The Edmonton Oilers made a quick pre-game trade with the Philadelphia Flyers and it involves a pair of defenceman.
Just moments before puck drop against the New Jersey Devils, the team announced that they had traded AHL defenceman Ben Gleason to the Flyers in exchange for defenceman Ronnie Attard.
The #Oilers have acquired defenceman Ronnie Attard from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenceman Ben Gleason. pic.twitter.com/JUHFdodJ4R
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 5, 2024
Gleason arrived at the Oilers organization last season and spent the entirety of his time with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, failing to earn a call-up to the NHL in that time, but putting up 36 points in 69 AHL games.
They get a defenceman with NHL experience coming back in the 25-year-old Attard. The right-hand shot appeared in 12 games with the Flyers last season, putting up two assists in that span. Attard has played in a total of 29 NHL games with Philadelphia since 2021-22 and is a former third-round pick of the club from 2019.
880 CHED’s Bob Stauffer posted on social media saying the deal is likely the result of the Condors having a logjam of AHL veterans, which Attard is not considered.
Attard can shoot the pill. Double-digit goals in each of the last 2 seasons in the AHL.
6’3″ Right-Shot D.
Has some upside.
He also is NOT considered an AHL Veteran.
Alleviates the @Condors logjam with Veterans… https://t.co/oXvF5AsKuh— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) November 5, 2024
Attard will join a Condors team that is off to a lukewarm start to the new season. Bakersfield currently ranks fifth in the Pacific Division with a 3-2-2-1 through the first eight games of the season.
He will also present another call-up option for an Oilers team that is having some trouble on the right side of their defensive group. Considering his NHL experience, he may have a leg up over some younger players who have yet to make it into the big leagues.