Edmonton Oilers Trade Talk: “This is probably the most likely option for Holland…”

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Trade Deadline Strategy
  • On Being a Buyer: Fans and players alike would surely love to see the general manager go all-in and add some reinforcements that could help the Oilers go on a deep playoff run, such as a veteran defender or an ace goaltender. But Holland is also a conservative general manager, one who values draft picks and prospects and having the ability to constantly be funneling talent up to the big league level from the farm.
  • On Being a Seller: The most attractive rental player the Oilers have is Evander Kane, who’s producing well on a cheap, one-year, show-me deal, but he also has a no-movement clause that he’d have to waive in order to be traded anywhere.
    • Mikko Koskinen has been playing well as of late and could be a nice option for somebody looking for a veteran backup, especially if the Oilers retain half of his salary.
    • Kris Russell might be a solid option for a team that wants a bottom-pairing defender who plays a playoff style.
  • On Standing Pat: Like it or not, this is probably the most likely option for Holland at this year’s deadline.
    • I would guess that we see late-round picks moved for veterans to plug holes in Edmonton’s lineup, much like Kulikov last year and Tyler Ennis and Mike Green the year before that. Names that fit the bill here would be Nick Paul, a versatile bottom-six forward on the Ottawa Senators, or a veteran defender like Mark Pysyk who’s having a nice rebound season with the Buffalo Sabres.

BLH’s Thoughts:


The Hockey Writers


4 Realistic Trade Options For Oilers to Move Tyson Barrie

  • Braden Holtby (DAL) for Tyson Barrie: A one-for-one trade, this deal would address the Oilers’ short-term needs in goal and potentially give the Dallas Stars an option to replace John Klingberg, assuming he bolts in free agency or is moved ahead of the deadline. 
  • Carson Soucy (SEA), 2022 4th rd pick for Tyson Barrie: While there is some upside to Carson Soucy and he is a shutdown defender with one more year on a $2.75 million deal, he’s a left-shot defenseman and the Oilers potentially have a bigger need on the right side. Seattle certainly could use Barrie since only Adam Larsson consistently plays for the Kraken as a right-shot defenseman, and Seattle could handle the cap commitment.
  • PK Subban (NJ) (50% salary retained) for Tyson Barrie: The plus side might be that Subban has something to prove and if there’s anything left in his game, he could be re-signed at a low-cost next season. The downside is that he’s often considered a distraction and he’s earned a reputation as a cheap-shot artist with all of his recent slew-foots.
  • Josh Manson (ANA) for Tyson Barrie: For the Ducks, Barrie is a transition player who can help the Ducks grow as young team while quarterbacking a power play until their prospects are ready… The argument against this proposal is that the Ducks have Kevin Shattenkirk and Jamie Drysdale and the club would have to lose both Manson and Hampus Lindholm for them to feel the pinch and need to add someone like Barrie at this stage.

BLH’s Thoughts: Starting with the last proposal and moving up, As Jim wrote, the Ducks already have Shattenkirk and Drysdale, they’ve really got no reason to acquire Barrie. Plus they just picked up Andrej Sustr off of waivers. 

Could you imagine Evander Kane AND PK Subban in the same locker room? No thanks.

Soucy and a 4th for Barrie is probably the most realistic but why would Edmonton bring in another left-shot dman when they’ve got Kris Russell, Niemelainen, Broberg, and Koekkoek already in the system. In addition to that, they need a righty to replace Barrie… Jeremy Lauzon is the kind of on-ice prick the Oilers could use… 

Dallas is still in the thick of this playoff race. I don’t really see them folding right now unless some teams come calling with some really good offers.

Now, if the Islanders would be comfortable playing Barrie on the third pairing, maybe something could be swung where they send Scott Mayfield to Edmonton for Barrie. 

What about sending Barrie to Ottawa for Josh Brown and Nick Paul? Or a package that included Anton Forsberg or Matt Murray?

Montreal could use a PP QB… Is there a trade with the Habs out there?


Trade Rumors


  • Spector’s Hockey: Elliott Teaford reports scuttlebutt around the league suggests defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson and winger Rickard Rakell won’t get long-term contract extension offers from the Anaheim Ducks.
    • Darren Dreger reports there’s a higher level of interest in the trade market for Max Domi.
    • Bruce Garrioch reports Senators GM Pierre Dorion is ready to deal but things are quiet right now in the trade market. He’s willing to move defensemen Michael Del Zotto and Josh Brown and forwards Chris Tierney and Zach Sanford.
  • The Daily Goal Horn: “It’s been reported and I think it’s true that Colorado has asked about Kane and I believe the Rangers have too,” Friedman responded. “It’s been a couple of times this year that teams have asked about Kane and I think those two teams have done it and it wouldn’t surprise me if there were more.”
    • “I hate to be a ‘Debbie Downer’ but don’t get too excited for this trade deadline,” Pierre Dorion said. “In my all years as a GM, this has been the quietest. And when you talk to teams that could be off-loading players, quite a few of them say it’s been extremely quiet.”
  • ProHockeyRumors.com: Oilers Have Been Linked To Dominik Kubalik
  • NHLTradeRumors.com: 2 Edmonton Oilers Trade Candidates
    • Zack Kassian and Kailer Yamamoto
  • The Hockey Writers: Arthur Staple of The Athletic suggests the New York Rangers shift their focus away from J.T. Miller — who it is believed the Vancouver Canucks are no longer likely to move — for a top-six right-winger on the Anaheim Ducks. The focus should be Rickard Rakell and there’s some chatter that if general manager Chris Drury wants to use defenseman Nils Lundkvist as trade bait, blueliner Hampus Lindholm could somehow be worked into the deal.

BLH’s Thoughts: I don’t think this is the year that Edmonton will go for Kubalik. Once the Oilers forwards get RNH and Puljujarvi back from injured reserve, there will be no room for a player like Kubalik in the lineup unless Chicago would take Zack Kassian back in a one-for-one deal. Even then, I see the makings of an identity line as Josh Archibald is set to return. Kass and Archie have been skating with Brad Malone on the team’s 4th line this week during practice. 

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Beer League Hero Written by:

I'm the Beer League Hero! I am from Camrose, Alberta but I make my home in Taipei City, Taiwan. I've been through the ups and downs and the highs and the Lowes, the Bonsignores and the McDavids, the Sathers and the Eakins but I'll never leave my Oilers, no matter what! They're with me until the end and then some. GO OILERS GO!