Defencemen from Frank Seravalli’s trade target list the Edmonton Oilers could acquire

Earlier this week, Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff released his first trade targets list of the season. With the Edmonton Oilers season trending in the right direction, it’s fair to predict who general manager Ken Holland could consider an upgrade.

Of the 20 players on the list, one trade target has already found a new home. Nikita Zadorov was #4 on Frank’s list, but not long after the list was released, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a pair of draft picks. The Zadorov trade wasn’t the only move Vancouver made last week. They also sent Anthony Beauviller, who they acquired in the Bo Horvat trade only a year ago, to the Chicago Blackhawks.

It’s safe to say that the Canucks aren’t sitting on their hands and finding ways to improve on a great start. So when will Ken Holland pull the trigger?

The Oilers’ blue line is good at the moment but will need improving down the road. Here are a few options from Frank’s list that would help upgrade the team.

Sean Walker has elevated his game since getting traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. He’s playing the most minutes of his career and taking full advantage of the moment. Walker has 11 points in 23 games for the Flyers and comes with a reliable defensive game. The Oilers must strengthen their defence’s right side, and Walker fits the bill.

Nick Seeler averages 14 minutes per night at 5-on-5, which is similar to what Brett Kulak provides on our third pairing. Seeler is a switch hitter but is undoubtedly more comfortable on his left side. However, if the Oilers can’t find a suitable right shot to help them on the blue line, then for only $800k, they could have Seeler. He’d bring more toughness and a high level of competition to the Oilers.

Chris Tanev would be a fantastic and the best addition to the Oilers’ blue line. He has everything the Oilers need with his defensive abilities and experience. He’s a right-handed shot and becomes a pending UFA at the end of the season. The problem is that he plays for the Calgary Flames. How eager will Craig Conroy be to help Edmonton in the Stanley Cup? Likely not overly. Unfortunately, that’s the reality of the business.

If I were Ken Holland, I would look at one player immediately. The first would be Nick Seeler because you won’t find a player with that cap hit and ability anywhere else. By adding Seeler, you still have a ton of flexibility, and you may find that the Flyers retain half, taking his cap hit to $400k.

We will see how long it takes for Holland to make his move. He’s known to be highly patient, so don’t expect much soon. However, if teams in the Pacific Division continue to grow stronger, Ken Holland may be left with no choice but to pull the trigger on something to make sure Edmonton is able to keep up.