The Edmonton Oilers are looking to make a splash by landing a blue line upgrade, insider Bob Stauffer reports.
During the Senators-Oilers broadcast on Tuesday night, Stauffer discussed the interest the Edmonton Oilers have in landing a top-four blueliner. Specifically, Stauffer stated that the Oilers aren’t looking at a particular type of defenceman. The club is more interested in landing a top-four blue liner.
While the Oilers have been in the market for some time now, the team has a greater sense of urgency as a result of Darnell Nurse’s injury.
Stauffer also pointed out that even though Nurse should be back soon, the Oilers are still looking to upgrade. Most notably, the team wants a defenceman that can push Travis Dermott and Ty Emberson down the depth chart.
As for specific names that the Edmonton Oilers might be targeting, Stauffer did not say. At this point, there is no clear target on the Oilers’ radar. But Stauffer did highlight that the Oilers are looking for a player that “isn’t on anybody’s radar.”
ICYMI: On last night's broadcast, Bob Stauffer mentioned how the Edmonton Oilers want to acquire a defenseman.
— Woz (@itsWozzz) November 20, 2024
"It's not necessarily going to be a shutdown defenseman. It's not necessarily going to be a right-shot defenseman."
Video Credit: @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/QlNICUMYRt
In other words, the Oilers are looking to pry a player that might not be currently on the market. Stauffer referenced the trade for Mattias Ekholm. At the time, the Oilers surprised the league by trading for Ekholm after he wasn’t reportedly on the trade block.
Lastly, Stauffer added that the Oilers want to get a player with some term left on his contract. Thus, it seems unlikely the Oilers will target a pending UFA. Of course, it’s a possibility the Oilers may go for a potential UFA, the wish list is for someone who’s got a couple of years left on their deal.
Potential blue line targets for the Edmonton Oilers
Insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff ran through a list of players potentially on the trade block. The most common name linked to the Oilers has been the Pittsburgh Penguins' Marcus Pettersson. However, Pettersson is a pending UFA and may not check off all the boxes.
But one name that did jump out was Mike Matheson of the Montreal Canadiens. Now, the Canadiens are not actively shopping Matheson. If anything, Seravalli points out that the Canadiens would like to keep him.
Given the Canadiens’ current rebuild, there’s a chance Matheson could be on the move for the right price. The risk would be for the Oilers to overpay for a player like Matheson. Still, if the deal makes sense, the Oilers will likely pull the trigger sooner rather than later.
At the end of the day, the Oilers will be active at some point this season. Fans shouldn’t expect major moves now. But as Christmas gets closer, the playoff picture will become clearer. So, teams like the Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Ducks, and San Jose Sharks may be willing to move pieces if the right deal comes along.
Stay tuned because the major move could drop when least expected.