Analyst lists Oilers top prospect as likely trade bait this season

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Liam McCormick
August 30, 2024 (5:40 PM)

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It's no secret the Edmonton Oilers will be looking to acquire an impact defenceman this season, and they may have to give up a top prospect to do so.

In a recent piece for the Athletic, analyst Allan Mitchell listed defence prospect Beau Akey as the fourth most likely asset to be traded this season.

Akey is a 19 year old right shot defenceman drafted by Edmonton in the second round of 2023, and is now ranked as the best defence prospect in the Oilers system. Akey is described as a mobile 200 foot defender with size, a profile that projects to excel at the NHL level. Unfortunately, he only played 14 games last season after he suffered a shoulder injury, but Akey was recently cleared to return to play.

If the Oilers are looking to acquire an impact defenceman in trade, it makes sense that the team would be looking for a high end defence prospect in return - and specifically Beau Akey. He was drafted previous to Jeff Jackson's tenure with the team, and if history of NHL front offices tells anything, it's that Jackson and company won't value him the same as prospects that they've selected themselves. For more than a few reasons, Akey is shaping up to be the Oilers best trade chip next year.

Along with Akey, the Athletic listed a few other probable assets that the Oilers will this coming season. Mitchell listed their second round pick, their 2026 first round pick, and Evander Kane as more potential assets the team could move on from this year. NHL insider Frank Seravalli recently reported that the Oilers may even make a trade before the season begins, so a trade could be coming any moment now.

The Oilers came inches from the Stanley Cup last season with obvious weaknesses on their defence last season. If they're able to make a good trade to improve their back end this year, their chances of winning the cup will improve even more.