3 trades the Oilers should make

As the dust settles on the blockbuster deal between Buffalo and Winnipeg the quickly approaching NHL trade deadline looming just 2-1/2 weeks away has been pushed to the forefront.

The sun is setting on yet another lackluster Edmonton Oilers season rife with disappointment and fan frustration.  Though of late the team has played markedly better with Todd Nelson at the helm than it did under Dallas Eakins and have been a .500 team in their last 10 games, 7 of which were on the road.  That said, the season’s still a wash and once again the Oilers seem destined for yet another Top 5 pick.

There’s no big secret as to the Oilers’ needs with gaping holes at Center, Defense and in Goal.  With that, here are 3 traded I propose the Oilers should pursue.

**Disclaimer: These are not rumours, they are not pending trades, I have no “insider information” that these are being worked on or have even been discussed, they’re just my own thoughts.**

1. Jeff Petry to Detroit for Kyle Quincey

Jeff Petry is a pending UFA and it’s not a huge secret he’d like to move on.  Though at the deadline Detroit would more likely be looking for a rental Petry is a native of Ann Arbor and the Holland could likely get him resigned to a team friendly deal given his desire to go east.

Statistically the players are pretty close but both play a different style of game, Petry being an effective puck mover and Quincey playing with a lot more grit and sandpaper.  Petry will be coming off a 1 year deal at $3.075 million will likely see a raise that will put him in the ballpark of Quincey’s 2 year deal at $4.25 million per.  Quincey has one year left on that deal.

2. Ben Scrivens to Washington for Madison Bowey

Though it seems likely that Scrivens is the guy the Oilers will keep as a back up going into next season he has more trade value than Viktor Fasth and unless MacTavish slipped on some ice and hit his head it is almost a certainty that one of the two won’t be around come training camp, or the draft for that matter.  Fasth’s play has improved under new Goalie Coach Dustin Schwartz and it’s undeniable he is both passionate and emotional.  My opinion leaves Scrivens as the odd man out.  He has 1 year left on a 2 yr deal paying him $2.3 million.

Washington is in the thick of a playoff race currently holding down a wild card spot and 5 points up on Boston.  While Holtby has played very well this season, his back up Justin Peters hasn’t exactly been up to the task.  He’s posted a 3.58 GAA and .870 SV% in 9 appearances so far this season.  If Washington aims to make any sort of noise this post season they’re going to need a reliable back up that can step in to give Holtby some rest heading down the stretch with them risking dropping out of the playoff race.

Madison Bowey is a 6’2″ 203 lb puck moving defenseman that Washington drafted in the mid second round of the 2013 draft.  He is currently producing at a point per game for Kelowna in the WHL.  Kelowna is poised to make a run in the WHL playoffs and has a good chance of a Memorial Cup spot unless something drastic happens to derail the train and Bowey will benefit from the experience.  He wouldn’t be a guy to step into the NHL next season but would provide some defensive depth at the AHL level, something the Oilers lack.

3. Jordan Eberle to Winnipeg for Dustin Byfuglien

This is a straight across hockey deal.  Byfuglien is exactly what the Oilers need and Eberle is exactly what they can spare.  Both players have $6 million cap hits though Byfuglien has only 1 year left on his contract and Eberle is locked up through the end of the 2018/19 season.

Eberle would replace the much-needed offensive skill they lost moving problem child Evander Kane to Buffalo and by bringing in Myers the Jets can afford to move a big body from the back-end.  Byfuglien would easily slide into the Oilers’ top defensive paring and would definitely erase the pain of losing Jeff Petry.  Eberle’s departure would allow Nail Yakupov to slide up to the second line where he could finally get the look he needs playing full-time with offensive minded linemates.

Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has made it known he’s looking to make more moves after popping his player-for-player trade cherry in a massive way.  Even though this deal would make sense for both teams it’s likely a pipe dream at best.

It’ll be interesting to see what approach MacT and company take with regard to righting this sinking ship before next season.  The Oilers desperately need a starting goalie and the only real option out there is Antti Niemi, a contract San Jose reportedly will be happy to have off the books.  They’d likely have to overpay in a big way to get him but I think it’s something the fans wouldn’t have a hard time swallowing.

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