3 under-the-radar trades that will complete the Edmonton Oilers at the deadline
The Edmonton Oilers are parading toward what we can call an unprecedented playoff run, but they could use another addition or two.
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.
David Savard would give the Oilers an imposing presence
David Savard is a player the Oilers could bring in at a fair price should they instead decide to roll with one more blueliner and if the Montreal Canadiens are willing to retain some of his salary. Savard adds even more experience to a team that has over a dozen active skaters aged 30 and over, and he’s also made a couple of deep playoff runs in the past.
Experience in the NHL and postseason aside, Savard would also add another asset for an Oilers defense that can potentially rank as the NHL’s best. He’s an imposing player who can still give a contender a spot on the top-four if needed. Savard is also a hitter, and there is a 100 percent chance he will block more than a fair share of would-be shots on goal.
He wouldn’t come at a cheap price, given Edmonton’s limited cap space at the deadline, but he would be well worth it not only for 2023-24, but also for another potential run in 2024-25 should Edmonton keep rolling next year. Making such a trade would be a win for the Oilers as they are getting another solid piece in the rotation, and Montreal would definitely get a solid return to keep fueling their young organization.
Kaapo Kahkonen would provide insurance and a solid 1B
While Stuart Skinner has more than shown us he can be one of the NHL’s more consistent goaltenders, it’s also true that February has been a different story for the young goaltender. Right now, however, Calvin Pickard is not a 1B, given his 10 total outings this season, so there is a chance Edmonton ultimately shops around for one more netminder.
Doing so would make sense, as the Oilers score enough as it is and, despite the other two names on this list, they already more than hold up defensively. But down the stretch, Skinner cannot go on these hot and cold runs, which has been the case since the 2024 calendar year began, or to be more accurate, a little beforehand.
Someone rather affordable like Kaapo Kahkonen, who is almost a guarantee to be moved elsewhere come the trade deadline, would be a major upgrade as a 1B. Acquiring someone like Kahkonen would keep Skinner from starting over 75 percent of the Oilers games when the playoff race gets serious from mid-March until mid-April, and we would likely continue to see him bringing his A-Game when he lines up between the pipes.
Overall, the Oilers couldn’t go wrong adding a goaltender like Kahkonen, who could end up putting together more than a few sound starts for a talented team like Edmonton.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 20th)