THW Daily - Canucks’ Trade Chips for Improvement & Why Kirill Kaprizov Must Simplify His Game
Also, a lot going on in Edmonton as struggles intensify, the future for Ilya Samsonov & more
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Daily
In today’s edition, we have a few Canucks trade pieces for them to improve their red-hot roster, why Wild star Kirill Kaprizov must simplify his game, more fallout as struggles intensify in Edmonton, and much more.
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Here’s the good stuff…
Yesterday’s NHL Scores…
Anchor Proposes Jaw-Dropping Bruins & Oilers Blockbuster Trade
November 7, 2023 by Michael DeRosa
The Boston Bruins have had a marvelous start to the 2023-24 season, sporting a 10-1-1 record in their first 12 games. However, even with their hot start, they would benefit from adding a first-line center to their roster after the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. The Edmonton Oilers, on the other hand, have had a brutal start to the season, as their 2-8-1 record shows. Goaltending has been their biggest issue, and it is a position that they will need to improve if they hope to turn this ship around.
As a result of these teams’ two big needs, ESPN anchor John Buccigross proposed a potential blockbuster trade to former NHL player Ryan Whitney on X. In it, Buccigross brought up the prospect of the Bruins trading Linus Ullmark, Jake DeBrusk, Matt Poitras, Fabian Lysell, and a 2026 first-round pick to the Oilers in exchange for Leon Draisaitl and Warren Foegele.
3 Canucks’ Trade Pieces to Improve Team
November 7, 2023 by Sartaaj Bhullar
The Vancouver Canucks are off to an impressive start. Through 11 games, they have a 9-2-1 record, good for second in the Pacific Division and third in the NHL. As a result of their early success, the organization’s front office wants to improve their roster and add to their lineup.
Insiders Rick Dhaliwal and Elliotte Friedman reported the Canucks are the most active team behind the scenes, and they are working the phones. The club’s best players are playing great, and their role players are doing their jobs.
Maple Leafs’ Ilya Samsonov’s Future In Toronto Looking Murky
November 7, 2023 by Michael DeRosa
The 2022-23 season was a breakout campaign for Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov. After the Washington Capitals let him walk in free agency, the 2015 first-round thrived with the change of scenery and won the Maple Leafs’ starting goaltender job in the process. In 42 games, the 26-year-old posted a 27-10-5 record, a .919 save percentage (SV%), and a 2.33 goals-against average (GAA). This was enough for him to land a nice one-year, $3.55 million contract in arbitration.
After a strong first season with the Maple Leafs, the expectation was that Samsonov would continue to improve in 2023-24. However, the exact opposite has happened so far during this young season, as Samsonov has struggled immensely. Due to this, it is already fair to question if Samsonov will be a long-term part of the Maple Leafs’ plans. Let’s discuss why now.
Insider Suggests Flames Could Bail Out Oilers In Stunning Trade
November 7, 2023 by Jim Parsons
In the wake of yet another disappointing loss for the Edmonton Oilers (it feels like we’re saying this an awful lot to start these articles…), it has become increasingly evident that the team is in dire need of external help to address their goaltending and defensive woes. With a dismal 2-7-1 start to the season and glaring issues in net and on the blue line, the Oilers find themselves at a crossroads, desperately seeking solutions.
It started on Tuesday as the Oilers placed goaltender Jack Campbell on waivers for the purposes of assignment. The plan appears to be to call upon Calvin Pickard, but long-term, the team might need to find a more permanent solution. In a recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, analysts Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman delved into the Oilers’ predicament. They highlighted two major concerns plaguing the team: the lack of key saves at crucial moments and the opposing players exploiting Edmonton’s vulnerable defense. They also discussed a stunning option that the Oilers might consider if things get really, really bad.
Wild’s Kaprizov Needs to Simplify His Game
November 7, 2023 by Mariah Stark (Holland)
The Minnesota Wild opened the season with a win but started having problems in their lineup soon after. Injuries began to mount that affected their roster; their special teams struggled, and so did many of their players. The player on the top of this list is, of course, their superstar Kirill Kaprizov, who’s found some success but not what he or fans expected this far into the season.
Of course, he’s been known to be a slow starter according to his standards, and even this season, he has thought the same despite scoring a goal in the third game. He stated in numerous interviews over the first week or two that he’s a slow starter and that he could be scoring more. In the 11 games played so far this season, he has three goals and eight assists for 11 points. Most people would want to be a nearly point-per-game player, but he’s still unsatisfied.
Oilers’ Next Big Change Will Be to Management
November 7, 2023 by Rob Couch
How long have the Edmonton Oilers been doing the same thing with no better results? Ken Holland as general manager (GM) and Jay Woodcroft as the head coach was expected to be a great combo that would help lead the Oilers to the promised land. Well, there have been mistakes from both recently.
While the Oilers have gotten off to a horrible 2-8-1 start to the 2023-24 season, and there is a ton of blame being thrown around, some of it does have to fall on the management. Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t only include Holland and Woodcroft. Sure, the players and goaltending can be better, but how a team is assembled and who plays where and when is out of the players’ hands. I would like to also add a third managerial name in the mix, and that’s goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz. Somehow, he has survived so many coaches and has made his mark on so many of the Oilers’ goalies who have performed better elsewhere.
More stuff from THW and around the NHL:
Ottawa Senators - Senators’ Brady Tkachuk Out of Line for Criticism of Fans Booing
Pittsburgh Penguins - Penguins Are Close to Panic Mode
Columbus Blue Jackets - Blue Jackets News & Rumors: Panthers Recap, Gaudreau & More
NHL News & Rumors - Oilers, Flames, Capitals
From TSN - Giroux defends Smith: 'He's our coach, he's not going anywhere'
From Sportsnet - Why the next seven games are critical in Oilers' sour season
From ESPN - Thousands gather to remember late hockey player Adam Johnson
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Why fire Ken Holland? It's the players and the coaching staff who groom the players. The players are paid enormous salaries (contractually that can't be helped) However, they need to perform in order to "earn" that type of payment. If not, then you bring in youthful players from the minor leagues and move on.