Insider reveals trade cost for Oilers to land a top-four defenceman
The Edmonton Oilers have managed to claw their way back to a .500 record, but big questions still intensify regarding the team's back-end - specifically on the right side.
According to sources, the Oilers remain on the hunt to acquire a top-four NHL defenceman. Oilers insider Bob Stauffer recently weighed in on the topic, revealing his thoughts on what it would cost the team to acquire an elite NHL defenceman.
Although dishing out 2 second round draft picks to receive a top-for calibre defenceman seems unlikely, it has happened it the past. According to Liam McCormick of Oilers Daily, The trade cost of two second draft picks for a top four defenceman calls back most recently to the trade that sent Devon Toews to Colorado for that same price. At the time, Toews was highly praised by some analysts as a rising star, and the Avalanche pounced at just the right time to acquire him for a steal of a deal.
As it stands, the market isn't exactly bountiful with top-4 D-men. As it stands, Ivan Provorov, Marcus Pettersson, Artem Zub, and Henri Jokiharju remain the top candidates for an upgrade on the Oilers blue-line.
Another name that has been circulating heavily in the trade rumour mill is Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Seth Jones.
According to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, the Oilers have been named front runners to pickup Seth Jones in a blockbuster trade. Although the Oilers would have to take on Seth Jone's monstrous contracts, Wyshynski believes that if salary retentions comes into play, a beneficial deal on both sides could come to fruition. GM Stan Bowman also has strong ties to the Chicago Blackhawks, further increasing the possibility of a trade.
