The Edmonton Oilers have big hopes to acquire an impact defenceman this season via trade, but they'll have very limited assets to work with.
Oilers insider Daniel Nugent-Bowman of the Athletic recently named the team's top assets to dangle in trade, and frankly, it's not too much.
"The organization has just four strong trade pieces: The 2026 first-round selection, AHL winger Matt Savoie, OHL centre Sam O'Reilly and OHL defenceman Beau Akey.The team's prospect pool is so shallow Bowman must secure a legit return for any of these players. Here's a look at possible defence targets that may warrant such an investment."
- Daniel Nugent-Bowman
To acquire an impact defenceman with salary retention at any point of the season, it's going to cost the Oilers a collection of the above assets.
The Oilers have been linked to two defenceman primarily this season that are still available, Marcus Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ivan Provorov from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The price to acquire Provorov is reported to be a first round draft pick plus another asset for salary retention. The price to acquire Pettersson is a second round draft pick, and a high end prospect.
Oilers prospects Matthew Savoie and Sam O'Rdilly were only added to the organization this summer, so it's hard to imagine Edmonton moving away from them so soon. Beau Akey has been in the organization prior to GM Stan Bowman, so perhaps he's an easier player to move. Akey's trade value is increasing after his nomination to Team Canada's training camp roster.
The Oilers do have those assets to trade, but it would decimate their already weak prospect pool and assets for future years.
At the end of the day, Pagnotta may have a point. It may be wiser for the Oilers to spend less at this year's deadline, recoup their assets, and try for a value find in trade instead of an impact player.
