Oilers interested in trading for top defenceman on division rival

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Liam McCormick
February 8, 2024 (8:08 PM)

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Heading into this year's trade deadline, the Calgary Flames are going to be the league's most important team. Already having traded Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov, the Flames are expected to trade much more and pretty much take their team down to the stilts. One of the players the Flames will be moving is the lauded defenceman Chris Tanev, and the Edmonton Oilers are interested.

According to a report from TSN's Darren Dreger, the Oilers will be one of the many teams calling to inquire about adding Tanev at the deadline. Dreger mentioned that the Oilers likely aren't the front runner, but it's still possible they could be the ones to land him.

Also according to Dreger's report, the Oilers would see Tanev as an upgrade on the second pair over Cody Ceci, who would likely be moved out in a trade to make room for the salary.

Tanev, now 34 years old, has been a warrior of a defensive defenceman for his entire career. He's played 764 career games between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames and has gained a reputation for being one of the most effective under the radar defenceman in the league, especially considering advanced statistics. Tanev's owed $4.5M for the remainder of this season and owns a no trade clause on his contract, but is expected to waive it to go to a contender this year.