We are five days from the NHL trading deadline, a day that could see fireworks happen across the league. While Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli has downplayed his potential activity at the yearly event, I firmly believe that the Oilers will make at least one move, possibly more.
While I wouldn’t classify the Oilers as a Stanley Cup contender at this time, the potential to win a round is certainly there. If that happens? Well, Oiler fans should know that anything is possible, we need look no further than Edmonton’s last appearance in the yearly dance.
Billy Jaffe, who covers the NHL for a variety of different networks including NHL Network and NESN in New England, was on Boston radio on Thursday morning and labelled the Oilers as a team he expects to make a deal before the deadline next Wednesday afternoon. He called the Oil and Wild the most likely teams to add a veteran forward.
That goes right in line with what we have been hearing regarding the Oilers looking at Tampa Bay’s Brian Boyle, something we have already discussed here.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug also added some fuel to the fire on Thursday when he tweeted the following out.
Still expect Oilers to pursue a 3LC at deadline, but likely not Hanzal given prices No 2nd also makes it tough to trade 1st rnd pick
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) February 23, 2017
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That, again, points toward the direction of the veteran Brian Boyle. It certainly appears like there is a lot of smoke surrounding this player at this time, and it appears that he would be Chiarelli’s top target as we approach the deadline. I’ve said it before, but I think adding Boyle would be a good get for this Edmonton team.
That said, I think the Jaffe piece of speculation could go beyond just a center. I think the Oilers are going to be in the market for a winger, someone like Patrick Sharp or Radim Vrbata, that could allow the team to move Leon Draisaitl back to the middle or allow Ryan Nugent-Hopkins a better chance of offensive success.
They could especially be in the market for a winger if the following were to transpire.
#Isles in Sunrise watching Oilers… Eberle’s been on the radar for a while now. Possibly Nugent-Hopkins too. Both have big $$ contracts.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) February 23, 2017
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There were rumors of a Travis Hamonic for Jordan Eberle deal last season, but nothing transpired due to Eberle’s injury and the Isles reluctance to move the rearguard. That said, the Isles are looking for an offensive winger at this time and Eberle makes a lot of sense to play with John Tavares.
The Oilers don’t have a killer need on defense like they did a year ago, but adding Travis Hamonic would give them a really strong top-four group, one that would include Hamonic, Andrej Sekera, Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson. The Oilers defense would be a very, very strong unit with that addition.
The Isles are in the playoff chase, however, and moving their best defender likely isn’t in their plans right now. Ryan Strome could be a target, but I have my doubts that the Oilers are interested in the young forward who has yet to truly emerge in the NHL.
Brock Nelson would be a really good fit for a Chiarelli/McLellan team, but I’d wager the Oilers would want more back for Eberle than just a middle six center.
As for the Nugent-Hopkins angle, well I think there’s a real chance he gets moved thanks to another down year. At the deadline, however, would surprise me unless another center is coming back. Chiarelli loves to have depth at that position and it appears he’s trying to add, not subtract, from that spot on the depth chart.
French Connection?:
Big time tip of the hat to Lowetide for pointing the following out in his morning blog yesterday, which you can read here. I highly recommend you check out what he has to say regarding the rumors, because as usual he presents some very valid and smart points.
Bergevin était là pour Eberle (Bergevin was there for Eberle
The original piece (here) also discusses how Bergevin may have been looking at Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as well, but mentions how RNH isn’t available at this time, which is something we should note.
The player that really sticks out from Montreal to me? RW Brendan Gallagher. He’s having a down year (6-12-18 in 42 games) but he’s been about a career 20 goal guy who plays a very pest-like game and is extremely hard to play against.
He reminds me of Brad Marchand when he first came into the NHL and before he emerged as one of the league’s best goal scorers. Gallagher also has a manageable contract for the next four years, coming with a $3.75 million cap hit per.
The money wouldn’t work, another piece would need to be added from Montreal to balance the books, but I can see Gallagher being the kind of player that Chiarelli looks at in an Eberle deal. Perhaps Edmonton could land someone like Torrey Mitchell in the same deal to address the need at center.
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