Trade Deadline Surprise: Oilers Consider Internal Options Over Trading for a Defense Man
All season insiders have been reporting the Edmonton Oilers are actively looking to trade for a defenceman, but they take another path forward in light of their improved results on the blue line.
Darnell Nurse has been playing some of the best hockey in his career, has recently earned a promotion to the first pairing. The new blue line pairsand are looking complete.
Now, Oilers analyst Alan Mitchell is suggesting a trade for a proven veteran goalie or a forward could also be on the table.
“There were all kinds of rumours about the Oilers acquiring a left-handed defenceman who could play the right side earlier in the year. However, Brett Kulak’s brilliant play alongside Darnell Nurse would seem to have made that problem go away naturally there may be an appetite to add another goaltender to the current group.”
– Alan Mitchell, the Athletic
Mitchell does qualify that the Oilers could also be looking to add a bottom six forwards, still could add a defenceman, or a mix of two budget options.
Edmonton Oilers Trade Deadline Plans Could Change in Wake of Improved Defence
Another major Wild card for the Oilers trade deadline plans will be the availability of Evander Kane. If he’s not available to play until the playoffs, the Oilers could spend his $5M in salary in trade additions.
Especially if Ty Emberson can step up to form a quality shut down pairing with Mattias Ekholm, adding a veteran defender in the top four may not make much sense.
If the Oilers have more clear room to improve, it’s creating an identity with the fourth line and uograding the depth in their crease.
The Oilers analyst Alan Mitchell is suggesting a trade for a proven veteran goalie or a forward, who was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche and may have been the best budget goaltender available in trade. However, if Kane is out longer term, the Oilers options open up significantly.
We’ll see how the Oilers do act closer to the deadline, but at this moment, it looks like they could adjust from their plans for a defenceman.
