While the Edmonton Oilers were certainly not quiet at the latest NHL Trade Deadline, they were close to acquiring some experience that would’ve provided some secondary scoring with the team’s big names on the shelf.
According to a report from U.S.-based RG.org, the Oilers were apparently in the running to complete a trade for New York Islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Stefan Rosner of The Hockey News had previously mentioned that Edmonton was interested in the veteran center prior to the trade deadline.
Instead of getting Pageau, ensuring some depth down the middle, the team ended up acquiring forward Trent Frederic, along with Max Jones, from the Boston Bruins in a three-team deal.
Per the report, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman was hesitant of receiving a player with term at a relatively higher cap hit, especially with Leon Draisaitl’s eight-year contract extension kicking in next season.
Pageau has one more year on his six-year deal that he signed with the Isles in February 2020. The 32-year-old has a cap hit of $5 million with a modified no-trade clause, which sees him submitting a 16-team no-trade list.
If Pageau had come to the Oilers, the team wouldn’t be feeling like there’s a hole down the middle of their lineup with Draisaitl captain Connor McDavid out due to injuries. While Edmonton is focused on getting their stars as healthy as possible, the team’s offense wouldn’t be struggling as much if they had acquired some reinforcements.
On Long Island this season, Pageau has scored 12 goals and 25 assists for 37 points in 68 games. He is closing in on potentially surpassing his career-best 43 points that he registered as a member of the Ottawa Senators during the 2015-16 campaign.
The Oilers also received defenceman Jake Walman from the San Jose Sharks for a conditional 2026 first-round pick, which has helped bolster the team’s d-corps heading toward the postseason.
Frederic has yet to play a game for the Oilers, as he is about another week or so away from returning from a lower-body injury.
The Oilers (41-26-5) have stumbled down to third place in the Pacific Division, two points back of the second-place Los Angeles Kings and seven behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first place.
