Most of the focus lately for the Edmonton Oilers in the lead up to the 2024 trade deadline has been on the big splash. Should they go after a high scoring winger, like Vladimir Tarasenko of the Ottawa Senators or Jake Guentzel of the Pittsburgh Penguins? Or a solid, reliable defender like Chris Tanev from the Calgary Flames?
But what about the smaller moves? Players to fill specific roles in the bottom half of the lineup. Guys who will add depth and options to help keep the team fresh in a (hopefully) lengthy playoff run. Someone who can go out and create momentum, spread their spark plug energy in a handful of shifts per period.
That’s where someone like Yakov Trenin comes in. Could the Nashville Predators forward be a good fit for the Oilers at the deadline?
Trenin’s career to date
Trenin, coming up on nine years since his draft year, has slowly developed into a consistent bottom-six forward. Originally drafted in the second round, 55th overall, in the 2015 NHL draft, he spent four seasons afterwards playing in the QMJHL and AHL before finally making an NHL debut in 2019–20. Since then, however, he has been a mainstay in the NHL. With the exception of a 21-game stint in the KHL in 2020–21 before the COVID-shortened NHL season started in January.
Over the past few seasons, he has become a regular part of Nashville’s lineup. Usually averaging around 15 minutes of ice time per game, he also has found a role on the Predators’ penalty kill, with the fourth most time on ice of any of Nashville’s forwards while shorthanded.
Although he may not be the biggest scorer, with 44 goals and 77 points in 276 career games, he does have a career high of 17 goals in the 2021–22 season. And has shown he is consistently able to produce at around a 25 point pace.
Scoring is not where he contributes most regularly on the scoresheet, however, as he is an extremely physical player. Over his NHL career thus far, he averages 2.4 hits per game. That is more representative of his style of play.
His fit with the Oilers
Teams need to make sure their rosters can play playoff hockey. And bringing in players like Trenin can help get this team playoff ready from top to bottom. They are getting there. In the top six, Evander Kane is the focal point and even Connor McDavid has started playing far more physically, currently sitting fourth on the team in hits. Not to mention Zach Hyman, who may not lay as many hits as some others but plays an incredibly gritty game and scores the vast majority of his goals from within a couple feet of the crease.
A bit further down there are players like Warren Foegele and Corey Perry, who play physically engaged games when they need to.
One spot on the forward group where this may be lacking is in that fourth line. Currently, it features Sam Gagner, Derek Ryan, and Connor Brown. None of whom are overly physical. An addition like Trenin, who comes with the added benefit of being able to score 15 goals in a season, would boost that line’s usefulness and give them more versatility.
Additionally, he is relied on to kill penalties in Nashville, something the Oilers have struggled with mightily since the end of the win streak. They’ve given up 11 power play goals against over the past seven games.
What it costs to acquire Trenin
One of the most appealing parts of trading for Trenin is that he is fairly cheap, at a $1.7M total cap hit for the season. And, would not require a huge package in return in a trade. He is someone who could probably be acquired for a mid-round draft pick, depending on Nashville’s future plans with him.
Would Yakov Trenin be a good deadline addition for the Oilers? Drop a comment down below!
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