NHL insider says Oilers trade deadline plans will disappoint Edmonton fans
During their latest episode of OilersNation Everyday, Daily Faceoff hockey insider Frank Seravalli poured cold water on the Edmonton Oilers trade deadline plans stating the team may have little to no money to spend due to the uncertainty of Evander Kane.
Seravalli gave a stark reality check at the Edmonton Oilers salary cap is right to the ceiling and that it would need to be dollar in and dollar out to make a big splash trade like acquiring goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks or any other
goaltender trade that's been rumored.
Oilers may have minor moves or no moves due to Kane uncertainty
Currently, the Oilers have $947,824.00 in deadline cap space which is nowhere near the number to make any changes of significance to the roster prior to the start of the playoffs.
Kane has been out all season after undergoing abdominal surgery and then recently knee surgery in which the Oilers have stated that he will be on long term injury reserve.
General manager Stan Bowman has indicated that the team does need to make changes when it comes to secondary scoring and adding a defenseman.
Many pundits also have mentioned that the Oilers may look at goaltending upgrades, but this may all be moot if the team does not have any salary cap space to spend.
The Oilers do have some assets at their disposal, but they have been reluctant in making trades earlier on this year and signed defenseman John Klingberg as an unrestricted free agent and picked Kasperi Kapanen off waivers to help bolster their wing while not spending any draft picks or prospects.
Oilers careful to upset the balance of the team
Now many are looking for changes to make the team deeper, it's important that the Oilers maintain what they have already in terms of consistency and balance as the team has found itself at the top of the Pacific division and playing good hockey For the majority of the last two months.
Bowman will be looking for deals that will be low cost in terms of cap hit and potential asset use which could include Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy or offence Ryan Donato who are both having good seasons despite being on one of the worst teams in the league.
It's safe to say the Oilers are busy working the phones and talking to other general managers while the NHL is on their two week break for the Four Nations tournament.
