Oilers Trade Deadline Primer

We are quickly approaching the NHL’s trade deadline, which is on Monday at 3:00 PM est. Some names are already gone, with Daniel Winnik, Jiri Tlusty and Andrej Sekera joining the mix on Wednesday. As the deadline approaches, the targets get smaller, while the returns get bigger. For a seller like the Edmonton Oilers, that is a good thing.

What is going to happen between now and Monday afternoon? I’m not certain, a lot could happen actually. I’ll lean on the side of caution and say it will be a quiet deadline for Edmonton, but the potential for big deals is there. Let’s see what is going on in the wide world of rumors.

D Jeff Petry:

He is gone, no debate, no doubt. The Oilers made a last ditch effort last week (how much of an effort, who knows) and Petry said thanks, but no thanks. He’s going to try and test free agency, and the Oilers are going to try and get an asset for him. That’s how the business works, but it’s a tough situation that easily could have been avoided. Different story for a different day however.

The Oilers have been scouted by the Lightning, Kings and Blackhawks, and according to The Fourth Period, the Ducks, Red Wings and Bruins are interested as well. You can cross of the Kings (Sekera), but that is still five teams interested.

Edmonton could absolutely get a first round pick here or a second rounder and a prospect. The return, for a rental, should be good value. A contract dump (i.e. Loui Eriksson in Boston) is possible, but probably unlikely.

Would Oiler fans be okay with picking up Loui Eriksson for Jeff Petry? I think I would. Return is likely a pick and a prospect however.

D Andrew Ference:

This is an interesting one. TFP reported this a few weeks back, and it’s quietly been out there ever since. Why could this happen? A lot of teams want defenders, and there just are not a lot of defenders out there for the taking. Right now, it’s only Zbynek Michalek and Jeff Petry, so a team that misses out might get desperate enough to call you on the captain.

He’s a veteran defender too, and we know that those have value around the NHL. Heck, it was just two years ago that Douglas Murray got two second round picks on the trade market! The odds Ference gets moved are not high, but it’s a rumor, and with the current state of the market, we shouldn’t just completely toss it out the window.

Who would be interested in him? TFP (#17) reports that the Penguins, Kings and Red Wings all have interest in the veteran. Again, cross out the Kings, but the others make sense. If the Red Wings lose out on Petry and Michalek? They might circle back here. The Penguins? This is a typical Pittsburgh deadline pick-up, no doubt about that.

I doubt Ference gets moved, but it’s something to watch. If he does? Don’t expect anything better than a 3rd round pick back, and even that is probably too high.

G Viktor Fasth:

All quiet surrounding the pending UFA goalie. With Rob Zepp’s emergence in Philadelphia, and Cam Talbot’s recent play in New York, both potential Fasth suitors are likely off the goalie market. There is an outside chance that Boston, who has seen both Malcolm Subban and Niklas Svedberg struggle big time, might be in the market, but even that is doubtful.

In all likelihood, Fasth sticks around and walks away as a free agent come July. He’s hurt, and quite frankly has had a really, really bad season.

LW Taylor Hall:

Injured and the rumors have died down. I won’t say he is completely untouchable, they could revisit this in the summer, but they aren’t moving him at the deadline, no way, no how. I want to see him play under Todd Nelson for an extended stretch, and I bet you the Oilers do too. 0% chance this happens.

RW Jordan Eberle:

This has a stronger than 0% chance of happening, but it is still below 5%. According to multiple reports, this is a move that would be a summertime transaction if it ever happens, ruling out a deadline deal. Sure, a team could get desperate and pony up a big offer, but the odds are slim to none. Besides, Eberle is hot right now and playing awesome under Todd Nelson, don’t ruin that.

Potential Targets:

The Fourth Period has Edmonton interested in G Cam Ward, F Loui Eriksson and F Tyler Bozak on their list of top trade options. To me, Bozak is just a younger Derek Roy, and at his contract I would say no thanks. I get the feeling Toronto overrates him by a wide-margin as well.

As for Cam Ward, well it makes perfect sense. He’s a veteran goalie, seen as a starter in the NHL, is from Edmonton, and needs a change of scenery. When I see Cam Ward, I see 2006 Cam Ward, but the reality of it is, he is far from that goalie. He’s a decent low-risk and high-reward option, but he carries far too large a contract.

Eriksson, meanwhile, is an awful fit in Boston, but is still a young player who is has some skill to his game. He’s a proven top-nine NHL forward, and would help most teams. To me, he is the most appealing option on this list, and is the one that I’d ask on if I were Craig MacTavish.

So, there is your Oilers trade deadline primer. Enjoy the final days leading up to the big deadline!