The Edmonton Oilers will be in the market for a defenceman at this year’s trade deadline, but who they could target is still a mystery.
A report out of Pittsburgh had the Oilers connected to veteran Penguins defender Marcus Pettersson, which would make a lot of sense. Yet, 880 CHED’s Bob Stauffer appeared on Tuesday night’s broadcast between the Oilers and Ottawa Senators and alluded to the team possibly being interested in a player that is not “on anybody’s radar,” similar to how Mattias Ekholm wasn’t readily talked about in the moments before Edmonton acquired him.
So, who could this off-the-radar player be? There are a few potential answers to that question. Here are seven candidates:
1. Alexandre Carrier, RD, Nashville Predators
Alexandre Carrier may be a familiar name for Oilers fans who saw his name pop up endlessly last year as a trade target, but talk about him has quieted down significantly since he signed an extension with the Nashville Predators last summer.
However, Ekholm also signed a contract with the Predators before being shipped off, and considering Nashville’s early struggles, maybe he will shake loose to be a target once again.
2. Dante Fabbro, RD, Columbus Blue Jackets
Fabbro was at the top of most early trade lists for the Oilers, but after being claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets, much of that talk has died down.
Not so fast. Fabbro excelled with the Blue Jackets early on in his tenure, scoring three points in his first four games in Columbus. If he can continue to play well, his trade value will start to increase.
Columbus is expected to be sellers at the deadline and could easily cash in on this short-term investment.
3. Brandon Carlo, RD, Boston Bruins
It’s been a while since the Boston Bruins were sellers in the NHL, but could this finally be the year?
The Bruins have just fired head coach Jim Montgomery and have a losing record through the first 20 games of the season. If they do indeed decide to sell off assets, a guy like Brandon Carlo could potentially be on the move.
Carlo stands at six-foot-five and 217 lb and has two more years remaining on a contract that carries a $4.1 million cap hit.
4. David Jiricek, RD, Columbus Blue Jackets
It seems like a breakup is inevitable between Columbus and 2022 top-10 pick David Jiricek.
The 20-year-old has struggled to be an NHL regular on a lacklustre Blue Jackets team for a few seasons now. Call it mismanagement or simply underperformance by Jiricek; this may be the best time to step in with a lowball offer on a player with a high draft pedigree.
5. Mike Matheson, LD, Montreal Canadiens
Edmonton is looking for a right-handed defenceman, but that won’t preclude Montreal Canadiens veteran Mike Matheson.
While the 32-year-old is left-handed, he has plenty of experience playing on his off-side during his career. Matheson is coming off a career-high 62-point season in Montreal last season and has 13 points through his first 19 this year.
His value will be as high as ever, and his ability to move the puck up the ice could make him an attractive option for the Oilers.
6. Cam Fowler, LD, Anaheim Ducks
It sounds like things are progressing on Cam Fowler finally leaving a struggling Anaheim Ducks team for greener pastures.
At 32, Fowler has played nearly 1,000 NHL games in Orange County and has been a reliable top-four guy for quite a while. Yet, it seems like his age is starting to catch up to him, as injuries have limited him to 13 games this season so far, and his minutes are falling more in line with those of a bottom-pair guy.
He fits the bill for a veteran puck-mover, but asking him to play top-four minutes on a contender may be too much.
7. Colton Parayko, RD, St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are having a rough start to the season and could eventually wind up selling at this year’s deadline.
St. Albert native Colton Parayko could be one of the players who finds a new home as a result, and his reputation as a right-handed top-four two-way defenceman could make him attractive to the Oilers.
Yet, issues around an albatross contract and injury issues could muddy the waters on a potential trade.