It is this time of year where fans are all anxious to wait and see what their favourite team does leading up to the trade deadline. This time of year is where teams who are in the playoff race tend to acquire players to help them make the playoffs and to help win the ultimate prize in the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately the Edmonton Oilers go into this years deadline as a seller once again to the dismay of Oilers fans. The Oilers play did not help them this year and it seems as if this team has regressed in comparison to the lockout shortened season. The Oilers did not play well and dug themselves a hole so deep that it is pretty much impossible to make the playoffs. MacT told the media that he is looking for draft picks that he had traded away in the Perron and Scrivens trade. The Oilers sound like a broken record saying they are looking for draft picks which has angered some of the fan base. The problem is the assets that they are on the trade block may only return a draft pick. Sorry fans but MacT is not going to be making that bold as promised. Here is what to look for until trade deadline:
Hemsky finally traded this year?
One player who is rumoured to be on the block is Ales Hemsky. It seems as if for the past few years that Ales Hemsky is always rumoured to be trade yet he is still an Oiler to this day. This maybe the year that Hemsky may actually go to another team. Hemsky would be a great depth addition who can inject some skill into the lineup for any team looking for a winger. A problem is that he is an injury prone winger whose production has declined over the years. Hemsky for most of the season has been put into the 3rd line role that his game is not suited to. During the Olympics when he was put into a top-6 role showed that Hemsky still has game and may have caught the eye of a few GMs. Due to Hemsky's struggles it has diminished his value around the league. Any team that is looking for a cheap option on the wing will be looking at Hemsky as it is expected that he may only get a 2nd or 3rd round pick.
Gagner rumours
Sam Gagner after having such a good season last year has struggled mightily with only 24 points in 48 games. His struggles can be linked to when Kassian smashed Gagner's jaw with his stick. None the less his struggles has hurt the team. Gagner is another redundant player to Edmonton who is small and is very poor defensively. Both Gagner and MacT agreed that it is time for move on for both parties. MacT was reportedly looking for either a top-4 defender or a top-6 forward but it seems as if Gagner will not be able to return neither. Gagner is a small centre who is poor on the dot, poor defensively but has some good offensive skills (although he has struggled terribly this season) on top his contract (4.8 AAV through the 2015-16 season) will not have much value around the league. It seemed at one point that Gagner would be going to LA for Clifford as the base of deal but it fell apart. I believe MacT should be able to obtain a big bodied 3rd liner and a draft pick for Gagner. MacTavish could wait till draft day to trade him because some teams may not want to give up a roster player if they are in the race for the playoffs. The draft would be easier for MacT to acquire that asset he maybe looking for.
Other Players That Could be Traded
Since Oilers are in selling mode many other players could be on the move for Edmonton. MacT will try and trade the pending UFAs for draft picks or prospects if possible.
One player that should be able to garner some interest is Ryan Jones. He has played well in bottom 6 role for the Oilers for a while now and would be solid addition if a team is looking for a reliable 4th liner. He can hit, chip in with a goal, and play on the PK. Ryan Jones would probably return a late round draft pick.
Nick Schultz is another pending UFA that should be able to garner some interest from teams looking for a defensemen. He plays a defensive game and would be able to slot in and provide some stability on the backend. Boston is one team that could be very interested in him due to Seidenberg being out for the whole season. Nick Schultz would come cheap only costing a 3rd or 4th round pick.
Our goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is another potential trade candidate. He has played a generally solid for Edmonton providing some reliable goaltending along with Scrivens. It is speculated that Edmonton has offered Bryz to the Wild who are looking for a goalie. Bryz would come cheap for any team looking for a solid back-up goalie.
Ryan Smyth is similar to Jones for any team that is looking for a 4th liner. Although he does not bring a physical presence he is able to still win many puck battles along the boards and is another solid PKer for any team needing a 4th line. He could be another player that can cheaply had.
Another couple players that has been rumoured to be traded is Eberle and Yakupov but trades for these players have been speculated but these players will not be traded at trade deadline due to a lot of teams having next to no cap room and teams reluctance to trade an impact player that the Oilers are looking for during the season. If either these players are dealt it will be in the offseason.
Other UFAs Belov and Potter have not played well at the NHL level and I do not believe will garner any interest from other teams. Scrivens who is also a UFA has provided quality goaltending and is expected not be traded. As long as Scrivens keeps on playing well I expect MacT will offer him a contract.
Fans what do you think MacT should do during trade deadline? Who do you think he should keep and offload?
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