Hot Links: Tuesday, October 20

Looking toward expansion, Tyson Barrie’s skill set, re-signing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, prospect updates, James Neal at 5v5, and MORE!

By flarwick@therealfoz Oct 20, 2020, 9:00am MDT

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Morning, folks!

You’ll have to excuse me if I’m a little much this morning, I’m basking in the glow of a late fantasy football win thanks to a garbage time PAT (thank you, Kenyan Drake) from Zane Gonzalez. I swear to god I spoke Ezekiel Elliott’s two fumbles into existence, and even though I was extremely pissed to see Drake handling the carries on the Arizona Cardinals’ last drive in garbage time (I had to start Chase Edmonds for... reasons, and he needed ~4 yards for me to win), I was extremely not pissed to see Gonzalez trot out there after Drake’s entirely unnecessary 69-yard score to kick me a full point and put me ahead by a fraction.

I’m still riding that roller coaster of emotions.

But, again, I digress.

If you haven’t seen it yet, Jeff posted an article last night looking ahead towards expansion, and what their combination of at-risk assets might mean for the Oilers in terms of who they should — or, perhaps, have to — expose to Seattle in about a year’s time.

One possible wrinkle I hadn’t considered? Oscar Klefbom missing a whole season and therefore failing to meet the GP threshold that would require his being exposed. That might be a nice little side effect (dare I say benefit?) of having Klefbom miss a full season in the middle of Connor McDavid’s prime. We’re looking hard for a silver lining here, but that might qualify.

Of course, there are still decisions to make regarding Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, and Darnell Nurse. And, if I’m honest, in that order. What would you do? Here’s a refresher as to what is and is not allowed: