Just a quick update here from one of my sources on the Oilers search for their top pairing defenseman.
Now I’ll preface this by saying that these deals rarely happen and that all I’m doing is passing on the information that was given to me. Don’t kill the messenger… You can take it for what it’s worth to you but this is what I was told,
ON OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON
The Oilers are out on OEL cause he wants to stay in Ari. 8 years reported at more than 8M AAV. Chayka asked for Drai and Nurse for OEL.
At one point OEL WAS willing to come to Edmonton but Chayka has his head up his ass.
No thank you to that one. Draisaitl AND Darnell for Oliver Ekman-Larsson? Just give me the Rishaug trade if that’s the case.
ON ERIK KARLSSON
It was Drai and a 1st to even start talks
Also, no thank you to that one.
Also, Cody Ceci’s name was brought up and I can’t for the life of me figure out why Peter Chiarelli would even think of bringing him in. Ottawa has done him no service by expediting his development and not bringing him along properly.
I guess Matt Benning contract negotiations are going poorly, so perhaps he could be moved this summer.
Just stay away from Ceci… Please. No disrespect to the guy, I’m just not convinced he’d be an upgrade on what the Oilers have at the moment.
As I said on Twitter, I do not want to see the Oilers make a massive trade this year. I don’t think they’re in the position to make one to be honest and I don’t think they’ve got the pieces to bring in the kind of player that would put them over the top.
That said, there are a couple of trades I would make. Klefbom for Ristolainen straight across, I’d do it. I don’t think Buffalo would. I think a trade like that would balance out the defense. And the #10 overall to Tampa for Tyler Johnson as suggested by one of my Twitter followers. Kucherov is going to get as much as he can from Tampa when his contract is up and Brayden Point has basically taken over Johnson’s job on that team.
Do you have any thoughts? Leave them in the comments below!
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