Welcome to NHL Trade Deadline Week! There are just a few days remaining before team’s are stuck with the players they have in their system for the balance of the season, and now is the time that moves are made.
The Edmonton Oilers go into the deadline still as one of the top teams in the league, but they have faltered of late. A five-game losing streak shook the Oilers, and while they did pick up a win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, it definitely wasn’t a comfortable one by any stretch.
On 32 Thoughts this week, Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas broke down all the news around the Oilers going into the deadline. Here’s what came up
What is happening with Evander Kane?
Evander Kane hasn’t played at all this season, as he rehabs from an injury, but reports are that he is close to returning. The Oilers, however, have been quietly shopping the former San Jose Sharks star to see if other teams would be interested in him. Kane has had a full no-trade clause for his entire contract in Edmonton, but that has been reduced to a 16-team no-trade as of February 28. Friedman notes that most of the 16-team list is contending teams in the league.
Kane clearly wants to play in the regular season and prove that he can help a good team take the next step towards the playoffs and beyond. The Oilers are talking to the teams on his list to gauge interest in the forward, and then will assess from there. Kane has one year left on his current contract that pays him $5.125M per season. With the Oilers almost certainly unwilling to retain salary, whoever takes him on will need to have the cap space for the full contract value.
Moving Kane may require the Oilers to sweeten the deal, given that he is hurt, but to move out the salary to add more in areas of need would be of major help to the team.
Support needed on the blueline
Friedman noted that the Oilers are looking for another defenceman to help shore up the blueline, and ideally one who can play both sides. The team has already added John Klingberg and Travis Dermott this season, and throw in Josh Brown and Troy Stetcher, the Oilers have nine blueliners that can play currently.
This is a lot of defencemen, but what they lack is someone who can play top-four minutes. Emberson has shown himself to be more of a bottom pairing defenceman this season, and Klingberg has been far more offensive than defensive. Going into the playoffs, trying to find someone to play the role that Vincent Desharnais played last year would a great support.
The Oilers are looking for another depth forward
The other interesting note from Elliotte Friedman was that the Oilers are looking to add a speedy forward to their group. The Oilers are one of the oldest teams in the league this year, and do lack the footspeed of younger teams. Being able to find a young middle-six forward would be a huge add for this team.
This was mentioned in contrast to the struggles with Viktor Arvidsson, who really has not fit with the team this year. Like Kane, Arvidsson has one more year on his contract at $4M if the Oilers do want to move him, but again like Kane, they would need to add a sweetener to be able to do so.
Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner have been the two players most in discussion when it comes to a trade this year for the Oilers, as both are highly paid and simply not fitting as well as expected. Adding speed to the lineup in exchange for one or both of these players would make the team better for sure.
What will the Edmonton Oilers do in net?
While the Oilers have struggled all season long in net, it seems as though the Oilers are not going to be making an upgrade at this position. There really aren’t many good goalies available right now, and the Oilers would need to see an option that was 100% better than what they have currently. Without that, it simply doesn’t make sense.
Friedman specifically mentioned the injury history with John Gibson as the biggest risk in acquiring him. Further, making a move for a goalie like Dan Vladar in Calgary or another backup netminder wouldn’t be a move that would make this team much better.
What to watch for going into the deadline
The Oilers are going to be an exciting team to watch at the deadline. Not only do they need to add players, but they are so tight to the salary cap that they will need to shed a contract or two to make something happen. However, given they were one game short of the Stanley Cup last year and with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in their winning windows, now is the time to add in Edmonton.
