Oilers trade rumours: Edmonton eyeing heavyweight Matt Rempe

The Edmonton Oilers want to get bigger in their bottom six, and one way they could do so is by trading for six-foot-nine New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe.

You know, the 270-lb heavyweight with 11 fights in 87 NHL games.

Edmonton’s desire to beef up comes from head coach Mike Babcock, Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli reported Thursday, saying Rempe is one name he’s “believed to admire.”

“Babcock has campaigned internally for more size and brawn in his forward group, which GM Stan Bowman is now examining on the trade market,” Seravalli wrote, adding that the cost for Rempe is believed to be a mid-round draft pick.

The 24-year-old has largely played spot duty for the Rangers over the last four years, with two head coaches — Peter Laviolette and now Mike Sullivan — struggling to figure out how to maximize the player. He has played in just two games this year, one of which he fought Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jeffrey Viel, averaging six minutes and 46 seconds of ice time.

Across his 87 games, he’s scored five goals and 11 points, racking up a staggering 154 penalty minutes, and has played seven minutes and 56 seconds per night.

“It’s not necessarily that the Oilers need a fighter, but perhaps a deterrent so opponents are less inclined to take liberties with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl,” wrote Seravalli. “Plus, so much of Edmonton’s bottom half of their forward corps is homogenous or similar. They could use a change of pace.”

Rempe, who is eligible for waivers, is in the second year of a two-year contract paying him $975,000, according to PuckPedia. He’s represented by agent Gerry Johansson, who represents Oilers forwards Colton Dach and Matthew Savoie.

The Oilers are set to embark on an Eastern road trip, visiting the New York Islanders Saturday, the Rangers Sunday, and the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.