With time winding down to the Olympic break, the NHL trade landscape is beginning to take focus. Having already made some moves, the Edmonton Oilers may have gotten ahead of the market. Still, there could be more to come. The Oilers made changes to their goaltending and blueline, and so perhaps the expectation is that the final tinkering will be with the forward group.
With that in mind let’s take a look at what the team might be searching for in this week’s rumour roundup.
More Western Conference sellers
The standings have been fairly jumbled together for most of the season, but as time passes they are beginning to sort themselves out. Very few teams came into the season as obvious sellers, perhaps indicating a potential sellers market.
The good news for potential deadline buyers like the Oilers is that there appears to be a growing number of teams that might choose to sell. In the Western Conference this is more pronounced, not only for the shrinking wild card race but also for the strength of the conference’s top teams.
Theoretically, prices will drop as more options become available. The Oilers will have more options available to them, not only in what they can afford but also in who might be a fit. As it pertains to the forward group this might allow for a certain position or play style to be targeted more than a specific player.
Looking for the perfect fit
Earlier in the season rumours centred around specific players more than anything else. Obvious impact players like Alex Tuch are appealing, though this is more to do with their quality than a specific deficiency for the Oilers. While another power winger would be an upgrade, this type of shopping can be quite costly. For Tuch specifically, rumours have subsided as the Buffalo Sabres season turned around.
An underwhelming season for Trent Frederic might have something clamouring for a power winger, but the Oilers have a lot of potential for upward mobility on the wings. However likely a return to form to Frederic is, young wingers like Matthews Savoie, Isaac Howard, and even Quinn Hutson bring some upside as the season progresses.
Instead, it might be a centre that the Oilers try to target. There is a lot to sort out, though. Jack Roslovic has been a revelation, even playing well as a centre, but like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins his most effective spot in the lineup might be on the wing. Curtis Lazar, while a depth player, has done about as well as the fourth line centre as can be hoped for.
The injured Adam Henrique still provides some support, though missing time now robs the Oilers of the chance to see if he can support a line between Savoie and Roslovic. In theory Henrique could be the perfect fit, giving some defensive support for wingers who should drive more of the offence.
Putting it all together might give us a reasonable guess at the ideal trade target. The Oilers would do well with a direct upgrade over Henrique, a centre who can be sound defensively, yet still keep up with the scoring winger the Oilers have in the lineup.
There are certainly better players than Henrique in the league, but affording their salaries and the trade assets is another question. With that said, let’s take a list of players on trade boards who might make sense.
Is Ryan O’Reilly a solution?
O’Reilly is perhaps the best player to fill the centre role, providing a sound defensive game that would complement the firepower of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl nicely. He will be quite expensive to trade for, and there is some question about what situation he might waive his rights to join.
A few years ago O’Reilly turned down the opportunity to re-sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Some speculation about his reasons exists, from his willingness to accept a third line role, to his willingness to play in a Canadian market.
Other centres that are appealing
Undoubtedly there are other options who might appeal to the Oilers for similar reasons. The tricky part is threading the needle, finding a centre who is still an upgrade over Henrique.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a strong defensive option, but the New York Islanders are not looking like sellers. Boone Jenner provides more of a physical element, and has long been linked to the Oilers. Charlie Coyle, also of the Columbus Blue Jackets, might appeal as well. Ryan Hartman might be an option if the Minnesota Wild look to offload his salary.
All of these centres should be an upgrade over Henrique, but might be costly as well. Against the cap, moving off of Andrew Mangiapane will go a long way towards making enough space.
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Other options for forwards
Another tier of player exists, and might still be of value to the Oilers. While some might argue as to whether or not they are an upgrade over Henrique, they still offer Coach Kris Knoblauch with more options.
Sam Dickinson and Nick Foligno of the Chicago Blackhawks both fit this description. Dickinson might have more upside at this point, but naturally Foligno brings a lot more experience. Still, the Blackhawks might elect to keep both in the fold, despite their record.
Oscar Sundqvist is certainly an option, though perhaps less of a natural centre than most of the players listed here. Teddy Blueger might be a fantastic option, and the Vancouver Canucks are among the most obvious sellers. Blueger has had a lot of success in depth roles, and is often a darling in fancy stats categories. While his name brand might not hold much weight, Blueger might be as good an addition as could be hoped for.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Toews might be an option. Unlike Blueger, Toews has a ton of name value. This might increase his acquisition price a fair amount. The other wrinkle is Toews’ motivation. Regardless of the Winnipeg Jets place in the standings, the team might value a hometown player who explicitly chose the team and the city.
One might argue that Blueger is a more impactful player at this point, while others might suggest Toews’ intangibles make a significant difference. Certainly Toews will be involved in any decision to move elsewhere. Given his stature, Toews rumours will generate significant interest.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
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