With the Penguins reportedly wanting prospects over picks for Jake Guentzel, Edmonton Oilers would make perfect trade partner

The Edmonton Oilers are expected to be active in the trade market over the next week, with GM Ken Holland saying he has irons in the fire.

He’s keeping an eye on the forwards and the defencemen, reportedly feeling comfortable staying out of the goaltending market, and rolling with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard the rest of the way.

They’ve been linked to many of the big names, including that of Penguins winger Jake Guentzel, widely considered to be one of the top names on the market. And according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Penguins are looking for prospects over picks for Sidney Crosby’s long-time linemate.

“From what I understand, Pittsburgh has told teams they are more interested in two prospects as opposed to a prospect and a first-rounder,” said Friedman during the Headlines segment on Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada.

“They prefer prospects over picks. That’s what Pittsburgh has told teams; they’ve told several teams this. Of course, if you need them to eat money or they have to take a contract back, that could change the dynamic. But that’s the key thing.”

The Oilers would need the Penguins to take money back for the pending unrestricted free agent, who is making $6-million this season, but Edmonton has some prospects that could be enticing to Pittsburgh.

The foremost of which is Philip Broberg, who has had a great stint in the American Hockey League with the Bakersfield Condors. Edmonton has previously said they would be unwilling to move Broberg for a rental, but that could change at any point in time, especially if it could assist them in holding onto their first and/or second-round pick this year.

And according to a new cap value calculator at PuckPedia, the Oilers would need to trade the Penguins a 3rd round pick, 85th overall, for the Penguins to retain 50 percent of Guentzel’s salary. For a third team to jump in retaining an additional 25 percent, Edmonton would need to trade away a 5th round pick.

Other names that might be of interest to the Penguins could be Raphael Lavoie or Xavier Bourgault, two young forwards still finding their way through the pro ranks. While Lavoie might be closer to the NHL, Bourgault brings with him higher draft capital, and still might have a higher ceiling, even with some struggles 112 games into his pro career.

Nonetheless, all three prospects would surely be closer to NHL action rather than any players the Penguins could draft with any early picks this year or next.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.