Insider reveals Edmonton's top two targets at trade deadline

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Liam McCormick
February 2, 2024 (4:00 PM)

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With Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan already coming off the board ahead of this year's trade deadline, cup-contending teams are clearly making their moves to go all-in on this year earlier than normal. Now that these trades have happened so quick, other teams like the Oilers may expedite their trading process - especially if they're going for a high impact player.

According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, right now the two biggest trade targets for the Oilers are Jake Guentzel and Jordan Eberle.

Considering Dylan Holloway coming back and taking reps at Center and signing Corey Perry as a free agent, the Oilers currently seem okay with their bottom six and Center depth. That leaves them interested in both Guentzel and Eberle as elite wingers that could slot into the second line.

Johnston also added that the Oilers would like to sit back and watch the market develop - which could have already hurt them with the exorbitant price Sean Monahan commanded. Hopefully, acquiring wingers will be cheaper at this trade deadline.

As it stands now, this Oilers team is one of the best in hockey and is led by the best player in hockey - they absolutely deserve to add an impact player at the deadline who could help them through the long grind of the playoffs. Making the impact add at forward is a bold strategy, but it doubles down on the Oilers greatest strength of their offence, and could be an extremely exciting move for either Guentzel or Eberle.