Oilers top trade target has personal reason to deny trade to Edmonton
The Edmonton Oilers biggest need heading into the next season will be a top four defenceman to play alongside Darnell Nurse, but their top trade target may have a personal reason to decline a trade to the Oilers.
Edmonton Journal writer Jim Matheson has suggested that the best defenceman for the Oilers to target in trade is Adam Larsson. The Oilers acquired Larsson in a trade for Taylor Hall, and from 2016 to 2021, was a solid defensive defenceman for the team. He'd be perfect alongside Darnell Nurse for a playoff run, but Larsson would need to make a personal choice to return to Edmonton - a city he doesn't have the best memories in.
According to a report from Mark Spector in 2021, Larsson wanted to leave Edmonton after losing his father in such a shocking and sudden manner. Larsson was at Oilers practice when he was informed that his father, visiting from Sweden, had collapsed and died due to a heart attack. In an interview, Larsson explained that he needed to leave Edmonton to get a fresh start after the loss of his father, and the city brought back too many painful memories. In 2021, Larsson even said it was difficult to return to Edmonton for preseason games.
«It was tough to come back. That was a big factor, for sure. It was a real tough decision, and I felt like I had to do it for my personal well-being. I feel like there was nowhere else to get a fresh start.»
- Adam Larsson, 2021
- Adam Larsson, 2021
Matheson qualified that Larsson would need to agree to a return to Edmonton, and that's may be a tall task to ask. He clearly has serious and unfortunate negative connotations with the city that he may not be able to get past. It's entirely his choice whether he could go to Edmonton, as he has a 10 team no-trade list in his contract.
Aside from the fact that he has a dark personal history with the city, Larsson would be a great fit for the Oilers. His reliable, physical, and defensive style is exactly what needs to be paired with Darnell Nurse, and his archetype of defenceman always excels in the more rugged playoffs. He has just one year left on his contract with the Seattle Kraken, and if they're out of playoff contention, they'll likely look to trade the 31 year old.
Aside from Larsson, the Oilers have been connected to a number of other top four defenceman in trade for this season. It's clear that the team believes they need an impact defender to win the Stanley Cup this season, so be on the lookout for the Oilers to make a move early on.
Source for Larsson stats: PuckPedia - Adam Larsson
| POLL | ||
Do you think Adam Larsson would come back to the Edmonton Oilers? | ||
| Yes, he might come back | 92 | 35.9 % |
| No, it's very personal for him | 144 | 56.3 % |
| See Results | 20 | 7.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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