Oilers Send Clear Trade Deadline Message to Early Sellers

Bowman is essentially promising that the Oilers will use the cap space before the NHL Trade Deadline this season. The plan is to spend, but only when a team calls and makes a player in the $2.5 million or so range available. The trade will mean not having to move anything back in the deal, but the only obligation on the Oilers’ end will be to take on the contract.

Who Might Become Available?

If we read way too much into Bowman’s words — knowing that the $2.5 million was likely just a number he threw out there — we can potentially identify a couple of names that might be on his radar. Granted, he’s talking about opportunities that present themselves out of nowhere, so this is a best-guess scenario.

If we focus on teams that might become sellers early, we can realistically assume Vancouver, Calgary, Detroit, Seattle, and Pittsburgh could be among the teams that might have trouble getting in or are bubble clubs. It seems unlikely the Flames would move Adam Klapka for nothing, but he’s a player the Oilers might have interest in. A pro-rated Jacob Middleton might be interesting. He’s a $4.35 million cap hit. Vancouver has Luke Schenn at $2.25 million on a one-year deal. We already know about Pittsburgh and their willingness to explore a Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell trade. While salary potentially works, the ask will be high. What about Jared McCann in Seattle at $5 million? Pro-rated and salary retained, he’d be a nice fit in Edmonton’s top six.

The point here is that you can see what Bowman is eyeing up. He knows that players will pop free, and he wants the Oilers to be in a position to entertain trade discussions. Whether that leads to teams calling him often during the season remains to be seen. But, by tipping his hand early, he’s made it clear the Oilers are open and willing to talk.