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Hot Links: Thursday, October 8

The calm before the UFA storm, Draft recaps, Jesse Puljujarvi’s return, Jacob Markstrom Taylor Hall, other Oilers rumors, and MORE!

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Edmonton Oilers v Winnipeg Jets
Welcome home, young man.
Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images

Morning, folks!

Big day yesterday. I’ll save my bloviating about the Draft as I’ve got a Day 2 review in the... drafts... that I’ll be posting around noon today.

Today marks the calm before the UFA storm, with one day’s reprieve before the weirdest Free Agent Frenzy of our lifetime kicks off tomorrow. Here are the biggest rumors I’m seeing so far:

Ken Holland did mention in his availability this week that the Oilers will look to Free Agency to address their goaltending. Markstrom is probably the biggest name — and perhaps the best goalie available — but local smart guy Darcy McLeod (@Woodguy55) ran the numbers and came up with this:

Quite honestly? I agree with him. I don’t think targeting a big UFA goalie makes sense. I was hoping Holland would be trying to identify a 1B in Free Agency that could capably deputize Koskinen, one that could deputize Koskinen like Mike Smith did, only better, and for about half the money (or less). If they grab Markstrom, they probably have to trade Koskinen. Anything approaching $10MM spent on their goaltenders is far too much, IMO.

Of course, there are differing opinions:


Then, there’s this:

Imagine?

But, before we get too excited:

Something to pay attention to over the next 24-48 hours, for sure.


Also, in case you missed it, the Oilers brought back Jesse Puljujarvi into the fold yesterday:

A two-year deal at $1.175MM AAV represents a pretty nice piece of business for Ken Holland, and the two-year term is icing on the cake. Really hard to see any downside to this one. Even Puljujarvi seems excited:

LFG.


2020 Copper & Blue Live Draft Thread (Copper and Blue)

Oilers Sign Jesse Puljujarvi Through 2022 (Copper and Blue)

NHL Draft 2020: Oilers Trade Down, Draft Carter Savoie At Pick 100 (Copper and Blue)

Oilers Make Qualifying Offers To Ethan Bear, William Lagesson (Copper and Blue)

Hot Links: Wednesday, October 7 (Copper and Blue)


Harvest Moon 2020 (Lowetide)

2020 NHL UFA Top 30: Torey Krug And Alex Pietrangelo (Oilersnation)

JONES: Empty Rink Aside, Oilers Owner Katz Proud Of Profile Raised On Rogers Place (Sun)

Rumours: Edmonton Oilers Interested In Taylor Hall, Tyson Barrie On Short-Term Deals; Will Jacob Markstrom Sign In Edmonton? (Oilersnation)

Finished With Finland: Puljujarvi Returning To Oilers, Likely As Third-Line Winger (Sun)

Jesse Puljujarvi Returns To Oilers With Second Chance To Make Impact (Sportsnet)

Report: Flames, Oilers Interested In Jacob Markstrom (Score)

Shopping For A D-Man (Oilersnation)


No deal: Analyzing 9 intriguing players who weren’t tendered qualifying offers (Athletic)

Lowetide: Jesse Puljujarvi Signing Overshadows A Strong Day For Oilers At Draft (Athletic)

Grading The Oilers’ 2020 NHL Draft: What We Know About Edmonton’s Class (Athletic)

Dylan Holloway could be a ‘difference-maker’ for the Oilers (Athletic)