Insiders connect the Edmonton Oilers to a superstar goalie and a top two-way defenseman as deadline targets
This evening a new pair of reports from insiders Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun have linked the Edmonton Oilers to a pair of major upgrades on the trade market.
Yesterday insider Pierre LeBrun confirmed the Edmonton Oilers are expected to be active at the NHL trade deadline this season and we now have some potential targets to discuss.
The Edmonton Oilers clearly have not been happy with their on-ice performance so far this season playing well below the Stanley Cup contender expectations placed on them.
With the Oilers struggling to find consistency, there has been much debate about what exactly the problem is with the team's roster.
Some blame it on Stuart Skinner and the goaltending as the Oilers are near the bottom of the league in save percentage.
Others believe that the goaltending statistics are just a symptom of a struggling defensive unit.
Either way, new reports from Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun have linked the Oilers to both a goaltender and a defenseman to target at the trade deadline.
Edmonton Oilers linked to John Gibson and David Savard by insiders
In a new piece for The Athletic Johnston and LeBrun spoke about the upcoming NHL Trade Deadline and players who could be on the move.
Johnston mentions Anaheim Ducks all-star goaltender John Gibson as a name for Oilers fans to watch in the coming months.
The Oilers have been humming along through December with Stuart Skinner logging a majority of starts and don't have any apparent need at the position. However, they are a bottom-10 team in terms of save percentage and aren't loaded with options beyond Skinner in the event they ever have to play an extended run without him.
So while Gibson may not be a priority addition, he could be a sensible one - especially in the scenario detailed above where he's being acquired with a $3.2 million cap hit.
So while Gibson may not be a priority addition, he could be a sensible one - especially in the scenario detailed above where he's being acquired with a $3.2 million cap hit.
Then for those fans who would prefer an addition on defense over one in the net, LeBrun has confirmed that the Montreal Canadiens could be looking to offload defenseman David Savard for the right price.
Enter the Oilers. There will be sexier trade targets on the market, to be sure, but I think as a sixth or seventh defenseman who can help kill penalties and who won a Cup with the Lightning - plus is a right-shot D - he's a sensible idea for Edmonton. Especially considering I don't think Savard would cost an arm and a leg.
As the deadline approaches GM Stan Bowman will have to decide how aggressive he is willing to be to put the Oilers in a position to win the Stanley Cup this season.
If he is willing to go all-in then look for Gibson to be the main priority but if Bowman is looking for a cheaper upgrade when it comes to draft capital given up Savard might be the best deal to strike.
As more reports come out regarding the Edmonton Oilers plans we will pass along the latest details.
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