In today’s NHL rumour rundown, we start off with the Edmonton Oilers, where franchise cornerstones Conor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl expressed their frustration with the direction the team is headed. Next, we go to the Vancouver Canucks, looking at their search for a general manager, which includes Shane Doan and Kevyn Adams.
Finally, we have some updates on some Boston Bruins players, which include Nikita Zadorov’s injury and Charlie McAvoy’s suspension.
McDavid, Draisaitl Express Frustration with Direction of Team
Following the Oilers’ six-game series loss to the Anaheim Ducks, many were looking for what both McDavid and Draisaitl had to say at their end-of-season media conference.
For those looking for emotion and hard-hitting quotes, the two superstars delivered on that.
Draisaitl spoke first, and when asked about the direction of the team, he responded, “I am concerned about that.”
He later added, “How do you have the best player in the world and you are not looking to win? We have to be better. We have to improve. He’s signed for two more years, and God knows where that goes, but we have two years here right now. We have to get significantly better.”
That is some harsh feedback for general manager Stan Bowman, but the team that he put together just wasn’t good enough.
When McDavid took to the podium, he agreed with Draisaitl’s assessment of the team not being good enough, citing the organization as a whole taking a step back.
Bowman was asked about McDavid calling the team average, and he stated, “We were average for a lot of the year.”
McDavid is the best player to ever play the sport, and now, his next playoff game will be as a player in his 30’s. Over the course of his career, the Oilers have been unable to win a Stanley Cup, and a big part of that is their inability to find a reliable goaltender and fill out the depth appropriately.
That falls on Bowman.
Canucks Interested in Doan, Adams-Led Front Office
One name generating a lot of traction for the Canucks’ vacant general manager position is Shane Doan. After spending his post-playing career with the NHL, the Arizona Coyotes, and the Toronto Maple Leafs in some different capacities, he is ready to take the step towards being a general manager.
His job experiences include being a special advisor to Brad Treliving, working in hockey development with the Coyotes, and with the league, where he worked in their hockey operations department.
The Canucks are reportedly very interested in Doan, but there are two concerns with bringing him in.
The Canucks have been looking for someone with experience, but one option for them would be to bring in Adams as well, who built the Buffalo Sabres team that is now off to the second round. He has been in conversations for this position, and hasn’t been told he is out as of now.
The other concern is Doan’s love for hockey in Arizona. During an appearance on Serekes & Price, insider Darren Dreger stated that the NHL, and others, believe Arizona will get another team, and Doan would want to be a big part of that.
Knoblauch’s Future with Oilers Uncertain
During the year-end media availability, head coach Kris Knoblauch spoke as well. Oftentimes, if a team knows they won’t be bringing back their head coach, they won’t be available after for this. Knoblauch was present, though Bowman wouldn’t confirm that the coach would be back for next season.
During the same episode of Serekes & Price, Dreger spoke on the Oilers’ coaching situation.
There is nothing but pressure on this team right now, and one coach who knows how to win is Bruce Cassidy. Dreger noted that a lot of the heat on Knoblauch is coming from the availability of Cassidy.
If the Oilers organization looks at Cassidy as a better option, they could cut ties with Knoblauch and hire him.
Zadorov Played Through MCL Tear Suffered in Game 3
At the Bruins’ year-end availability, Zadorov spoke about an injury he suffered in Game 3 against the Sabres.
When asked about any potential injuries, Zadorov stated, “Yeah, I tore my MCL in Game 3. Fully torn off the bone.”
Zadorov was far from the biggest concern with the Bruins, but it was becoming apparent by the end of the series that he was dealing with something significant.
Between that, McDavid and Jason Dickinson playing on a broken foot/ankle, and all of the other injuries we hear about in the playoffs, it goes to show that NHL players will do whatever it takes to win.
McAvoy Set for In-Person Hearing
Following his dangerous slash against Sabres forward Zach Benson, McAvoy has been offered an in-person hearing.
The slash came with 91 seconds left in Game 6, and while there were no apparent injuries on the play, it still appears that the NHL’s Department of Player Safety is exercising their option of a suspension worth more than five games.
If McAvoy is suspended, he will serve it next season.
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