A few names have popped up from the rumour mill recently and with the Oilers not seeing any game action until this Friday it seemed like a good time to discuss them.

DAVID JIRICEK

From one standpoint, I can see exactly why the Edmonton Oilers are interested in David Jiricek. Drafted 6th overall in 2022, the 20 year old right shot defenseman is a big mobile defender who excels at a transition game and is a highly intelligent player who uses his speed and positioning as opposed to being physical defensively. If that description sounds a whole lot like Philip Broberg than you would be correct.

Also similar to Broberg is how he feels about the organization that drafted him. Like the Oilers and Broberg, the Blue Jackets have blocked Jiricek's NHL journey by calling him up for a handful of games before sending him back down to the AHL. He has played some great hockey in the AHL (14-45-59 in 86 games) and it looks like there isn't much left for him except to start playing in the NHL) but the Blue Jackets have blocked him, most recently with acquiring Dante Fabbro off of waivers.

Jiricek could turn into a legitimate top four or even a true #1 defenseman but he is still only 20 and has played just 53 NHL games. Long term he could be a phenomenal fit with this team and give them two young right shot defenders in Bouchard and Jiricek to patrol the blue line in Edmonton for a decade or more. That all being said, everything this team has done signals that they are all in on winning a Cup in the next season or two and Jiricek is not a guarantee to be that top end player right now. Jiricek would be a gamble but I always have time for adding quality young players to keep the competing window open as long as possible.

JACOB TROUBA
For years when he was with the Jets, Jacob Trouba was an often mentioned name as a trade candidate to the Edmonton Oilers. For those young Oilers teams that got pushed around, a physical, gritty player like Trouba who could also put up some points seemed like a perfect match. Instead Trouba ended up in New York and has played there for the past six years, ending up being their captain.

Now things have started to sour and the Rangers are looking to make in season moves. Prior to this revelation there were a number of reports back in the summer that the team wanted to move Trouba and his 8 million dollar cap hit.

Trouba is not the 40-50 point player he once was but he is still a physical pest who brings toughness to the blue line. My big concern is that for the past few years, the puck has not been going the right way when he is on the ice.

Keeping in mind that this is a Rangers team that has Shesterkin, over the past three seasons the Rangers have been outscored 127-143 when Trouba is on the ice and have been outchanced 566-599 as well. Those are concerning numbers to see for a guy you are adding because you want to stabilize the second pairing.

Unless the Oilers are able to get Trouba at a steal of a deal (50% retained for starters) than I don't see a great fit here for Edmonton.

CHRIS KREIDER

This last one I think has the least likely chance of happening out of the three but his name was specifically mentioned by Friedman and is worth talking about. The 33 year old winger has two years left on his contract after this one at a cap hit of 6.5 million. Since 21/22, Kreider has had a 50+ goal season, a 39 and a 36 goal season. Kreider has been one of the best natural goal scorers in the NHL over the past few years. This year he continues to score at a 35+ goal pace but has not registered a single assist.

There aren't great ways I could see the Oilers pulling off a Kreider type of trade. TI don't see them having the assets or the cap flexibility to take on Kreider at full salary. The best potential trade I could see the Oilers doing would be sending Jeff Skinner, Matt Savoie, and something else to make the cap situation work but I just don't see that happening.

What are your thoughts on these players? What do you think the Oilers will do?

Thanks for reading.

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