Oilers’ Ken Holland caught in a lie when answering questions about trade deadline

Maybe no one informed Edmonton Oilers general Ken Holland, but Frank Seravalli, an insider who can be trusted, has revealed that there is already a trade in place for forward Jesse Puljujärvi.

However, when asked about the upcoming trade deadline and what was going to happen in Edmonton as a guest on Wednesday on the Got Yer Back podcast with TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, Mike Johnson and TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, Holland talked about being his uncertainty to make a move because of the salary cap.

“[Regardless] of names, we’re dollar in, dollar out, so [if] we start bringing in people with big cap numbers, we’re going to have to do some real gymnastics here to move people out. When you’re in a LTI situation like we are, it’s much more difficult at the trade deadline.

“I would like to do something. Am I convinced I will do something? I don’t know.”

Well, it feels like you do know Holland and this is all a lie, or maybe a wait to lower all expectations in Edmonton to finally make a move that will please the fanbase. Sure, since he entered office, Holland has acquired depth players such as Andreas Athanasiou, Mike Green, Tyler Ennis, Brett Kulak and Derick Brassard at the deadline. But we are still waiting for that significant trade that will make the Oilers a true contender.

Holland first needs to get the cap in order. Per CapFriendly, the Oilers currently have $1.125 million in cap space with forward Kailer Yamamoto ($3.1 million AAV) eligible to come off the long term injured reserve on Saturday. Defenseman Oscar Klefbom ($4.1 million AAV) and goaltender Mike Smith ($2.2 million AAV) have been on Long-Term Injured Reserve since the start of the season.

“Once Yamamoto comes off LTI and no one else goes on, I’ve got some real difficult decisions to make,” Holland explained. “All of our bottom of the roster players are going to be involved in that decision to decide. They all can’t stay.”

Holland has commented on the possibility of making a splash, as Edmonton has been linked to Arizona Coyotes’ Jakob Chychrun in recent weeks. Maybe he’s hoping the price will come down…

“The market has to show itself,” said Holland. “I think early on, if you’re two-three weeks in advance of the deadline, if you’re a seller, you ask for a high price. And as you start to get near the deadline, you find the price points.”

Last season, the Oilers reached the Western Conference final before being swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.

Edmonton currently sits in the first wild card spot in the Western Conference with an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games.

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Oilers’ Ken Holland caught in a lie when answering questions about trade deadline

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