- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: If the Oilers are looking at the Blues Patrik Berglund (can play center, but currently playing), the Blues could be asking about Jordan Eberle. Not saying a one-for-one deal, but Eberle would fill the vacant winger spot the moving Berglund would create. Berglund has two-years left at $3.7 million. Eberle is in the second year of a six-year, $36 million deal.Teams are asking the Oilers about David Perron. Matheson wonders if the Canadiens would move David Desharnais for Perron?The Blues might be interested in moving current fourth liner, Steve Ott, who has another year left on his contract at $2.6 million.
- Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal: Trade rumors are surrounding the Oilers, but Dallas Eakins doesn’t want to see trade.
“I don’t want to see anybody traded. I don’t want to see anybody else fall,” said head coach Eakins, who met with each of his players before they hit the ice. “The group has shown in spurts this year that they can get the job done. We have to get the job done.
“I’m not standing around here, our staff is not standing around, and neither are our players, waiting for Craig to ‘please bail us out’.”
- Darren Dreger: Eastern teams are saying that Oilers GM Craig MacTavish is very eager to trade for a center. Source saying that “no one is off limits.”
- Nichols on Hockey: (Radio talk) Dreger: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins won’t be traded, they need centers. Hard to see them moving Taylor Hall. It’s possible they could move Jordan Eberle and Justin Schultz. David Perron is the most obvious candidate to be moved, though they likely won’t get a No. 2 for him.McKenzie on the Oilers:
“I think they have to now. It’s absolutely essential that – whether it’s a Jordan Eberle or Nail Yakupov or somebody else – Justin Schultz – whatever. Some of those bodies need to be moved and parlayed into different pieces that address the specific weaknesses of the team as it exists.”
Elliotte Friedman on who might be available.
“Behind the scenes, I think the Oilers were working a lot of stuff. I think – when I was on Saturday night, I had heard their key guys were not available. I don’t know if that’s true anymore. I think the Oilers might have thrown everybody on the table. Now, I think if we’re talking somebody like a Taylor Hall, the price is massive. I really do think that.
From Perron’s comments after Friday’s game, it’s likely he’d be okay with a trade out of Edmonton. Jeff Petry is likely gone as well. Friedman thinks they would do almost anything to get the center they want.
McKenzie: Taylor Hall is probably the only player the Oilers don’t want to talk to teams about. Won’t get a No. 2 center for Perron, but he could land one, or a defenseman or goaltender. McKenzie wonders what you could get if you packaged Perron with a Jordan Eberle, Nail Yakupov or Justin Schultz? Flyers names that have come up again include Brayden Coburn and Brayden Schenn.
