Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Oilers Taylor Hall on the hiring of Peter Chiarelli.
“I don’t know what his plan is, but he’s not afraid to make trades. He’s traded young players before,” said Hall, referring to the Boston Bruins dealing Tyler Seguin to the Dallas Stars.
“I don’t want to be traded. It’s been a tough five years for sure, but getting Connor McDavid … I think what everyone says is true. He’s only 18 years old, but I don’t think it’s going to be that long a transition (period) for him.
“I was excited when we got the pick (in the draft lottery). I don’t want to leave. I think we’ve got a team that can do some damage.”
Edmonton Journal: Chiarelli said he didn’t have a timeline on hiring a new head coach.
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: The idea that Connor McDavid will help lure free agents to Edmonton may not be the case. It didn’t really happen when the Penguins won the lottery for Sidney Crosby according to TSNs Craig Button.
“This idea gets thrown out that you’re going to attract players … yeah, (defenceman) Paul Martin signed in Pittsburgh, but no prominent free agents.”
The Wild are going to re-sign Devan Dubnyk for around $3.5 million. Jeff Petry could get $4.5 million. It’s not the greatest group of free agents: Mike Green, Cody Franson , Paul Martin, Christian Ehrhoff and Francois Beauchemin on defense. Antti Niemi, Deven Dubnyk and Karri Ramo in net. Joel Ward, Michael Frolik, Carl Soderberg, Mike Ribeiro, Antoine Vermette, Matt Beleskey and Justin Williams up front.
“If I’m, say, (college free-agent goalie) Matt O’Connor, I’m not selling him on being on the same team as Connor McDavid. I’m selling him on going to a place where he can become a really good NHL goalie. Here’s our plan, here’s how we’re going to do it,” said Button.
Mark Spector of Sportnet: Former Oilers GM Craig MacTavish said he wasn’t going to trade Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but that may not be the case with new GM Peter Chiarelli. You can include Nail Yakupov with the three.
“I’ve actually made a few trades of good young forwards. That’s something I won’t shy away from,” said the GM who traded both a 22-year-old Phil Kessel and a 21-year-old Tyler Seguin.
“In this business you can’t be afraid to make trades,” Chiarelli said. “The way parity is developing, the way the cap is closing in, the margins are really small. I’m not afraid of doing it. It has to be the right moment, but those are deals you can’t be afraid to make.”
