Edmonton Oilers set to trade roster player before regular season, says top insider
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Top Oilers insider Bob Stauffer has hinted the team will likely trade a roster player before the start of the regular season, in hopes of adding a new top 9 forward later.
Reports have emerged previously this offseason suggesting that Mattias Janmark could be a player to fall out of the NHL lineup, so he may be the most likely candidate to be traded.
Top Oilers insider hints at incoming trade, trade deadline priority this season
On the most recent edition of OilersNow, insider Bob Stauffer revealed the team's plan to trade a current roster player to clear salary cap space, and add a new physical top 9 forward at the trade deadline.
I'm going to throw you a little nugget. Some people brought up the issue of size up front. Yeah, and the Oilers signed Trent Frederic to the eight year deal. And not everybody likes the price point It's our belief that the Oilers are not done, that you may see between now and when we drop the puck for the first game of the regular season, a change in the lineup.
Maybe see Edmonton shed a contract. I could foresee a scenario where Edmonton builds cap space. And then come the deadline, adds a bigger Top 9 forward in the mix.
- Bob Stauffer
Maybe see Edmonton shed a contract. I could foresee a scenario where Edmonton builds cap space. And then come the deadline, adds a bigger Top 9 forward in the mix.
- Bob Stauffer
Janmark is the only player with limited trade protection in the Oilers bottom six that's struggled in the lineup. He's a quality defensive forward, but the reality is that players need to provide more than 2 goals a season - practically nothing offensively.
The Oilers have a few depth options in Noah Philp and Curtis Lazar who both make less than Janmark's $1.45M in salary, which would allow the Oilers to accrue salary cap space over the year.
Now 32 years old, Janmark has played 217 regular season games for the Oilers in the last 3 seasons, always serving as a quality defensive forward and penalty killer - but a Cup contending team needs more.
If the Oilers are able to move out Janmark and add some more physicality to their bottom six for the playoffs, that'd be a clear upgrade on what their bottom six is currently contributing.
Look out for the Oilers to move Mattias Janmark before the beginning of the regular season.
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