Oilers to acquire fan favourite for playoff push?

The Edmonton Oilers are keeping a close eye on the trade market, especially since losing their captain Connor McDavid to injury for the next weeks. 

It has been said more than once by team insiders that Edmonton is looking to acquire a shutdown bottom-six centre and The Hockey News has a great affordable option for them. 

In Jared Clinton’s latest article on 10 cost-effective trade options, he suggests Brian Boyle, who is loved around the league for his grit and the determination he had to beat cancer seasons ago. 

The Oilers would have pull this off with the Florida Panthers. However, this is why this move could be beneficial for the Oilers: 

“Any selling the Panthers do ahead of the trade freeze, especially of role players such as Boyle, will be contingent on their spot in the standings come deadline day. If GM Dale Tallon does decide to move out some veteran pieces, however, Boyle, 35, should be at the top of the list for any club that wants to add some size and scoring to its fourth line. It’s not as though Boyle is going to be a bank-breaker in either the cap or cost-of-acquisition sense, and his penalty killing acumen, strength in the faceoff circle and mild offensive ability are attributes contending teams will covet at the deadline.”

It remains to be seen if GM Ken Holland will want to make a move without his fully healthy roster. However, this could be a good risk to take.