Report: Oilers linked to a trio of forwards in trade talks

With the Edmonton Oilers continuing their slide down the Western Conference standings, something's got to give.

Edmonton Journal reporter and longtime Oilers insider Jim Matheson doesn't feel like a coaching change is coming for the team, meaning that Dave Tippett is likely off the hot seat... for now. That won't help calm the frustrations of Oilers fans who have been calling for Tippett to be removed, but Matheson feels it's the right thing to do to keep Tippett behind the bench. Personally, I'll disagree with Matheson here... but that's par for the course, really. I'll be honest when I say that Matheson seems woefully out of touch with the modern day NHL, having honed his craft with the 80s Oilers powerhouse.

Having said all that, Matheson is still well connected in the Oilers organization (perhaps too well connected) so when he reports on something, it's almost certainly true. Which brings us to Matheson's latest column for the Edmonton Journal in which he links the team to three forwards on the trade market: Evander Kane of the San Jose Sharks, Dylan Strome of the Chicago Blackhawks and Jake DeBrusk of the Edmonton Oilers.

From Matheson:

Teams have little to no cap room (so it’s dollar in, dollar out) or they are offering players like McDavid’s former junior teammate Dylan Strome (Chicago), who makes $3-million, or Evander Kane, who has his myriad of issues.

Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk probably would help, but unless Oilers could convince him to re-up for several years in the $3-million range after the season, they aren’t qualifying him at $4.85 million salary to keep his rights. So he would be an unrestricted free-agent.

- Jim Matheson

The other issue, of course, is what/who do the Oilers have to give up in a potential trade to land a top six forward?

Again from Matheson:

The Oilers have precious few assets to move. Maybe defenceman Dmitry Samorukov because Markus Niemelainen may have passed him by. They aren’t trading Jesse Puljujarvi or Evan Bouchard obviously or most likely Philip Broberg in the minors. Dylan Holloway is a non-starter because they have no blue-chip prospect forwards on the farm. Maybe first-rounder Xavier Bourgault, still playing junior, or their 2022 first-round pick.

Yamamoto for another winger? Maybe. But, who else?

- Jim Matheson

So... Dmitry Samorukov, Xavier Bourgault or Kailer Yamamoto? Call me cynical, but I don't think any of those three players get you much back on the trade market. Gotta give to get, after all.