Oilers scour trade market to fill an obvious void

The Edmonton Oilers won their first game of the season on Saturday against the New York Rangers, and kept going on Tuesday night against the Winnipeg Jets, completing the impressive comeback due in great part because of captain Connor McDavid. But one thing was made even clearer. They have an important void, and NHL insider Darren Dreger believes they are trying everything they can to fix it. 

“I’ve watched a couple of Oilers games this season,” said Dreger during a radio hit on Edmonton’s TSN 1260 . “It’s funny. I was just going back and forth with an NHL scout mere minutes before you called. This guy, who works for an Eastern Conference team, has been scouting the Oilers. And not to suggest that there’s anything going on from a trade perspective - that’s just the due diligence and the tour, if you will, of pro scouts. 

“He said the Oilers still look like they’re lacking transition, where they look like they need that puck-moving defenseman to get the puck up to Connor McDavid and the Oilers’ forwards. Haven’t we talked about that for the last couple of years?”

Every so often, GM Peter Chiarelli talks about the need to get an offensive blue liner, but nothing comes of it. He could have no other choice but to make it happen this season. 

“I want to give them the benefit of the doubt because it’s so early in the regular season. And I do know that the Edmonton Oilers are still in the market for a defenseman. It’s not like Pete Chiarelli is actively kicking down doors with some of his general manager colleagues and shaking the bushes, if you will, looking for that player - it’s just been consistent. It’s been an annual basis for Chiarell and co., that they’re looking for a specific type of defenseman. 

“But I get it now. The last couple of games I’ve watched, that transition game - or lack thereof - still seems to plague this team.”

The statistics speak for themselves: Darnell Nurse, who has collected a goal and two assists through the first four games, and Oscar Klefbom who recorded an assist last night are the only Oilers defensemen with a point thus far this season. At least, they managed to win 5-4 in overtime against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday… but yeah, four goals allowed, and very little support from the back end on the scoring board…

The void is screaming now… and the Oilers might have to finally pull the trigger to get some help.