from David Staples of the Edmonton Journal,

Good-bye to Adam Larsson? Say it ain’t so.

There’s been rumblings all week from Bob Stauffer on Oilers New that a new contract between Larsson, 28, and the Oilers is no sure thing. These rumblings only grew louder over the weekend with first the Cult of Hockey’s Kurt Leavins reporting the Oilers may now be looking at signing Tyson Barrie and not Larsson. Wrote Leavins: “I do get mixed signals on the status of the (Larsson) negotiation. One source that would have an opportunity to speak with both sides in that negotiation thinks Larsson may in fact hit the UFA market, if for no other reason that to see which way the wind is blowing. When Philadelphia acquired Ryan Ellis on Saturday, I believe that subtracted Larsson’s most likely suitor from the equation. But there could be others, including Seattle. Edmonton is also still talking with Tyson Barrie. I wonder if in the event that Larsson walks, does Barrie sign here instead and fill that hole at 2RD? The price tag may not be much different.”

Next, US hockey weriter Frank Seravalli said much the same on the Daily Face-off podcast. As the OilersAccess account on Twitter put it: “Frank Seravalli says that at this point, the Oilers and Adam Larsson are unlikely to get something and Larsson will head to the market. He adds that Tyson Barrie has a real chance to stay in Edmonton.”

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