Edmonton Oilers made major mistake by not trading away one player at deadline

This mistake has now allowed the Oilers to have $1.7 million of cap space sitting in the press box as the team views Klingberg as the last defenseman in their pairings.

When the Oilers chose to sign Klingberg, the team evaluated his game after he declared he was ready to come back to the NHL after recovering from double hip surgery.

There was always an indication that the Oilers were prepared to make another deal if needed, but leaving over $1 million on the table where they could have signed another defence menorah forward would have been a wiser course.

With the addition Jake Walman from the San Jose Sharks, this now pushes Klingberg along with Troy Stecher further down the depth chart and essentially placing money out of reach that could have improved the team.

The Oilers had their chance to trade Klingberg at the deadline if they felt that he was not what they were looking for as many teams had made inquiries with Klingberg and his agent to sign with their team several weeks ago.

Despite what the Oilers think, other teams may have had a place for Klingberg as their depth may not have been as deep.

In the end, the Oilers will have cap space sitting in the press box till the end of the season.

If the Oilers need another defenseman due to injury during the playoffs, teams are allowed to carry as many players as they want after the season is over.

It appears that the Oilers do not value Klingberg as highly as they did when they signed him, and he is likely not to see the ice during the playoffs.