Oilers expected to move another forward after Trent Frederic trade
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Today, GM Stan Bowman sent shockwaves down the NHL, acquiring forward Trent Frederic in a three team-trade deal. That said, the Edmonton Oilers have an overgrowing list of left-wingers, and the Oilers are expected to move another player at the trade deadline.
While fans are excited about having a gritty forward like Trent Frederic added to the lineup, GM Stan Bowman has some tough decision's to make leading up to the trade deadline.
To accommodate Trent Frederic, its it's likely that one of the Oilers current left-wingers will have to be moved.
Insiders predict Evander Kane could be traded
Evaluating the Oilers depth chart after the return of Evander and and the addition of Trent Frederic, it's clear that at least one more player - two players later - will be cut for the playoff lineup.
Looking at Oilers current LW depth chart:
Nugent-Hopkins
Frederic
Kane
Podkolzin
Janmark
J. Skinner
Kane and Frederic aren't healthy yet, and Skinner isn't dressed tonight. Would it make sense to both parties to find a trade before Friday? Seems so.
Nugent-Hopkins
Frederic
Kane
Podkolzin
Janmark
J. Skinner
Kane and Frederic aren't healthy yet, and Skinner isn't dressed tonight. Would it make sense to both parties to find a trade before Friday? Seems so.
With Kane, I think it's important for him to play. I think he wants to come back in the regular season, and he wants to prove that he can be a factor on a good team. I don't know what the medicals say. I know there's a disagreement.
- Elliotte Friedman
- Elliotte Friedman
While his eagerness to get back on the ice is commendable, it disrupts Stan Bowman's short-term plans for the team, particularly given his $5.125M cap hit.
According to Mark Spector, he predicts the Oilers could trade Kane to free up some cap room for a suitable replacement.
My prediction: With Kane an unknown, GM Stan Bowman will trade a Kane or another player to open the cap space needed to get a second-line winger, and add a defenceman.
And if Kane won't agree to finishing the season on LTIR, then he becomes your winger and you hope he's any good after missing almost a calendar year.
-Mark Spector
And if Kane won't agree to finishing the season on LTIR, then he becomes your winger and you hope he's any good after missing almost a calendar year.
-Mark Spector
If Kane ends up coming back before the playoffs, the big question becomes: who comes out?
It's hard to envision a scenario where Jeff Skinner sits out during the postseason, especially given that it would be a complete waste $3M and this would be his first ever playoff appearance.
On the other hand, Viktor Arvidsson has been extremely underwhelming, but he could reach another level offensively during the postseason.
That said, it seems like the only two logical options would be Kapseri Kapanen or Matthew Savoie.
Regardless, Evander Kane's LTIR situation will dictate how GM Stan Bowman handles this complex situation moving forward.
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