Should the Edmonton Oilers trade for Nick Robertson?

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Finnegan Frost
September 1, 2024 (12:43)

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As the debut of the highly anticipated NHL season comes knocking on our doorsteps, the Edmonton Oilers look for some last minute trade options to bolster their squad.

Nick Robertson, a highly skilled forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs is looking for a new city to call home. Robertson still remains an RFA heading into the NHL preseason, and the media is suggesting the Edmonton Oilers to give the kid a look.

Robertson's impressive two-way game could give the Oilers a much stronger depth chart, and it could also give him the fresh start he's been looking for. It would be tough for the two sides to pull off a deal that helps them both, but it's possible, and the Oilers should be pursuing him. He is an upgrade on veteran forward Derek Ryan, who is penciled into the Oilers' lineup currently.

The Oilers currently have $945,833 in cap space. If the Oilers wanted to make a safe bet, they could try and move Ryan, who has a $900,000 cap hit, instead of a prospect which gives them a bit more flexibility. With training camp rapidly approaching, hopefully, the Oilers make a move on Robertson and give him the fresh start he deserves to finally showcase what kind of potential the Maple Leafs are missing out on.

There is a big hole left in the Oilers bottom six regarding the departure of Dylan Holloway. Although it is believed Stan Bowman will look internally to his farm system in order to fill the gaps, the addition of a player like Robertson could be a viable solution.

Although trading away an asset like Derek Ryan could prove to be risky, adding young blood to the Oilers bottom six for a similar cap hit to Ryan's could be an option for Bowman moving forward.

source: The Hockey Writers
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