The Edmonton Oilers are very close to having to make some really tough decisions as players start to return from injury. The team started the year with multiple players on injured reserve and long term but have added more names as the season has moved along.
Top line winger Zach Hyman started the year on LTIR, after sustaining an injury in the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars. He underwent surgery on his injured wrist over the off season but has yet to return since.
The Oilers also have forwards Kasperi Kapanen, Mattias Janmark, and defenceman Alec Regula on the IR. Soon, these players will come back and will have ripple effects on the roster and the salary cap situation.
This has lead reporters, most recently Elliotte Friedman on his Saturday Headlines intermission show on Hockey Night in Canada to report that the Oilers could be looking at making a trade.
Oilers will need to make moves to be cap compliant
As of right now, according to puckpedia the Oilers have roughly $325,000 in salary cap space available with Hyman on LTIR. The team also currently has 22 out of the maximum 23 players on their active roster not counting their players on the injured list. Counting those players, the Oilers have 26 players on their roster and nearly $2.8 million over the NHL salary cap.
The Oilers will have to make moves either by sending multiple players down through waivers or through trades. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Oilers have been looking at making a trade, specifically shipping out one of their depth defenders, naming Troy Stecher as one that is being shopped around.
On 'Saturday Headlines' Friedman said "It doesn't necessarily have to be (Troy) Stecher," he said, following up by clarifying "I think the Oilers have considered a bunch of things but he is definitely one of the people who is being considered, I have heard there is some interest and I think the Oilers are trying to find him a soft landing."
His name being dropped on such a big stage during the weekly HNIC broadcast is a good indication that these rumours have some weight to them. It would not be shocking to see Stecher be the one dealt but it would not be the first time that reports have been inaccurate.
Why Stecher?
Although it is unclear why the Oilers specifically are looking to move Stecher, given their glut of depth on defence, it makes sense that they would look to open up one of their 50 standard player contract slots.
The team has multiple depth defenders such as; Stecher, Regula, Josh Brown, Atro Leppanen, Cam Dineen, and Riley Stillman. It is possible that Stecher is the one who is generating the most interest due to his lengthy career and his contract terms. He is on the final year of his deal, carrying a $787,500 annual average value.
Stecher, 31, has played 79 games as an Oiler, scoring three goals and six assists for nine points. Over his career he has 566 career games scoring 22 goals, 95 assist, for 117 points with six different clubs; The Vancouver Canucks, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, and the Oilers.
If the club moves him, it will likely be for a small return such as a late round pick but if the Oilers can free up a contract slot, it would be a worthwhile maneuver.