As per Frank Seravalli’s recent post looking at the Western Conference in a team-by-team NHL Trade Deadline examination, the Edmonton Oilers are definitely buyers. Seravalli has identified the team’s top objective, confirming similar reports from other insiders over the past few days. The team’s GM was also asked about the organization’s strategy, and Bowman was fairly forthcoming about what the Oilers were doing over the next few weeks.
He notes their top objective is a second-pair, right-shooting defenseman. He also added:
“Scoop: This has been penciled in since the day the Oilers lost Philip Broberg (and Dylan Holloway) via offer sheet. Ty Emberson has filled in admirably, and Brett Kulak has played on his off-hand side, but there is still a hole for a contending team that needs filling. Will it definitely be a right-shot? Maybe not, Oilers are flexible, but it should be a puck mover either way.”
This links with a report from Pierre LeBrun of TSN that the Oilers are compiling a list and GM Stan Bowman is starting to make calls. That, along with the injury update from Evander Kane that his rehab is going to be pushed back by several weeks due to a knee procedure on Thursday suggests the Oilers could take a big swing.
Bowman Talks Oilers Trade Deadline Strategy and Timeline
As for who the Oilers are targeting, there have been several names linked in rumors to the team. At this point, nothing stands out, and no one is a front-runner. David Savard‘s name has been mentioned, but the Montreal Canadiens might not be sellers.
Who the Oilers ultimately get, should they make a move, could be determined much closer to the deadline, when names that few insiders are talking about might start to present themselves as possible options. That said, they do have an early list of strong trade deadline candidates, and they’ll be exploring that list and making the rounds as team’s become confirmed sellers.
Stan Bowman spoke to the media today and said the Oilers are still operating under the assumption that Kane will be back before the end of the season. If that changes, so will who the Oilers can add ahead of the deadline. As of now, the Oilers intend to start watching the players they’ve identified as possible fits in person and then reaching out to opposing GMs to see what the status of those players is.
