The Oilers are 9-9-2 under Todd Nelson, but the season is still cooked after a terrible start. That means, as we approach the NHL’s trade deadline, that trade rumors will be flying about Edmonton’s favorite hockey team. On Thursday, The Fourth Period posted an article of the latest Oiler rumblings, which can be read here.
There are some interesting tidbits in this piece, so let’s take a look at them!
While Oilers GM Craig MacTavish is expected to move defenseman Jeff Petry, calls continue to come in for some of his other, younger players. Petry, 27, is in the final-year of his contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
No surprises here. Unfortunately, we know that Petry is a pending UFA and is likely to be traded. Petry is Edmonton’s best defender, and I beg GM Craig MacTavish to make a last ditch effort to re-sign the player, but I think we know what the likely end game is here, a trade.
Tampa Bay and Detroit have been following Edmonton around recently, which makes me believe they have interest in this player. That should come as no surprise, as we have talked about that exact possibility a few times. Petry is going to be a star for some other team, and this reality is extremely painful to this Oiler fan.
Goaltender Viktor Fasth, a pending unrestricted free agent, could also be in play.
Not a shock either, because Fasth doesn’t appear to be part of the plans moving forward. That said, with Scrivens out long term, I can’t see Edmonton moving a goalie without getting one in return. There aren’t a lot of teams looking for one either, only the Rangers come to mind right now. I’ll be stunned if Viktor Fasth is in another jersey come 3 PM EST on March 2nd.
Oilers forwards Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov and Boyd Gordon continue to attract interest from several clubs, as does captain Andrew Ference.
I think we can safely say that Taylor Hall will not be traded. According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, the team took Hall of the trade block, while this TFP article goes on to say that sources indicate a Hall trade is “highly unlikely”.
I’d also be stunned if Andrew Ference or Boyd Gordon get moved. Why? Gordon is a legit veteran NHL player who makes up arguably Edmonton’s best defensive line in a decade, while Ference is the captain and his contract is a little too much for teams to take on right now, especially at his age. I think Edmonton is stuck with Ference, while Gordon is close to untouchable, as he should be.
As for Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov, I think eventually one of these two guys gets moved, and the article tends to agree with my thinking in that regard. TFP says that “it sounds likely the Oilers will move one of their young stars” and then lists a number of teams that have shown interest.
Among said teams interested are the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, and Philadelphia Flyers. All of these teams need some sort of scoring help, and all of these teams have pieces that would look very good in orange and blue starting as soon as the deadline.
To me, Eberle’s most likely destination is Boston, while Yakupov’s is Montreal. Will both get moved? No chance, but one of them seems likely. G Malcolm Subban, C Carl Soderberg and D Torey Krug could be pieces from Boston, while C Lars Eller could be an ask from Montreal. I also think G Dustin Tokarski would be a guy Edmonton would like to get their hands on.
What do I think we see between now and March 2nd? I’m starting to think not much. Sadly, I think we will see Petry pack his bags and head east, and I think there is an outside chance that Viktor Fasth gets moved. Outside of that? Edmonton will have to be blown away I think, and I don’t see teams getting desperate by that point.
If you are looking for a big move, like I am, I think waiting for the summer is the smart bet. We wait.
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