Are the Oilers looking at a pending UFA Maple Leaf?

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Ryan Hall
June 8, 2023 (0:40)

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If there was one player that the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired at the deadline that brought many smiles to Maple Leafs fans' faces would be the acquisition of Noel Accari.

Prior to this season, Accari was the bane of many Maple Leafs fans when he was a member of the Boston Bruins who provided the Bruins top shutdown role helping eliminate the Maple Leafs from the playoffs.

But with time, former general manager Kyle Dubas decided to acquire Accari's talents in the hope that it would bring an end to the Maple Leafs' playoff misery.

They beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. Accari was pivotal for that. Fast forward to the summer, and Accari is now a pending unrestricted free agent.

The Edmonton Oilers are one of the teams that could be on his radar as they will need bottom six forwards since many of them are also unrestricted free agents.

Accari brings grit, tenacity and a downright physical play that the Oilers could use to help them move further in the playoffs. He has good size and he's an excellent penalty killer who is capable of shutting down any top line he faces.

Next season, the Oilers might be able to add him to their lineup with the right amount of money and term. It would be in Ken Holland's best interest to investigate this.