Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes-Derek Stepan(38GP-7G-7A)
Derek Stepan would be an excellent fit in the Edmonton Oilers bottom six. Being a UFA after this season the Hurricanes would likely be willing to trade him for something like a lower round draft pick. Trading him for a draft pick would free up cap space for the Hurricanes.
Stepan would add playoff experience to their current roster. He has a total of 106 playoff games played over 7 playoff runs with the Rangers and Coyotes. Not only would he add playoff experience he also adds faceoff skills. Currently this season he has a 53.9% faceoff percentage.
Columbus Blue Jackets- Max Domi(36GP-8G-13A)
Maxi Domi at one point in his career was a 28 goal scorer. In his first season in Montreal he led the Canadiens in points. This since then he has been a fairly average player. Being traded last off season this is his first season with the Blue Jackets.
Domi is currently the third line left winger in Columbus. He will be a UFA at the end of this season and with the Blue Jackets likely not making the playoffs, Domi should be available this deadline. The only reason the Blue Jackets aren’t going to trade Domi is if he extends his contract with the team.
If he doesn’t re-sign with Blue Jackets, I think he would be a great fit on this Edmonton Oilers roster. Adding him in the lineup would further strength the depth of this forward group. He will cost you a bit, but I think he would be worth it.
New Jersey Devils- Jimmy Vesey(45GP-7G-6A)
Jimmy Vesey is a player that would be an inexpensive add for this Edmonton Oilers team. He has cap hit of $800,000 and is becoming a UFA at the end of the season. Currently playing on second line in New Jersey, he would likely slide onto the 4th line for the Oilers.
He may not even be in the lineup on a game to game basis, but he would give Tippett the option to take some players that aren’t playing well out of the lineup and not be worried about who would go in.
New York Islanders- Andy Greene(38GP-1G-5A)
Andy Greene is a NHL veteran defenseman. He has over 1000 regular season games under his belt and 90 playoffs games. He is a bottom pairing defenseman that plays the game with a rough edge.
He is inexpensive against the cap and is on an expiring contract. He would be an inexpensive add for the Edmonton Oilers and could help out the d-core if a game gets rough. The Islanders will likely be sellers at the deadline as they are pretty far away form a playoff spot right now.
If the Edmonton Oilers want to bring in Greene, I don’t see why the Islanders wouldn’t want to bring in an asset for him.
New York Rangers- Alexandar Georgiev(0.898SV%-2.99GAA)
Alexandar Georgiev is half of the Rangers dynamic goaltender duo. Georgiev, a RFA at the end of this season is going to be getting a pay raise as his current contract expires. The problem is the Rangers already have Igor Shesterkin signed till 2025 for $5.66 million per year.
With Georgiev getting a pay raise the New York Rangers may not want to pay him and have that much money tied up in the crease. So, if you are the Edmonton Oilers I would give them a call to see if they are willing to move him.
The Edmonton Oilers goaltending this season has been an issue and that isn’t a secret. Bringing in a younger goalie that has the potential to grow into a true #1, is something the Edmonton Oilers need to consider doing.
Philadelphia Flyers– Rasmus Ristolainen(42GP-2G-9A)
Rasmus Ristolainen was acquired by the Flyers this offseason from the Buffalo Sabres to improve the Flyers defense. That hasn’t really been the case sadly for both Ristolainen and the Flyers. This doesn’t mean that Ristolainen wouldn’t be able to help out the Edmonton Oilers blueline.
The Edmonton Oilers need a shutdown style right defenseman. Ristolainen would bring that to the team. Him being a UFA at the end of this season make it a trade that the Flyers would do. If they are willing to take a lower round pick for him, it’s a trade the Oilers should make.
Pittsburgh Penguins- Bryan Rust(27GP-17G-20A)
Ryan Rust is a player that the Penguins will only trade if they think that there is no hope to make the playoffs. As of right now they currently are in a playoff spot. There is a lot of time between now and the trade deadline.
Rust is on this list because he is a UFA at the end of the season. If the Penguins are able to bring in an upgrade in that position then Rust would be moved. He would be a good fit on this Oilers team. He has the ability to play with skilled players and there are a lot of skill on this Oilers roster.
Washington Capitals- Vitek Vanecek(0.915SV%-2.39GAA)
Vitek Vanecek is half of the Washington Capitals dynamic goaltender duo. Vanecek, a RFA at the end of this season is going to be getting a pay raise as his current contract expires. The Capitals also have a young goalie in Ilya Samsonov who will also need a new contract. I don’t think the Capitals are going to pay both of them.
This means they will need to trade one. The Oilers are going to be looking for a goalie until they get one they can rely on, on a regular basis. I think that Vanecek could be that goalie for the Oilers. This is a player the Oilers should go after.