Hot Links: Thursday, June 27

Good morning! Or, good late morning if you’re out east. Apologies, it has been truly a wild opening stanza for yours truly. Without further delay, let’s get it.

Rumors are surrounding the Edmonton Oilers - as per usual for this time of year - and former Flames and Coyotes G Mike Smith’s name lurks among them. I for one would prefer almost anyone else with two legs and two arms to do the job, but it would not at all surprise me if Ken ‘Stability’ Holland opts for experience and familiarity - and likely a lesser commitment than it would take to sign say Petr Mrazek - to address the hole at backup G.

Otherwise, the clock continues to tick down toward the start of NHL Free Agency on July 1. Some pundits (and other idiots like me) are shocked - bordering on offended - that D Kris Russell hasn’t been dealt for even a modest return. The Oilers are in something akin to cap jail and even the freedom of being out from under his contract would likely be a positive.

Keep it locked to the web presence all week as we ramp up into Free Agency and the real start of our annual disappointments.

From Us

Preston keeps cranking out the hits, this time saving you search time and collecting all the major rumors into one post. (Copper and Blue)

Again, it is almost offensive that Kris Russell remains an Oiler. If Tyler Myers can command $8MM per (as is rumored, anyway), there is a market for Cowboy. (Copper and Blue)

From Elsewhere

More rumors! (Oilersnation)

Options in free agency. (Oilersnation)

Lowetide doing his daily. (Lowetide)

LT again, this time looking at wingers more closely. (Lowetide)

Once again, please avoid Mike Smith. (The Oilers Rig)

The Oilers Rig’s compendium of off-season targets. (The Oilers Rig)

Behind the scenes with Broberg. (Oilers.com)

For Money

What did we learn from the 2019 Draft? Other than the usual, PHWA is dumb stuff, of course. (The Athletic)

Happy Thursday.