Oilers miss their chance with talented former 1st round D-man

The Edmonton Oilers are stumbling through a second straight inconsistent start to their campaign. And while it isn't quite as bad as last season, it's still something for fans to be concerned about. (Especially with Connor McDavid now out for two-to-three weeks.)

As you'd expect for a team struggling to find their form, all areas of the roster are contributing towards what are disappointing overall results. This includes a defensive effort which is one of the poorest in the NHL.

Ahead of Thursday's slate of action, the Oilers are ranked seventh-worst in average goals allowed per game, and third-worst in team goalie save percentage. Throw in a penalty kill unit which is the least efficient in the league, and it really does not look good right now in Edmonton.

With this in mind, the Oilers desperately need some help on the blue line. As we wrote about on Tuesday, TSN's NHL insider Darren Dreger reported general manager Stan Bowman is aggressively working the phones, looking for help in the trade market.

Did Bowman miss the boat on potential blue line help?

However, we'd have to question just how aggressively -- or maybe more to the point, thoroughly -- Bowman is doing this, given news which emerged on Wednesday. As confirmed by the Leafs, they have traded Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks.

This would be the same Timothy Liljegren we previously implored the Oilers to make a move for, after speculation emerged that he had fallen out of favour in Toronto and was a candidate to be traded. As we wrote at the time, the defenceman skates well, is an excellent puck handler, athletic, and still with untapped potential.

On top of this, Liljegren happens to be a right-hand shot, which is exactly where the Oilers need an upgrade. And yet, he has instead ended up being traded to the Sharks.

Missing out on the talented blue liner becomes even more frustrating, when you consider what the Sharks gave up to he Leafs to acquire him. More specifically, a third round draft pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, San Jose’s sixth-round selection in 2026, and Matt Benning. (Yes, the defenceman who previously played four seasons for the Oilers.)

Certainly, you would think the Oilers could have put together a comparable package to try and entice the Leafs? Now it's entirely possible Bowman did and they just didn't bite, but how aggressively are you really looking for help, when someone who would upgrade the right-shot defenceman position, slips through your fingers?

The salary cap implications

Now we appreciate there is also the financial aspect to consider, with Liljegren in the first season of a two-year deal with an annual cap hit of $3 million. As per PuckPedia, at the time of writing the Oilers have $4,745,780 of cap space.

Further, there is the spectre of Evander Kane's cap hit of $5.125 million for the 2024-25 campaign hanging over the Oilers. This has to be accounted for, pending if and when he comes off Long-Term Injured Reserve during the regular season.

However, we firmly believe the Oilers could have found a way to make it work financially, if they had truly wanted Liljegren. And in fairness, we do have to accept the possibility that he just wasn't someone Bowman had an/enough interest in.

If this is the case though, we firmly believe the Oilers general manager has made a mistake, as Liljegren who could have helped the team. Fans will just have to hope his apparent aggressive pursuit for help via the trade market results in finding someone else to boost a team truly in need of an upgrade.

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