Edmonton Oilers Reportedly Pursuing Big Trade To “Shake Things Up” – Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers had one of the most eventful summers in recent history, going from one win away from the Stanley Cup championship to the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, then making a splash in free agency. Fans have been wondering if new general manager (GM) Stan Bowman will make too many moves in the trade market to make his mark on his new team, and the respected scout says it’s possible.

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With confirmation from David Staples of The Edmonton JournalAccording to a report from highly respected pundit Frank Seravalli, the Oilers may go down the trade route to improve their defensive depth, rather than pursuing only tryout professional deals (PTOs) next season, in a move that could “shake things up.”

Seravalli said: “The Oilers have options. They pursue those options. There are other things that Edmonton is looking at I think, including a trade that might shake things up a little more than maybe just the PTO route.”

source: “Edmonton Oilers considering trade that will ‘shake things up’: top NHL insiders” – Edmonton Journal – David Staples – 08/26/2024

When Seravalli referred to Tony DeAngelo as a target for the Oilers in free agency, it appears that something bigger is at play. It would be nice to have something lined up on the trade market to help strengthen the defensive core in the new season. With the uncertainty surrounding how new acquisition Ty Emberson would fit into the Oilers’ top four, bringing in another player to fill the role as Darnell Nurse’s partner would give many fans a chance to breathe and not worry too much. While Emberson should be able to play well next to Nurse on the second pairing, well, someone with more experience gets more ice time.

What Realistic Options Are There for Anointing?

The Oilers have plenty of targets available to them and fans will start making their own mock trades as the report comes in, but what realistic options are there? One name I think we can avoid entirely is Seth Jones, because his contract is so high despite Bowman’s connection during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks. One name that caught my eye was Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro, who, on paper, seems like a good fit for Nurse in the second pairing. Unfortunately, it looks like the Predators won’t be traded and instead will be aiming for the playoffs based on their free agent signings this offseason, so Fabbro is probably not going either.

Looking at the options for who could go on the PTO if they decide to go down that route, DeAngelo seems to have his name among the other strong candidates. Tyson Barrie, Justin Schultz, and Kevin Shattenkirk have all been mentioned by Seravalli in the past as possible targets for the Oilers. Other names that make sense and are still available are Travis Dermott, Mark Pysyk, Markus Niemelainen, Mark Giordano, and Alex Goligoski. While there is no indication that any of these players will sign PTOs with the Oilers, it does prove that some solid options are on the market.

When it comes to the trade market, it is difficult to accurately predict who is available and who is unavailable. The Oilers will certainly look to add defensive depth in a trade, especially a right-handed shooting guard, without breaking the bank and giving up a lot of assets in return. A few players that immediately come to mind as fitting the bill are Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames, Artem Zub of the Ottawa Senators, and Anaheim Ducks’ Radko Gudas. All three of those players can play a front four role as they have proven throughout their careers, but it would be costly to bring in any of them.

If the Oilers want to do something in the trade market, I’m all for it. They made a number of changes this summer that will have this team looking close to new when they hit the ice on opening night, but they still have a strong roster that should make a run for the Stanley Cup. Whether they choose to make a trade, sign someone to a two-way contract, or bring a few players on PTOs, it would be nice to see the Oilers’ defensive structure improved as they look to return to the Stanley Cup Finals. this season and won their sixth Stanley Cup in franchise history.