Oilers target help on trade market for their blue line

There are rumours around the league, reported by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, that the Arizona Coyotes are shopping defenseman Jakob Chychrun. The chatter got to the ears of Oilers’ general manager Ken Holland and Friedman explained on the Jeff Marek Show that a trade come to fruition in Edmonton.

While Friedman made it clear that Chychrun has not requested a trade, the Coyotes are aware that the rebuild will be more challenging for the blue liner in the prime of his career at 23 years old. They also know his value will never be higher than it is right now, seeing that is questionable performance is more linked to the team’s struggles than his talent. Time to a transaction.

Friedman reports that general manager Bill Armstrong is taking calls. Though the asking price is “massive”, it is not scaring off interested parties because of the overall circumstances involving Chychrun’s affordable contract and the Coyotes rebuilding process.

That’s where the Oilers come in. Friedman believes Chychrun could help address their need for a left-shot defenseman and become a target for in Edmonton.

Marek mentions other possible targets for the Oilers in Montreal Canadiens Ben Chiarot or the Coyotes’ Shayne Gostisbhere, but Friedman believes Chychrun would be the better add because of the three years remaining on his contract.

Clearly there are some options out there for the Oilers, and Friedman makes it clear that the best one at the moment is in the desert.