Edmonton Oilers Trade Talk: “Rishaug notes that there’s a better chance the Oilers add…”

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The Hockey Writers

Oilers Insider Talks Multiple Moves Holland Looking at Ahead of Deadline

TSN’s Ryan Rishaug offered a lengthy update on what the Oilers might have on the go heading into the NHL Trade Deadline. Suggesting the team is done adding at the forward position and will stick with the centers and wingers they have, their priority is defense and a goaltender, the latter of which isn’t likely a position in which the team will make improvements.
Rishaug notes that there’s a better chance the Oilers add a depth right-shot defenseman than someone who would play higher in the lineup than Evan Bouchard or Tyson Barrie. He explains, “Cap situation is tight and that may be more an off-season deal… I believe they’re open to upgrading but not going to force it.”
Rishaug notes an “upgrade to their every night 3rd LSD is a possibility, but they have a pile of lefties already.”
Rishaug contends the team will keep looking around with a keen eye on the goaltending market.
Rishaug also wonders if prospect Dylan Holloway will get a look and should he make a successful jump, that could be a big boost, one more cost-effective and impactful than most deadline trades Holland could make.

BLH’s Thoughts: Holloway is still dealing with discomfort in his wrist stemming from the surgery he had earlier this season on it. So I don’t see him as a realistic “upgrade” unless Edmonton gets into some real injury problems between now and the end of the year. Plus, there are some salary cap implications that make his call-up problematic.

If you’ve got your ear to the ground then you probably know that the word on the street is Holland will bring at least one defenseman in and if he gets lucky maybe another bottom six LW.

Can you see Holland going out and trading for a RHD that’ll play ahead of Bouchard and Barrie on the right side? That means somebody for the 2nd pair with Duncan Keith and it also means one of Bouchard or Barrie are either traded or sitting… 2nd pairing right-shot defenders generally make a pretty decent living, so if I had to guess, I’d say that’s a trade involving Tyson Barrie in order to fit this new player in and so that speaks to Rishaug saying this kind of deal is more for the off-season.

The goaltending WILL get sorted this summer though. I’m 99% sure of that one scenario. Now, I’m preferable to Ville Husso (STL), but Georgiev out of New York has switched agents and his new rep is based in Edmonton (Gerry Johannson) and seeing as the Oilers nearly traded for Georgiev in December, there’s a bit of smoke to that fire. I suppose it’ll depend on who’s willing to take less money in exchange for more term as Holland will have his hands full re-signing Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, McLeod, and possibly Evander Kane.

The latest name on the block is Buffalo Sabres stay at home defender Robert Hagg. The Swede has been on Edmonton’s radar since he was a Philadelphia Flyer coming up in Cam Talbot and Jesse Puljujarvi trade rumors, but I wonder if that was more about Philly offering him than Edmonton’s desire to acquire him.

Also, staying in Buffalo, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta has connected the Oilers to right shot dman Colin Miller.

Analytics-wise, he had a "great" year with Philly last season where he put up very positive metrics for the first time in his career but everything cratered for him in Buffalo this year in a massive way.

I would pass on Hagg if I were Holland.https://t.co/3Ikw96mImu https://t.co/UouphjA470

— BLH (Edmonton Oilers Enthusiast} (@BeerLeagueHeroe) March 17, 2022

Oil on Whyte

Top 3 Destinations For Josh Archibald To Be Traded To

The Carolina Hurricanes are a Stanley Cup contender that will be looking to add some extra depth. The addition of Archibald would help their bottom 6 put pressure on the opposing team. The speed Archibald brings is helpful on both at even strength and on the penalty kill.
The New York Rangers are tied in the standings with the Carolina Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division… The Rangers penalty kill could also use a bump. They currently sit 8th in the league with a 82.74% kill rate. So the addition of Josh Archibald could help improve this number as well as take off some more skilled players off the kill.
The Dallas Stars are currently in the thick of a Wild Card battle in the Western Conference… The Stars penalty kill is one of this teams weaknesses. They are currently ranked 19th in the league’s penalty kill rate. The 78.79% rate needs improvement, so Dallas would like to add Archibald into the mix to help this area out.

BLH’s Thoughts: The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford has said the St. Louis Blues are looking to add a physical, high-energy, bottom-six forward and they’ve got a young guy named Dakota Joshua who I’d have time for but the media in Edmonton is reporting that the Oilers are more likely to deal Archibald for “future considerations” aka cap space.

Joshua only makes 750k and he’s a group 6 UFA at season’s end. I like that he’s a big bodied bottom sixer who plays a physical game and isn’t afraid to drop the mitts. He’s only 25 years old and he could grow with this group too, but his role wouldn’t be that of a point producer. Joshua has also had some trouble’s sticking in the lineup for St. Louis…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkJDMxlGXco

Trade Rumors

Spector’s Hockey: Mike Chambers speculates Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic could be preparing for a bigger move after making two trades in as many days… Swapping Jost for Sturm gives them almost $3 million in projected trade deadline cap space. They could also garner additional flexibility by placing sidelined winger Gabriel Landeskog ($7 million annual cap hit) and defenseman Samuel Girard ($5 million) on long-term injury reserve.
The Daily Goal Horn: Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill spoke with the press on Wednesday and informed them that goalie Brayden Holtby is not in play at the NHL Trade Deadline, set for this coming Monday.
The Hockey Writers: (Pierre) LeBrun tweeted that the Bruins showed some interest in Manson and have shown interest in Hampus Lindholm. Their priority would still be to make a hockey deal for Jakob Chychrun out of Arizona, if possible. Their concern is his injury situation.
NHLRumors.com: Sources are saying that the Toronto Maple Leafs have New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov on their shortlist of goaltenders.