The Edmonton Oilers made a significant splash on the trade market yesterday, acquiring Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from the Anaheim Ducks. The deal also included Edmonton moving on from multiple picks, including their 2024 first-round pick.
Additionally, Ken Holland had the Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning, the third-party broker, retain 75% of Henrique’s contract and 50% of Carrick’s contract. Furthermore, Dylan Holloway was loaned to the Bakersfield Condors this morning, removing $925K more from the Oilers cap total. Now, with less than 48 hours left until the NHL trade deadline, the Oilers have $2,110,937 million in cap space, which can increase slightly tomorrow to $2,161,198 million, according to Cap Friendly.
It was speculated that the Oilers’ additions of Henrique and Carrick would be their big move of the deadline. Adding a depth defenceman seemed like Edmonton’s next move after Holland hinted at it during his post-trade press conference yesterday.
“We do have some cap space left,” said Ken Holland. We are going to continue to work the phones through to Friday and see if we can do anything else. I am going to continue to talk to other teams about another defenceman—a veteran defenceman. We’ll see; it depends on what’s available and what the cost is. We like the six that we’ve got, so I would think if we do something, we are bringing somebody in to be the number seven.”
Despite what Holland said during that press conference, speculation started again this morning on The DFO Rundown with Frank Seravalli and Jason Gregor. With Edmonton’s extra cap space, Frank Seravalli suggested that Jordan Eberle is still an option.
The Oilers drafted Eberle in the 2008 draft with the 22nd overall pick. He played seven years for the Oilers, scoring 165 goals and 382 points in 507 games. Eberle was a member of the 2017 Edmonton Oilers that helped the team return to the postseason for the first time since the magical 2006 Stanley Cup Run. However, his time with the Oilers didn’t last much longer, as he was moved to the New York Islanders for Ryan Strome that summer.
“Jordan Eberle is another player the Oilers are monitoring between now and Friday,” said Frank Seravalli. “They [Edmonton} would bring him in even after the [Adam] Henrique deal. Eberle has been going back and forth with the [Seattle] Kraken on a contract. They’re offering a two-year deal, but he’s looking for a third. I believe his preference is to stay in Seattle, but if Seattle doesn’t get a deal done, they’ve vowed to trade him by Friday.”
Eberle is a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $5,500,000 and has a modified no-trade clause in his deal. Through 58 games this season, the Kraken forward has 14 goals and 37 points, averaging slightly over 17 minutes a night.
Over the last couple of days, Anthony Mantha and Vladimir Tarasenko, two scoring wingers, have been traded. Mantha went to the Vegas Golden Knights for a 2024 2nd round pick and a 2026 4th round pick along with 50% salary retention. As for Tarasenko, the Florida Panthers acquired the Russian forward’s 2025 3rd round pick, 2024 4th round pick, and 50% salary retention. The Oilers still have their 2024 2nd round pick, as well as their 3rd round picks for 2025 and 2026.
After yesterday, there’s no doubt Ken Holland is doing everything he can to make the Oilers better as they push for their 6th Stanley Cup. Sitting on his hands is not an option after the aggression the Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights have shown on the trade market.
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