The NHL Trade Deadline is just a week away, and the Oilers seem to have their hands in everything. With the team looking to upgrade their depth, two more names have emerged as being linked to the team: Sean Walker and Nick Seeler of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Who are Nick Seeler and Sean Walker exactly?
Seeler is a journeyman defenceman hailing from the State of Hockey, Minnesota. Drafted by the Wild in 2011, Seeler has bounced between the AHL and NHL since finishing up his college career in 2015-16. Now in his third year with the the Flyers, Seeler has put up 11 points and 76 penalty minutes in 60 games.
Clearly, Seeler is not known for his offensive prowess, but does bring a rugged reliable style to the Flyers’ blueline. Additionally, given Seeler can play both sides of the blueline and is signed for the balance of this season at just $775k, the potential is there for him to fit into the Oilers with little going the other way cap-wise.
Walker, on the other hand, is also a pending UFA, but is substantially more expensive at $2.65 million. The former Los Angeles Kings defenseman has 22 points in 60 games, and has been coveted by teams across the league, as well as the Flyers, who are reportedly looking to keep him.
While his production is not going to wow you, keep in mind he has put up these numbers on a less-than-great Flyers team, while also being a reliable piece defensively for the Flyers. This chart from Hockeyviz is exactly what you want to see from a defenseman, putting up positive offensive numbers and negative defensive numbers:
The cost will be high, with the Flyers reportedly wanting a first round pick, but with the recent Chris Tanev trade, there is a very good chance he can be had for a later pick and a roster player coming the other way.
What makes sense for the Oilers?
There are two challenges for the Oilers right now. The first is obviously the cap, with the Oilers having minimal to play with right now. If they do make any sort of deal, it will likely need money going the other way.
The second challenge is that there are reports that the players feel that they have all the pieces that they need to succeed in their room right now. Any move that the team makes, particularly one involving moving a roster player the other way, could negatively impact the team’s chemistry.
While the Oilers do have the draft capital to make either player work, they are hedging against their future, with a prospect pool that is starting to look shallower by the year. Further, if the Oilers add a blueliner like Walker, it likely means Cody Ceci going the other way. Is this a major upgrade or a lateral move? Further, is a defenseman the team’s biggest need right now or do they want to add more up front or to their goaltending, with Calvin Pickard currently rolling as the backup.
There are a lot of questions still to be asked about this Oilers team and what the best play forward is, but no matter what happens, they are one of the most exciting teams to watch as we inch closer to the deadline.
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