A Player From Each Team The Edmonton Oilers Could Trade For

Edmonton Oilers After Win Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Edmonton Oilers After Win Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
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Anaheim Ducks left wing Rickard Rakell (67)
Anaheim Ducks left wing Rickard Rakell (67) Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks- Rickard Rakell(39GP-11G-10A)

Rickard Rakell has a $3.789 million cap hit that expires at the end of this season. This previous offseason there was a lot of rumors around Rakell getting traded. This was because most people saw the Anaheim Ducks not having much success this season.

As of right now the Ducks are currently sitting in the 2nd Wild Card spot. They have played quite a bit more games than most teams behind them, so I don’t see them holding on to that spot. So that could make them sellers at the deadline.

The right wing is a weakness for the Edmonton Oilers, as the only skilled right wingers they have are Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto. This in comparison to the left side where you have Hyman, Kane, Foegele and they could even us Nugent-Hopkins there as well.

The Oilers could really improve their depth on offense if they can add Rakell. His is a skilled player with a little sandpaper in his game. He would be a good fit on the 3rd line and you could move him up in the lineup if required.

Calgary Flames- Erik Gudbranson(45GP-2G-8A)

Erik Gudbranson is a 30 year old NHL veteran that could add solid depth to this Edmonton Oilers back end. He is currently on the 3rd pair on the Calgary Flames. This is likely where he would be placed if he was on the Oilers as well.

He may not be an upgrade on either of the current right d-man, but he will be an excellent spare if a player is injured or is playing poorly. With his contract up at the end of the season it wouldn’t be a longer term relationship, but hopefully he would be able to add dimension to the Oilers backend that it needs.

Los Angeles Kings- Olli Maatta(32GP-1G-2A)

Olli Maatta is a defenseman with playoff experience. He has won 2 Stanley Cups with the Pittsburg Penguins in 2016 and 2017. He played fair significant minutes in the 2017 run also averaging 20:37 TOI.

The more defenseman you can rely on during a playoff run the better shape your team will be in. Last playoffs vs the Winnipeg Jets Darnell Nurse averaged 38:39 TOI per game. Most of the games did go to overtime, but still if the Oilers had another d-man they could put out there and trust that number would have been lower.

This is a deal that wouldn’t make your team better right now. It is a trade that will help you in the playoffs when you shorten your bench to player you can trust. Maatta is a player you can trust and his past proves that.

San Jose Sharks- Tomas Hertl(49GP-22G-16A)

Tomas Hertl is second in points for the Sharks, but since he is a UFA at the end of this season he potentially could be traded. The Sharks don’t look like they are going to be playing in the playoffs this season. When a team knows they aren’t making the playoffs they start selling players for futures.

Being one of the better players that may be traded Hertl will being in lots in return. This is where it could be a problem for the Oilers. Edmonton doesn’t want to trade away may of it top draft picks for a rental this season. Even more so they don’t want to do it for a rental.

If there is a way to bring in Hertl into this lineup, I think the Oilers should try. I just don’t know if they will be able to.

Seattle Kraken- Mark Gioradano(42GP-4G-15A)

Mark Gioradano is a player that many Edmonton Oilers fan may not like due to him playing with the Calgary Flames for most of his career. That and the fact he injured Connor McDavid on what could have been perceived as a dirty play.

All that aside Gioradano is still a solid defenseman that can help out this Edmonton Oilers team. If he can help this team move forward in the playoffs the fans will be fast to get past their hate of him. The fans used to despise Kassian, but when he came here he quickly became a fan favorite.

Vancouver Canucks- Jaroslav Halak(0.903SV%-2.90GAA)

Jaroslav Halak’s best season may be behind him, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be an upgrade on the Edmonton Oilers goaltending situation. Halak is a proven playoff preformer. In 39 playoff games he has posted a 0.919% with a 2.48 GAA. He was able to carry the Montreal Canadians to the Eastern Conference final in the 2009-2010 season.

That was more than 10 years ago though. If the Oilers bring him in. they would be hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. If Jaroslav Halak can play like he did in the 2010 playoffs, the Oilers would have a real chance of going deep.

Vegas Golden Knights- Ben Hutton(27GP-1G-7A)

Ben Hutton would be depth add for the Edmonton Oilers defense. He is not going to shift the needle on a game to game basis, but he would add depth to this lineup. Throughout the Oilers season there has been several injuries to this teams back end.

With these injuries they have had to call up rookie players. In the middle of the season that isn’t a huge deal to bring in rookies, but when it come to the playoffs bringing a rookie could be a major mistake. If you have Hutton, he could be the next man up. He has 406 NHL games under his belt, so he is far from a rookie, so the experience will be helpful in a playoff scenario.