Trade Deadline Preview: Forwards who could be of interest to the Edmonton Oilers

The 2021 NHL Trade Deadline is only a few weeks away and rumour and speculation season is in full swing.

The Oilers are undoubtedly in the “buyer” category this season as they sit in a tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top spot in the Canadian Division and look to be gearing up for a playoff run come spring. The team has three clear areas on the roster that could use an upgrade: the third-line centre position, a complimentary winger for the top-six, and a veteran left-handed defenceman.

There’s no doubt that Ken Holland is in a challenging situation as the team doesn’t have its second- or third-round draft picks this season and they’re pressed right up against the salary cap ceiling. Still, it’s worthwhile to take a look and see what’s out there and how the Oilers can improve before the playoffs.

Today, I’ll profile some names on the trade market who could fill those two forward spots, and then I’ll take a look at defenders next. Also, if this post looks familiar, that’s because I accidentally pressed “publish” on Wednesday rather than “save” when I had just gotten started on it. Whoops! I’m a dummy. Anyways… 

We know that the Oilers have already discussed the possibility of adding veteran pivot Eric Staal internally. He’s had an ugly season in Buffalo, but given his production in Minnesota over the past few years, we can give him the benefit of the doubt. Staal is a veteran with 1270 games of NHL experience and Stanley Cup pedigree. He can likely still be effective as a third-line centre on a team in the playoffs. His cap hit also makes a deal manageable if Buffalo retains part of his salary.

In my mind, Getzlaf would be the ideal veteran centre for the Oilers to acquire. He’s big, skilled, has a world of experience playing in tough games, and he plays well defensively. The issue here, of course, is his massive cap hit. Even if Anaheim was to retain half of his salary, Edmonton would need to send a bunch of money back the other way to make it work.

Travis Zajac has played his entire 1017-game NHL career as a member of the New Jersey Devils, but, given the fact he’s a free-agent at the end of the season, his time there might be coming to a close. The Devils aren’t anywhere near contending, so if Zajac wants a Stanley Cup, he’ll have to win one somewhere else. He’s a quality defensive pivot who can chip in a little offensively but, again, the challenge here is his cap hit along with his full no-trade clause.

The advantage of trading with another Canadian club is that the player involved wouldn’t have to undergo a quarantine (though this might be changed to only one week, which would make life much easier for Canadian teams). Brandon Sutter has always been an overpaid third-line centre for the Canucks, but he would be a decent addition to Edmonton’s bottom-six as a veteran who plays well in his own end and kills penalties.

Here’s a player that Ken Holland knows well. A native of Grand Rapids who played NCAA for Michigan, Glendening has spent his entire NHL career with the Red Wings. He doesn’t contribute much offensively but he’s a battle-tested, bottom-six centre who kills penalties. His small cap hit also makes a deal doable. The question is if he wants to leave home for the first time in his career to chase a Cup.

The Flyers are currently sitting on the outside of the playoffs looking in and they’re in a very difficult division. There’s no guarantee that they’ll look to sell, but, if they do, Scott Laughton would be a great addition for the Oilers. He has 17 points in 28 games and plays a strong two-way game.

And, of course, the familiar face. Taylor Hall couldn’t find the long-term deal he was looking for this fall so he took a one-year, show-me deal with Buffalo and it’s been a complete disaster. Hall only has two goals in 30 games this season and hasn’t helped his case at all in terms of finding somebody who will give him a big contract. Somebody will trade for him, but I doubt it’s the Oilers.

Ryan Dzingel would be an ideal winger for the Oilers. He plays in Canada and wouldn’t have to quarantine and he has a history of putting up clutch performances in the playoffs. He has five goals in nine games since being re-acquired by the Senators and would look nice next to either Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid.

Another player on a one-year show-me deal, the struggling Predators will likely look to move Granlund before the deadline to recoup some draft assets. The thing about Granlund that makes him a nice fit is that he can either play on the left-wing or work as a centre on a third line that produces offence. He’s having a mediocre season but a change of scenery could do him well.

I’m not sure Nick Foligno is the answer to Edmonton’s need for a top-six winger but he’s a great veteran to have in the mix largely because of his leadership and excellent defensive game. The challenge here, as with others, is his large cap hit.

Another familiar face, if the Stars decide to sell before the deadline, Cogliano would likely be one of the names on the way out. He doesn’t produce much offence, but, as we know, he has ridiculous speed, kills penalties, plays well in his own zone, and can play multiple positions. He wouldn’t be a top-six solution for the Oilers but he would improve their depth.

A player that the Oilers tried to sign a couple of years ago, Brassard has continued to produce in depth roles. He did so last season with the Islanders and is having a fine season on the Coyotes this year. He would be a better option for an offence-driving third line than Kyle Turris at this point but wouldn’t do much for Edmonton’s penalty kill or defensive game.

Alex Iafallo has quietly been a quality producer offensively over the past few years for the rebuilding L.A. Kings. He had 17 goals last season and has seven in 30 games this year. He has a small cap hit so a trade would be doable. Iafallo would be a nice scoring option on McDavid or Draisaitl’s left.

Finally, we have Tanner Pearson, a scoring winger with Stanley Cup pedigree. Pearson has only six goals this season for the Canucks but he put up 21 goals last season. Again the nice thing about getting somebody from another Canadian club is that he wouldn’t have to quarantine.