Proposed Trade With Panthers Could Help The Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers really need to make some moves if they intend to make a postseason run this season.

There are lots of trade rumors making the rounds. We saw one and will pass it on here for your consumption.

The trade would go like this:

Edmonton gets Panthers' defenceman Radko Gudas and forward Givani Smith for the Oilers' Jesse Puljujarvi and Warren Foegele plus a 6th round pick.


For Edmonton, it would solve the dilemma of moving Puljujarvi and Foegele, both of whom who have decreased levels of play.

For Florida they get two young players who may do much better with a fresh start. What better place to get that rejuvenation than the sunshine state?

Puljujarvi will be a restricted free agent after this season and carries a $3 million cap hit. Foegele has a $2.75 million cap hit and his contract is good through next season.

Both players would blend well into the Panthers offence and their NHL careers could flourish there.

This would clear up about $2.5 million in cap space for the Oilers. They would be getting that shut down type defenceman which they have been seeking. Gudas has 162 hits in 40 games this season. He averages over 18 minutes of ice time per game and is a good puck possession player. For his career, his +/- stat is an impressive +62.

He could be paired up with young Philip Broberg and be a mentor. While the Oilers are seeking a left-shooting blueliner, Gudas could fit in well and do a decent job.

Looking at it from Florida's perspective, they would need to come up with some cap space to allow this deal to work. Patric Hornqvist is on LTIR along with his $5.3 million cap hit. He is 36, and could also be traded, along with forward Anthony Duclair who may return soon from injury.

Most prospective trades have been hindered by a majority of teams being short on cap space. That tends to mean they GM's need to get creative to consummate a deal.

One thing is certain, Puljujarvi will be traded soon, and if the Oilers can unload Foegele to add some cap space to work other deals, they will be headed in the right direction.

GM Ken Holland will certainly be a busy person as the March 3rd trade deadline approaches. Let's see what he can do.