Edmonton Oilers writer David Staples of the Edmonton Journal recently wrote about a rumor from Court Lalonde of the Bruins Diehards podcast. Lalonde said that Boston Bruins writer Dominic Tiano reported that the Bruins and Oilers were discussing a trade involving former first round pick and highly touted prospect, Fabian Lysell.
Lysell, is a Swedish winger who was believed to have legitimate potential in the NHL as a top-six skilled forward. He was drafted by the Bruins 21st overall at the 2021 NHL Draft. Now at 22 years old, entering his fourth season of professional hockey in North America and without a clear spot in the Bruins NHL lineup, he may be on the block.
Insert the Oilers who after a big summer that saw general manager Stan Bowman sign a handful of free agents and making some key moves to improve their depth may be in the market to add another forward to fill up their roster. Does acquiring Lysell make sense for the Oilers?
What Lysell can bring to the table
He joined the Bruins’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Providence Bruins for the 2022-23 season and his numbers looked quite good. He scored a respectable 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 54 games as a rookie. He followed it up with an even more impressive sophomore season, netting 15 goals and 35 assists for 50 points in 56 games.
Things looked up for him but after a regression in production last year with 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 52 games. He also earned a short stint with the big club and although his three points in 12 games leaves something to be desired, it is not bad given his limited minutes on a team far down the NHL standings.
Lysell will turn 23 this year and although last year was a bit of a down year, the forward still shows incredible flashes of high end skill and elite skating. He still has some runway to develop and with his NHL potential still very much there, he could be an intriguing option for the Oilers to explore. Though, with his failure to secure a role and his name not being pencilled into the Bruins lineup this season, it is fair to question how impactful he could be.
It is also hard to see where acquiring him would benefit the Oilers when they already have players like Ike Howard and Matt Savoie who can fill this type of role for the club.
Conclusion
Speaking of Savoie, the rumor suggests him as well as roster player Vasily Podkolzin and prospects Beau Akey and Maxim Beryozkin could be going the other way in this trade. If the Bruins want either of Akey, Beryzokin, and especially Savoie, the Oilers should not make this move.
Oilers executive Kalle Larsson said last week about Beryozkin, 23, "He's already playing pro so if he comes in, he would be a potential top-nine forward." which does not sound like the club would part ways with him quickly especially for a question mark in Lysell. Akey, 20, is the Oilers' top defensive prospect by a wide margin and is two years younger than him.
Savoie is 21 years old, a year younger than Lysell and although he had a similar year to him at the same age, he is the Oilers top prospect and with more prestige and the expectation that he will slot into the Oilers lineup this year, he should hold much more trade value. There also are not the same questions about his potential to be an NHL player as there are with Lysell.
We will see how things transpire over the coming weeks but as of right now, I think the Oilers should steer clear, especially at the rumored cost of acquisition.