Brandon Davidson On The Move?

When Elliotte Friedman talks trade rumours, it’s often a good idea to listen.

This was certainly the case for Edmonton Oiler fans this past Saturday, as Friedman appeared on the HNIC panel to give a variety of updates on some going-ons around the league. This included some discussion about, young Oilers defender, Brandon Davidson and his imminent future with the team.

The Source

He was quoted as saying:

“The Oilers don’t want to lose [Davidson] for nothing. I think there is some interest in him, and especially since they have to sign the likes of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Russell in the next little while. I think there is going to be some talk around Davidson’s name” – Elliotte Friedman

Analysis of Rumour

The implications of the upcoming expansion draft are going to have a huge affect on the decision Pete Chiarelli and company choose to make with Davidson. With the Oilers being forced to protect only 3 defenders, who are all but guaranteed to be Andrej Sekera, Oscar Klefbom, and Adam Larsson, management has to decide how likely it is that they lose their 25-year-old defenceman to the newly formed Las Vegas Golden Knights.

The Oilers signed Davidson to a 2-year contract extension last season, showing that the team does see value in his services. Last season was a real coming out party for the young defender, playing in his first full NHL season and performing exceptionally well in a defensive role. In a season that was sidelined with injuries and poor play, the emergence of Brandon Davidson was a bright spot for the Edmonton Oilers last season. The fact that he was also a late-round draft selection of the Oilers is another reason the team could be hesitant to lose an asset like Davidson for nothing.

Once upon a time, the Oilers losing Davidson would have had drastic consequences, but with renewed depth on the blue-line, this is no longer the case. For the first time in a long time, the Oilers boast a team that has exceptional depth at the defensive position. A large part of this is due to the acquisition of players such as Kris Russell and Matt Benning. Although both of these players are injured at the moment, the Oilers are still able to ice a competitive blue-line by relying on defensive call-ups such as Griffin Reinhart and Jordan Oesterle. This newfound depth will help lessen the effects of losing a capable NHL defender like Davidson.

As for what the Oilers could expect in return for a player like Davidson, well that’s where things get a bit murky. Alex posted this article yesterday, detailing a rumoured deal between the Oilers and Lightning, one where Brandon Davidson and Brian Boyle exchanged sweaters. Whether that rumour has any validity is to be seen.

Realistically I believe that Davidson is worth a mid-round pick on the market right now, perhaps more if you bundle him with picks or prospects. If dealt alone, his value isn’t nearly as high. His inexperience and injury history could scare a few suitors away. Perhaps Chiarelli could bring back a body in a trade if he were crafty enough, but I have my doubts in that notion. The important part of any potential deal here is making sure you maximize the return, not squander it by looking for more.

As unfortunate as it is to be in a situation where you have to unload a quality player, this is something that has to be done. It wouldn’t be the first time Edmonton fans have had to endure the offloading of a promising young defender, as the team traded Jeff Petry to the Canadiens at the 2015 deadline, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

let us just hope this means Benoit Pouliot has to shack up in Vegas for the next few years….

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