The Edmonton Oilers have had defensive depth points for some time now, and it has change into clear over the previous few seasons that followers don’t have any downside voicing their issues on social media. Whereas all indicators level to the crew discovering success because the 2024-25 season rolls alongside, there’s a chance their defensive depth points might come again to hang-out them come playoff time. Whereas upgrading Cody Ceci for Ty Emberson final offseason was a powerful transfer that helped the blue line, the crew didn’t take a swing for any big-name defenders throughout free company.
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With the unlucky gradual begin at each ends of the ice for Evan Bouchard, it appears as if the Oilers would possibly must carry somebody in sooner moderately than later. Contemplating the defensive facet of the sport has been their greatest weak point, they need to goal for a defensive-minded defender, and New York Rangers’ Jacob Trouba, who could also be accessible, does not match the invoice. In a current article from fellow The Hockey Writers’ journalist Brett Slawson, he argued the Oilers ought to commerce for Trouba and talked about it may benefit each groups and make the Oilers a extra intimidating crew to play towards. On this article, we’re going to take the alternative method.
Trouba’s Cap Hit Ought to Flip Oilers Away
Trouba has an $8 million cap hit that takes him via the 2025-26 season. With the Oilers already tight with their cap house, pulling off a commerce for Trouba appears near unattainable, and he would additionally should be open to accepting a commerce to go to Edmonton, contemplating his commerce safety in his contract. Whereas the Rangers might be open to retaining a few of his wage in hopes of creating a deal occur, they might nonetheless should tackle near $4 million in return. As talked about by Slawson, Evander Kane might be a beautiful asset and doing a swap between these two gamers may make some sense as it could bolster the Oilers’ defensive depth whereas it could bolster the Rangers’ offensive depth.
The primary difficulty with this deal is that Trouba’s defensive recreation isn’t robust, and the Oilers would profit from concentrating on extra of a shutdown defender. Trouba’s bodily play might be a beautiful asset for loads of groups trying to change into harder to play towards, which the Oilers may benefit from, nevertheless it isn’t one thing they need to worth over taking part in extra defensive hockey.
Whereas Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard each haven’t performed nicely between the pipes this season, it wouldn’t make sense to place somebody who has been considered as a defensive legal responsibility in entrance of them. Trouba’s analytics aren’t nice defensively, and he hasn’t had a lot love from Rangers followers over the previous few seasons contemplating that. His offensive recreation is alright, however the Oilers don’t want one other offensive-minded defender.
Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba is likely to be on the commerce block because the Rangers look to shake issues up. #NYR pic.twitter.com/0f2mo0Eivv
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) November 25, 2024
The Rangers’ hearth sale comes as a little bit of a shock to some followers across the league contemplating they’ve been doing nicely sufficient to take care of a playoff spot, however the Oilers shouldn’t overpay for a man like Trouba. They’ve some enticing property who might be useful to a playoff run like Chris Kreider or Kaapo Kakko, however there are higher choices across the league they need to goal as a substitute. On the finish of the day, it appears as if the Rangers will probably be transferring on from Trouba sooner or later and whereas he nonetheless has some worth as a depth offensive defender, the Oilers ought to keep away from him.
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