Last week we began our series on potential trade targets. I looked at Thomas Vanek. Wings GM Ken Holland said on the record earlier this week the Red Wings won’t be buyers, but will they be sellers? Time will tell.

The biggest challenge looking at potential trade options is there are only two teams officially out of the playoff race. We know Arizona and Colorado are done. Holland won’t be adding, and I’m sure New Jersey, Buffalo and Vancouver are likely in the same boat.

The month of February should make the playoff picture less muddy, but we do know the Oilers are a playoff contender.

What do they need?

I don’t see a major move from GM Peter Chiarelli, but I expect him to add some forward depth. Jujhar Khaira’s wrist injury still won’t allow him to shoot the puck. He is weeks away, and even when he does return he, like many Oilers forwards, does not have a lot of experience.

Today I have one option for you.

He was a first round pick in 2003. He has played 100 playoff games, including 95 over the past five seasons. He is 6’7″ and 245 pounds. He has 12-6-18 this season and is a pending UFA in July. He has a $2 million cap hit.

I’m looking at Brian Boyle.

Boyle lost the Cup Final in 2014 with the Rangers and 2015 with the Lightning. He would add size, strength and experience as a third line centre. He is playing 13:35/game in Tampa this year. He plays in all three situations, EV, PK and PP.

He is 51.4% on faceoffs this year, although he has taken the fourth most faceoffs on the Lightning. He has played 488 EV minutes this year and hasn’t had a regular linemate. His most common linemates have been Jonathan Drouin (188 min) and Valtteri Filppula (181). Boyle has played the wing with Filppula, and has the hockey sense to play with offensive-minded players. His next highest TOI linemates are Cedric Paquette (173 min) and J.T Brown (159 min).

He has a solid CF (Corsi For) of 55.5%. His CF% has improved the past four seasons from 47.1 in 2014, to 49.8% in 2015, 51% last year and 55.5% this season. He doesn’t face the toughest minutes in TB, and he wouldn’t be asked to do that in Edmonton either, but he is responsible in both ends.

Boyle has a reputation of being good in the room and can fit in easily, if people are worried about chemistry.

His contract expires June 30th and he wouldn’t impact the expansion list, unless the Oilers choose to re-sign him. He just turned 32, so re-signing him could be an option if they like how he played.

His $2 million cap hit is very reasonable and would leave Peter Chiarelli room to make another acquisition if he wanted to.

Boyle’s offensive production in Tampa Bay has been very consistent the past three seasons.

He has 12-6-18 this year in 44 games.

Last year he tallied 13-7-20 in 76 games and in 2015 he scored 15-9-24 in 82 games.

He did score 21 goals and 35 points with the Rangers in 2011, so his 12 goals this season isn’t completely surprising. He is a huge man, and while he isn’t overly physical or mean, he uses his size well to shield the puck and can work well down low on a cycle.

The Lightning were expected to be a top team in the east this year, but their lack of defensive depth has really hurt them so far. They are currently six points out of the playoffs. Steven Stamkos won’t return before the March 1st deadline and if the Bolts keep struggling it would seem very logical for GM Steve Yzerman to move Boyle along with pending UFA Ben Bishop.

Drake Caggiula scored a huge goal last night, and he has played okay, but adding an experienced centre with some size and skill is something I’d be very interested in doing.

The Lightning have had 19 picks the past two seasons and currently have eight picks for the 2017 draft after acquiring Montreal’s sixth rounder yesterday in the Nikita Nesterov deal.

Based on past trade deadlines the return for Boyle wouldn’t be much. A third round pick and a prospect or possibly a second rounder, which would have to be 2018 since the Bruins have the Oilers’ 2017 second round pick.

Some of the best trade deadline acquisitions aren’t the big names. One that paid off huge recently was considered a minor deal at the deadline. 

In 2013 the Chicago Blackhawks acquired Michal Handzus from San Jose for a fourth round pick. Handzus played 28 games with the Sharks, but only had one goal and one assist. However, he was a excellent complementary player for the Hawks. He scored six points in the final eleven regular season games and then added 11 points in 23 playoff games and played 16 minutes a night as their second line centre.

The Hawks’ main core led them to the Stanley Cup victory, but in order to go all the way you need a very good supporting cast. Handzus filled a void and played a vital role in their win.

Boyle could be a very good addition. The Oilers aren’t ready to win a Cup just yet, but gaining playoff experience is vital and if adding Boyle helps them win one round it would be worth it.

I would add Boyle. I would take him over Martin Hanzal, because Boyle has more experience and the cost would be less.

Would you add Boyle?