and only TB putting Steve Y in a position of power, thus leading to Walker and his 1.7 mil contract and a 4th pick being the return.
how is elias on the pk? while unlikely people saying oilers have no need is foolish, wasnt our pk like 29th worst. any good pkers on the devils up for grabs?
Elias is very good on the PK, him and parise were a force when they played the penalty kill together.
how is elias on the pk? while unlikely people saying oilers have no need is foolish, wasnt our pk like 29th worst. any good pkers on the devils up for grabs?
Elias is great on the PK. 2nd to only Zajac probably.
All jokes aside Brian Rolston is also a good PK'er. That's not a sales pitch though. Just throwing it out there.
Taking on Elias would make little sense for Edmonton. While he would provide great experience, the main problem is that he has 3 years left on his contract. For a rebuilding team like Edmonton, that would not make sense...in 2 years they will have guys like Hemsky and Penner and Brule and Petry become UFA/RFA, so paying $6 mill to Elias will make it hard to re-sign all those players.
I can see Edmonton maybe doing what Tampa did and taking on a salary dump if the player they take only has a year or two left on his contract. So someone like Rolston maybe, or Salvador.
Only way I can see Oilers doing this is if Devils take Souray in return.
Only way I can see Devils taking Souray, is if Edmonton also takes one of Devils' overpaid players like Rolston, Salvador or White.
Which is all moot, because I'd be completely shocked if Elias waived his NMC to go to Edmonton anyways, unless he's annoyed at being shopped and Edmonton manages to really wow him over the phone.
Ya. My thoughts exactly. It would likely be Cogs and Souray for Elias and White, or something like that. IMO Elias is staying put. Nice thought though.
Nope nothing to substanciate the rumor. Kevin Lowe was on the Team 1260 about 10 minutes ago.
Thanks. I know you guys get a lot more hockey news from local media than we do, especially at this time of year. Here, it's all about the Yankees, Jets & Giants.
This is typical innuendo from him - it's non-committal and easily defended to claim any team is "interested" in another player. That does not mean that: 1) the player is available; or 2) the team owning that player wants anything from the interested team; or 3) that the two teams have had any trade discussions beyond perhaps an inquiry from the "interested" team. There are 29 teams "interested" in Crosby, Ovechkin, the Sedins, etc. - that doesn't translate that any of them can be had.
It's also a typical example of him fabricating theories in a narrow-minded way, rather than recognizing or understanding each team's complete situation. It's common knowledge by everyone that the Devils will have cap issues when they sign Kovalchuk - but it's also commonly understood by people familiar with NJ (except by Eklund, apparently) that the reason the Devils added Kovalchuk in the first place was to add offense beyond Parise and Elias. Why would they trade one of their 3 best goal scorers in Elias (not to mention someone who is as entrenched in the community as he is)? Answer: they won't.
It's far more likely that Lamoriello will solve his cap issues by shedding a more expendable player (i.e. Zubrus, Salvador, etc.) that won't weaken the offense.
Terrific analysis on all fronts.. We all know what Eklund is trying to accomplish with this fabrication but you dissected and explained it perfectly....
Sorry but nobody wants to go to Edmonton, nobody!
they also do not want to go to Montreal or any of the teams in financial difficulty.
Edmonton and Montreal are solid franchise but nobody wants to go there.
So hold onto those draft picks because that's the obly way you are going to get players or pay a huge premium in salary
Elias is great on the PK. 2nd to only Zajac probably.
All jokes aside Brian Rolston is also a good PK'er. That's not a sales pitch though. Just throwing it out there.
i always like rolston and hoped the team would make a pitch for him, its looking like a blessing now that they didnt/he turned it down. what happened that he's worth so little now. A few years ago i would have gladly given him something in the 4-5 mil range
