Edmonton Oilers

Jesse Puljujarvi has spent his first five NHL seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. While the 24-year-old forward will be with them to open the 2022-23 campaign, his future is uncertain.

That's because Dylan Holloway appears poised to move on to the Oilers' second offensive line alongside Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman. And if that's not Puljujarvi's spot, then Edmonton may decide it has the depth to move him.

In fact, it seems the Oilers may have already considered that, according to The Athletic's Daniel Nugent-Bowman.

"It’s no secret, as one team source confirmed, that Puljujarvi’s name has been out there on the trading block for months," Nugent-Bowman wrote. "The 2016 No. 4 pick would likely have been gone by now had the market not been soft."

Edmonton isn't going to deal Puljujarvi on the cheap. In fact, Nugent-Bowman reported that Oilers general manager Ken Holland has been "insistent" that the team won't move Puljujarvi in exchange for future draft picks.

It makes sense. The Oilers are in win-now mode, considering they have two of the top offensive players in the NHL (Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl) powering them to success.

Last season, Edmonton reached the Western Conference Final, where it was swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. But before that, the Oilers won two playoff series, marking the first time they had advanced past the first round of the postseason since 2017 (and only the second time since 2006).

If Edmonton is going to move Puljujarvi, then it should be getting NHL-ready players in return. Perhaps it could deal from its offensive depth (by parting with Puljujarvi) and boost another area of its roster.

But at some point in the near future, Nugent-Bowman believes that the Oilers will be trading Puljujarvi, who will be a restricted free agent after the upcoming season and an unrestricted free agent in 2024.

"It’s inevitable that Puljujarvi’s days are numbered with the Oilers," Nugent-Bowman wrote. "It’s basically a matter of when—not if—he’ll have a new in-season address."

There should be interest in Puljujarvi. He's been a solid contributor throughout his career, and he's coming off a 2021-22 campaign that was his best season yet. In 65 games, he tallied a career-high 36 points on 14 goals and 22 assists.

In the meantime, Puljujarvi should continue to bring value for Edmonton. That's also why it shouldn't be a rush for the Oilers to try to trade him.

But if a strong offer comes along that makes sense for Edmonton, it would likely be wise for it to complete a deal. The Oilers need to assemble the best possible all-around team to capitalize on their window of contention, and they could do that by exchanging Puljujarvi for multiple valuable assets.

Still, Edmonton can wait out the market for the right time to do that.

The Edmonton Oilers were one of the best teams in the NHL during the 2021-22 season. However, they couldn't get past the Western Conference Final, where they got swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.

Heading into the 2022-23 campaign, the Oilers remain strong. They have two of the best offensive players in the league in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and they have plenty of other talented standouts on their team.

But Edmonton's roster isn't set. And even though the team is currently over the salary cap (per CapFriendly), it could still make moves, potentially even ones to clear a bit of space so it can make a late free-agent signing or two.

If the Oilers do that, they should target experienced players who can help them reach the next level and make a Stanley Cup run. At least two players who fit that bill still remain on the free-agent market as well: defenseman P.K. Subban and right wing Phil Kessel.

According to Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal, the Oilers "continue to be linked to" both Subban and Kessel. And although both have landed large paydays in the past, Leavins noted that both are likely to want to join a team that can win now, which describes Edmonton.

Subban has played 13 NHL seasons, but he's never won a Stanley Cup. The 33-year-old spent seven years with the Montreal Canadiens and three with the Nashville Predators before playing the past three seasons for the New Jersey Devils.

Considering the Devils have been in rebuild mode (and continue to be), Subban may have interest in signing with a contender ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Kessel has also been with a rebuilding team, having spent the past three seasons with the Arizona Coyotes. However, the 34-year-old, who is a 16-year NHL veteran, is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, as he won back-to-back titles with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.

Both of these veterans can still contribute to a team, too. Subban had five goals and 17 assists while playing 77 games for the Devils last season. Kessel is coming off a year in which he had eight goals and 44 assists while playing all 82 games for the Coyotes.

The Oilers should be looking to add a player like Subban or Kessel, and maybe even both. They have plenty of young stars, plus a lot of their core is entering their prime. So they're currently in a clear window of Cup contention.

Edmonton needs to capitalize and build the best possible roster for next season. Adding Subban and/or Kessel would provide the leadership and experience necessary to make a championship run.

Of course, it all comes down to the finances. If either Subban or Kessel are seeking too large of a salary, the Oilers shouldn't be willing to pay any amount to land them (and they won't be able to, either). But that seems a bit unlikely, so perhaps one (or both) of these veterans will soon end up in Edmonton.

Update: The claims against Oilers owner Daryl Katz were voluntarily withdrawn and dismissed by Dusty and Mitchell Button on August 3 after receiving credible evidence their allegations were untrue, according to the Buttons’ lawyer. The headline has been updated accordingly.

Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz has denied an allegation made in a court filing that he paid an 18-year-old woman "at least $75,000" for sex.

Katie Strang of The Athletic reported Katz is named in a counterclaim to a lawsuit filed by a group of ballerinas who say they were sexually abused by dance teacher Mitchell Taylor Button and his wife, Dusty Button.

The counterclaim filed by the Buttons included text messages between the Oilers owner and Sage Humphries, one of the women accusing them of sexual abuse.

Attorney Robert Klieger said Katz and Humphries met twice in 2016 to discuss a film project.

"Mr. Katz has never met the Buttons, and their false accusations against him are a transparent and pathetic attempt to distract attention from the abhorrent acts with which they stand charged," Klieger said in a statement.

Both Katz and Humphries' attorney Sigrid McCawley said the two were never in a sexual relationship, according to an Oilers spokesperson. McCawley provided a statement on her client's relationship with Katz and the Buttons' allegation:

"Sage had a business relationship with Mr. Katz and there was never any sexual relationship between them. As is typical of abusers facing serious litigation, with four walls of facts closing in, the Buttons have filed counterclaims that distract from and distort the truth.

"Abusers often try to weaponize the allegations brought against them, and that’s exactly what is happening here. The counterclaims the Buttons have filed falsely and recklessly implicate others, including Daryl Katz, and are a factually unfounded attempt to portray the women they abused as liars."

The text messages show Katz talking to Humphries about making payments of $50,000 and $25,000, per Strang.

It's unclear what the payments were for, beyond Katz wanting Humphries to spend the money on herself. In one message, Katz tells Humphries "even though u r wise beyond your years given our respective ages it would be taken the wrong way," per Strang.

The NHL released a statement saying it is "in the process of looking into the matter."

In a 2017 defamation suit, model and actress Greice Santo said Katz offered her money in exchange for sex during a magazine photoshoot, per CBC's Andrea Huncar. The suit said Santo made a criminal complaint about Katz to police in Hawai'i, but no charges were filed.

Katz has owned the Oilers since 2008.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article said Sage Humphries was a teenager at the time she met Daryl Katz. The article and headline have been updated to reflect that Humphries was 18 years old at the time she met Katz and to include statements from the Oilers and Humphries' attorneys.

Jack Campbell is staying in Canada, but he's moving across the country.

The free-agent goaltender reached agreement on a five-year, $25 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, per Darren Dreger of ESPN.

Campbell spent the last two-plus seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's coming off a 31-9-6 record with a 2.64 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. In 2020-21, he was 17-3-2 with a 2.15 GAA and .921 save percentage.

The Leafs chose to move on by trading for Ottawa Senators goaltender Matt Murray, who is two years younger but compares poorly to Campbell as far as recent performance. He also has a track record of injuries.

Toronto's loss was Edmonton's gain, with the Oilers picking up not only a stellar goaltender but also one of the league's best teammates. In a profile by Jonas Siegel of The Athletic, teammates of past and present gushed about Campbell's ability to relate to anyone.

"Oh trust me, I thought about it a lot of times, just, can this guy really be this nice? But he genuinely is," former Los Angeles Kings teammate Trevor Lewis said. "He genuinely cares about all his teammates and he wants to make life easier on them. He's the kind of guy that will definitely go out of his way to do anything for you and doesn't expect anything back in return.

"He's an awesome guy and he's one of a kind for sure."

Campbell will replace Mikko Koskinen as the Oilers' primary goaltender. Koskinen left the NHL in June to sign with HC Lugano of the National League in Switzerland.

Mike Smith will continue to serve as Edmonton's backup goaltender, though he is reportedly headed for the long-term injured reserve.

Despite speculation that he could have a complicated free-agent process, Evander Kane is going back to the Edmonton Oilers.

Kane tweeted Wednesday he is re-signing with the Oilers on a four-year deal worth $5.125 million per season:

The Athletic noted Tuesday that Kane could have "one of the more complicated free-agent" pursuits in recent memory because of how things ended with the San Jose Sharks.

The Sharks terminated the remainder Kane's contract in January after he was found to have violated AHL COVID-19 protocols while playing for the San Jose Barracuda.

Per ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Kane's violation stemmed from traveling to his home in Vancouver while he was in COVID protocol in December.

That came after Kane was suspended for 21 games early in the season "for an established violation of, and lack of compliance with, the NHL/NHLPA COVID-19 protocol." A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports reported the 30-year-old submitted a fake vaccination card to the league.

The NHL previously investigated Kane amid allegations from his ex-wife that he bet on games. He told ESPN's Linda Cohn on an episode of Outside the Lines that he did have a gambling problem, but he never bet on hockey games that he played in.

The league announced in September that it found no evidence Kane bet on games or attempted to negatively influence games he played in.

On the same day of that announcement, the NHL opened an investigation against Kane into allegations of sexual assault and domestic battery from his estranged wife, Anna Kane.

Evander Kane was previously granted a restraining order against Anna after saying she punched him in the face multiple times.

When the NHL announced Kane's 21-game suspension in October, it also noted its investigation into Anna's allegations could not be substantiated. Evander and Anna dropped their domestic violence restraining orders against each other on Oct. 26 and agreed to maintain a "respectful distance from one another."

After the Sharks terminated Kane's contract, the NHL Players Association filed a grievance on his behalf. According to The Athletic report, a resolution to the grievance isn't expected to come until after free agency begins.

Dan Milstein, Kane's agent, told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun on Monday they were hopeful of reaching an extension with Edmonton but also received permission to speak with other clubs.

The Oilers signed Kane to a one-year deal on Jan. 27. He played well for the club, registering 39 points (22 goals, 17 assists) in 43 games to help Edmonton make the postseason.

During the Oilers' run to the Western Conference Final, Kane racked up 17 points in 15 games. He had five multigoal games in the playoffs, including two hat tricks in wins over the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings.

Duncan Keith, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, is reportedly set to retire after 17 NHL seasons.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported Friday that Keith has decided to hang up his skates despite having one season left on his 13-year, $72 million contract.

The 38-year-old Canadian defenseman spent his first 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks before finishing his career as a member of the Edmonton Oilers.

Keith developed into one of the best two-way blueliners of his generation after the Hawks selected him in the second round of the 2002 NHL draft.

The 6'1'', 192-pound defender made his NHL debut in October 2005 and quickly became a high-impact contributor for Chicago. He finishes his career with 625 points (105 goals and 520 assists) and 653 penalty minutes in 1,192 regular-season games.

He won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015. His gold medals came as part of Team Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.

His list of accolades includes four All-Star Game selections and being voted the Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's best defenseman in 2009-10 and 2013-14. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP during the Hawks' run to the 2015 Cup.

Keith reminisced about his time in Chicago when he returned to the United Center for the first time as an opposing player in March.

"I'm just super proud to say that I was a Hawk for as long as I was," he told reporters. "To be drafted by that team and spend that many years here, definitely proud of that and all the great teammates that pushed me to become a better player. Obviously those three championships stick out for sure."

His No. 2 jersey is a strong bet to eventually join other Blackhawks legends in the United Center rafters.

Keith's decision to retire does lead to a recapture penalty against the salary cap for Chicago—$5.5 million in 2022-23 and $1.9 million in 2023-24, per CapFriendly—but the team is likely heading toward a rebuild, a process that began with the trades of Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach on Thursday. So the added cap hit shouldn't be a major factor.

Meanwhile, the longtime standout defenseman's next stop is likely the Hockey Hall of Fame.