Oilers Scouts Spotted At Eastern Conference Game As Trade Rumours Heat Up

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Ryan Hall
November 19, 2024 (8:54)

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It was reported this evening that Edmonton Oilers scouts were spotted at the Columbus Blue Jackets Boston Bruins game as the team continues to search for defensive help.

The tweet also revealed that 18 teams were present for this game as it appears the vultures are circling both the Bruins organization and the Blue Jackets with several players available for trade over the past couple of weeks.

The Oilers have made it clear that they are currently looking for a top 4 defenseman as the team had reconfigured its defence corps over the summer and it has not gotten the job done. There is a clear hole in their lines that needs to be addressed and a few players including Blue Jackets Ivan Provorov and David Jiricek are names that have been linked to the Oilers.

Provorov would likely help the Oilers immediately as he is on his final year of his contract and could be traded to the Oilers with salary retention up to 50%. He currently holds a cap hit of $6.75 million which would be reduced to a more affordable number.

It's likely the cost would be either a second or third round draft pick which the Oilers both have of their own for the next three years.

He has played eighteen games this season, scoring one goal with four assists for five points and is a + 5 while having an average ice time of 23 minutes and 47 seconds per game.

Jiricek would be a more costly acquisition as he was drafted by the Blue Jackets in 2022, in the first round six pick overall. Standing at six foot 4 and 204 lbs, Jiricek would make the Oilers defence much stronger, and he would have significant upside to his game as he is only 20 years old.

It's likely the Oilers would need to give up a significant piece to acquire his services which could include Matthew Savoie of the Bakersfield Condors. Holding a far less cost financially and the desire to play which he has struggled under new head coach Dean Evanson it's clear that he is looking for a new home and the Oilers could be the team he needs.

With the pending trade imminent especially for Jiricek, it's likely the Oilers will follow the jackets around for the next several games to watch how these players interact and play and see if a deal could be crafted.