Possible Trade Scenarios to Upgrade Oilers' Defense

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Ryan Hall
July 30, 2023 (1:32)

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General Manager Ken Holland has been relatively quiet during this year's off-season. Apart from landing Connor Brown in unrestricted free agency, the Oilers were forced to part with Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin to the Detroit Red Wings without any return. As a result, the team has made minimal changes to its dynamic.

One aspect that requires careful attention is defence. While they did make a significant move last year by acquiring Mattias Ekholm from the Nashville Predators at the trade deadline, the Oilers' defence remains a concern.

Ekholm made a positive impact, helping the team secure a playoff spot and advance to the second round, where they were ultimately eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights. He is set to remain with the Oilers for the next three seasons, with an annual salary of $6 million. However, once Nurse and Ekholm are accounted for, the defensive depth becomes rather thin, and there is still the matter of finalizing Evan Bouchard's contract.

Bouchard is a key player, and his impressive performance last year warrants a substantial raise. The Oilers, unfortunately, have limited cap space to retain him and may need to explore creative trade options.
One potential trade scenario that could benefit the Oilers is a package deal involving Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais, along with a second-round draft pick, to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Brett Pesce.

The Hurricanes boast a deep defensive core and may not be able to dress all their talents. Pesce's recent decline in numbers might make him an attractive trade option for both parties. This trade could free up around $1.5 million for the Hurricanes to work with. Pesce, a 28-year-old defenseman, played all 82 games last season for the Hurricanes, tallying five goals, 25 assists, and a +11 rating. His 6-foot-3, 206-pound frame would significantly bolster the Oilers' second pairing, and his right-handed shot would be an added bonus.

Another scenario that could work in the Oilers' favour involves a three-way deal between the Flames, the Ducks, and the Oilers. As NHL teams near the bottom of the standings often act as middlemen for trades, the Ducks could play that role in this trade. The proposed deal would see the Oilers receive Chris Tanev from the Flames, with the Ducks retaining $2 million of his salary in exchange for two draft picks, one from the Oilers and one from the Flames, both from either the 2024 or 2025 drafts.

In return, the Flames would acquire Cody Ceci to complete the trade, and Edmonton would also part with a lower-tier prospect.

While these trade scenarios are speculative at this point, they highlight the Oilers' continued need to bolster their defence. Strengthening this area is crucial, especially considering it proved to be a weak spot during last year's second-round playoffs.