3 under-the-radar trades that will complete the Edmonton Oilers at the deadline

The Edmonton Oilers have been one entertaining hockey team throughout the 2023-24 season, and one way to make this team ultra-entertaining is to land one last trade piece if they can afford it. A blockbuster trade for a talent like Adam Henrique would make this team one of the most intriguing in the Western Conference, but a talent like Henrique would be tough for Edmonton to pull off, given potential cap restraints.

Fortunately for the Oilers, there are more manageable options if they feel a blockbuster is out of the question. There are more cost-effective players who can add another layer to either their scoring, which is 10th in the league as of February 21st, or defensively, which will further help out what has been some decent goaltending through the season’s first four months. 

Scott Laughton’s defensive tendencies would be a huge assist

Scott Laughton isn’t a prolific scorer, but the forward’s defensive game will take pressure off goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Neither is facing more than 26.6 shots on goal per game on average, which is a testament to how well Edmonton is playing defensively. 

However, Skinner’s save percentage of 0.906 and overall hot and cold streaks are causes for concern. While the Oilers could bring in one more goaltender to help solidify the backup position as a 1B, if they opt to instead further improve their defensive game, a defensive forward like Laughton would be an excellent choice. 

It’s difficult to know what the Flyers will do over the next two weeks, as they could end up buying, given their stellar points total so far. But there is always a chance they end up selling, and a physical center like Laughton could join Edmonton’s middle-six and make it harder for opponents to find sound scoring lanes. As an added bonus, Laughton also has multiple years remaining on his contract.