Oliver Ekman-Larsson Has Reportedly Given The Coyotes A Friday Deadline To Deal Him To Either Boston Or Vancouver Or Else He Stays In Arizona
With Torey Krug likely leaving in free agency the B's have targeted the Yotes d-man as a potential replacement. OEL like I've mentioned in previous blogs has 7 years left on his deal at $8.25 mil per. A pretty big contract to commit to, even if ARI retains money or takes contracts on. Darren Dreger is now reporting that OEL (through his agent) has told the Coyotes that he'll only accept a trade to Vancouver or Boston, otherwise he'll remain a Coyote. Safe to say the pressure is on for new GM Bill Armstrong.
Now what would Boston have to give up to acquire OEL?
Per Arizona Coyotes insider Craig Morgan:
The Coyotes are probably looking for a combination of picks (probably a first- and second-round pick from each team) and prospects, but per two sources, they also inquired about Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko, which was a nonstarter. From the Bruins, the Coyotes seem more interested in their prospect pool, which they feel is better than the Canucks’ pool, but Boston also has a pair of attractive, cost-controlled players in defenseman Brandon Carlo and restricted free-agent forward Jake DeBrusk that could help the Coyotes and should be in consideration if the Coyotes are looking to do more than simply shed salary and eye a brighter future a few years down the road.
The Bruins do not have a 1st rounder (thanks to the Ondrej Kase trade) so they'd have to dip into the roster/prospect pool. I just don't understand giving up Jake DeBrusk at this stage in the game, he's an RFA who cannot go to arbitration. Yes, his agent wants to cash in (what agent wouldn't want max dollars for their client) but I don't think it's time to give up on JD at this time in his career. All players are trade-able, JD isn't untouchable by any means, but a package for OEL is not worth it. You're filling one hole and opening up another hole that's been a hole for 5+ god damn years.
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Brandon Carlo is due for a pay raise (currently making 2.85 per) after next year, so like JD, he is also trade-able (if you don't want to pay him big money the following year) but I don't think he's worth giving up in a package to get OEL and his contract.
I just don't see a fit where the Bruins give the Coyotes what they think they deserve.
On the flip side of things… is there a fit in Boston for OEL? I think so. If Sweeney can make the dollars work, say Arizona retains 25%, 6.25 or whatever it would be per year (math not my strong suit, dropped out of college) it is certainly more digestible if you're Boston. It also helps that Bill Armstrong basically has no leverage whatsoever, Don Sweeney should not be getting into any bidding wars over OEL. If it happens, it happens. I'm skeptical about the return, but as far as the player goes, he wouldn't have to be the No. 1 guy here. That's McAvoy. The analytics say OEL is trending downward, but I think he can still help this team in a 2nd pairing role.
There are cases to be made for both sides, if ARI retains salary/takes on contracts (ala John Moore, etc) I think he could be a fit in Boston. If not, you're paying more for a slightly better version of Torey Krug. Why not just re-sign Torey without having to give up assets?
The Friday deadline for OEL helps Boston make other moves if they do in fact miss out on Trading for OEL… Maybe the B's come back around to Torey Krug if they miss out on OEL… We'll have to wait and see what happens.
ps. broke down all the smoke surrounding the B's, including all the OEL talk in podcast form with Anthony Kwetkowski from Bruins Network. Check it out if you have an hour of free time today.
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(h/t Craig Morgan, Darren Dreger)