Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli meeting with the media yesterday.
On the Edmonton Oilers …
Bob Stauffer: Think that the best case scenario for success for Nail Yakupov is in the Eastern Conference. Teams that could give him a shot in their top-six could be interested.
Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: If the Edmonton Oilers trade Nail Yakupov this offseason, they’ll likely try to get a bigger forward who plays a different style than Yakupov – someone like Marcus Foligno – along with a draft pick.
The 22-year old Yakupov needs a change of scenery.
“It’s my favourite game, the only sport I play and you want to push hard. I want to leave everything on the ice but sometimes it was tough when I didn’t have the opportunity to play. Last couple of weeks were pretty good on whatever line.”
“I love this city, it’s like my home, I love the people and played for the fans. Tried to leave everything on the ice for them. I love my team and I love you guys (media), too,” he said, with a laugh.
“But it’s a big business. I’m pretty sure my agent and the team will talk if there’s big moves.”
The Oilers will likely re-sign Eric Gryba, but pending UFAs Adam Cracknall, Adam Pardy and Nikita Nikitin likely won’t be back.
Pending RFAs Zack Kassian and Jordan Oesterle will likely be re-signed.
Jonathan Willis of the Edmonton Journal: Going off of Elliotte Friedman radio interview last week that for the Oilers to land Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic, it might take a deal involving Oscar Klefbom. If the Oilers made a trade involving Klefbom, it would leave the Oilers a little light on the left side. They may be required to bring in another left-handed defenseman.
“The argument for this is either a) that there’s an especially compelling left-shot option on the trade market, a guy that Edmonton wants anyway or b) the Oilers believe they have a strong shot at a difference-making free agent (Keith Yandle, for example) who plays the left side.”
They can try to improve their blueline and don’t involve Klefbom in a trade.
David Staples: Sounds like GM Peter Chiarelli would prefer to move a forward in a deal for a defenseman.