Juicy trade rumours emerge out of Edmonton!

Before the 2022-23 season got underway, NHL insider Kevin Weekes reported that Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland “might have a few more tricks up his sleeves” and that he had “has made it clear that he wants to go all in this year.”

We’re getting the sense from another NHL insider that the rumours might be true.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Oilers have now been linked to both Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews and Anaheim Ducks’ John Klingberg.

Friedman and co-host Jeff Marek put out some interesting predictions on their 32 Thoughts podcast and linked both Toews and Klingberg to the Oilers.

“I assume Toews is going to be traded, I assume Kane is going to be traded, we both said NY Rangers are the most likely team for Kane. Toews, I’ve mentioned Colorado. I know I’m trading everyone to Edmonton in this pod but I wonder if Toews would make sense there?”

It is no secret that the Oilers’ top two forward lines are stacked with talent, but that the defence corps could be improved. They can count on an elite player in Darnell Nurse, but they need fire power on the back end… However, Klingberg carries a $7-million hit this year and Edmonton would need the help of a third team to join in the deal to be able to eat salary on either of the pending UFAs. As you know, Toews is very expensive at $10.5-million, though the Blackhawks could accept to absorb some of his salary.

Klingberg was an Oilers’ target before he signed as a free agent in Anaheim. Holland would like make a move to free up some space for Klingberg on the back end, maybe flipping Tyson Barrie and his salary for Klingberg…

The Oilers have also been linked to trade bait Jakob Chychrun in Arizona, though he is expected to cost Edmonton a lot in a trade.

The question remains if Holland is prepared to pay a large price to boost his defence group and acquire veteran leadership ahead of the postseason… I guess we will know what he means by going all in if he does pull the trigger on huge moves for a boost his roster.