A rumored Oilers trade target is being kept under wraps, and TSN’s Darren Dreger says that’s intentional.
During an appearance on The Nielson Show, Dreger said Edmonton GM Stan Bowman is in serious conversations with an Eastern Conference team, and that the Oilers are believed to be the frontrunner on a player he declined to name. He made it clear he was holding back the identity on purpose.
“I'm not gonna mention the player's name because I know it, and I don't think that would be fair to the process”
Dreger then gave a little more shape to the mystery without giving away the answer. He described the player as “A young forward, a young center potentially, with plenty of upside, plenty of room to grow, and plenty to prove at the NHL level.
I know it's a conversation the Oilers have had for a number of weeks with a team in the Eastern Conference. I don't want Oilers fans to get too over the top.
We're talking about a guy who's still trying to prove his NHL value at this point.”
He added that he was being careful not to interfere with things from the player’s side as well. “If he needs a change of scenery and he might have a good landing place in Edmonton, then so be it.”
The Oilers, though, are still trying to make sure they fully understand the young players already in their own system and the value of what they have on hand. Mike Babcock has elluded to trying to find players on several occassions.
It may never become a deal at all. But if Edmonton decides its internal options aren’t enough, this is one rumor worth watching.
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Stastney had made Edmontons opening-night roster, but he has not played in a game this season, which gives the move a little extra weight for a team always trying to balance depth now against flexibility later. Hallander arrives with his own career path and recent performance history, and for the Oilers the real question is whether this is simply a depth shuffle or the first sign of a broader look at how the bottom of the lineup is being shaped. [Read more 🡒]
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For a club trying to round out its depth scoring, Hallander is an interesting fit because he brings a resume that suggests there may be more to unlock than his NHL sample has shown so far. The deal also nudges Edmonton in the right direction financially, which only adds to the appeal of taking a swing on a player who could help stabilize the lower half of the lineup if the fit is right. [Read more 🡒]