Oilers’ GM scouting third-line centres
If you’re wondering what Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli has been up to relative to the NHL trade deadline three weeks away, he’s been looking at third-line centres.
He was spotted in Minnesota a few days ago when Tampa Bay was there. Chiarelli was looking at Lightning unrestricted freeagent Brian Boyle, who’s averaging almost 14 minutes a game, is winning more than 50 per cent of his draws and has 12 goals.
He’ll also have a close-up look at Arizona UFA Martin Hanzal here on Tuesday. The six-foot-six Hanzal would cost more in a trade because he’s got more offence to his game (twice more than 40 points in a season), but the six-foot-seven Boyle might be a harder-to-play-against playoff centre judging by his 100 postseason games (42 over the last two years with the Lightning).
Chiarelli and Tampa GM Steve Yzerman have worked together on Canada’s Olympic management team and have a history, but the Hawks are sniffing around Boyle, too. So is Columbus. Arizona rookie GM John Chayka is trying to leverage lots for Hanzal, knowing Montreal and several other contenders are circling. While rookie Jesse Puljujarvi has five goals and 11 points in 14 games for Bakersfield, there are no plans to bring him back. After one goal and eight points in 28 Oilers games, they want the teenager playing 20 minutes a night on the farm. Maybe the Oilers leave the 18-year-old in the AHL until after the March 1 trade deadline.
“It’s not out of sight, out of mind with Jesse. I know Peter (Chiarelli) has had an opportunity to view his games live, same with MacT (senior vice-president of hockey operations Craig MacTavish). Are we thinking of recalling him to play against Arizona? That hasn’t been talked about,” said coach Todd McLellan.
One thing Puljujarvi’s doing that he didn’t in the NHL: Shooting. He has 41 shots in his 14 AHL games. He had 41 in his 28 Oilers games.