Can Klingberg Keep The Oilers in the Hunt?

But, what about John Klingberg? According to thefourthperiod.com, the Oilers have interest in Klingberg as well as the Seattle Kraken. He carries a $7 million cap hit and the Oilers will need the Anaheim Ducks to retain some salary in a prospective deal.

The Edmonton club currently only has $1.13 million in cap. To make a proposed trade work, perhaps they could send Jesse Puljujarvi and his $3 million cap hit to the Ducks.

Puljujarvi has been a healthy scratch of late, and has expressed his interest in moving on with another team. The Ducks are not going to use the estimated $30.7 million they have in cap space, so retaining at least half of Klingberg's salary will not hurt.

Klingberg has struggled this season with just six goals, nine assists. If the Gothenburg, Sweden native can regain the success he enjoyed with the Dallas Stars where he collected 374 points in 552 games, it will be a good addition to the roster.

A trade like this can benefit both teams. The Ducks can still be in a rebuild since Puljujarvi is only 24-years-old, and the Oilers will gain an offensive defenceman who can help relieve Darnell Nurse from getting exhausted. Klingberg has averaged almost 23 minutes of ice time in his 10-year NHL career.

Both players want to move on to an new opportunity and that may help in getting a trade accomplished.