The air around Rogers Place is getting thicker as the Friday deadline gets closer.
Bob Stauffer, who hosts Oilers Now, says that general manager Stan Bowman and head coach Kris Knoblauch are probably still working on changing their team for a strong playoff performance.
On Tuesday, Stauffer hinted that the Edmonton Oilers might make up to two more trades before the 3:00 PM deadline on March 6.
The biggest challenge is the salary cap, which means that any changes will likely involve some players leaving to make room for new ones.
“I don’t think the Oilers are done yet. The NHL trade deadline is on Friday. I could see them making two more trades. It might end up being none. But it could also be two. You might see someone leave, which would allow them to bring in a player. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
One player that a lot of people are talking about as a possible target is Nicolas Roy. The forward from the Toronto Maple Leafs offers the exact “solid execution” and flexibility that the Oilers really need after losing Mattias Janmark to an injury for the rest of the season.
Jim Matheson said, “If the Oilers want Nic Roy from the Maple Leafs like Bob Stauffer mentioned, I support that idea. He’s a Cup winner, a big guy, has a right shot, and can score. Nic Roy has one more year left on his contract at $3 million, so he will be more expensive to trade for. Bowman likes players who still have time left on their contracts. He’s played a lot of playoff games against the Oilers. ”
Roy, who is 29 years old, is a tall center who does well during transitions and on the penalty kill. With a salary cap hit of $3 million until 2027, he is exactly the type of player Bowman wants for both the present and the future.
Who will the Oilers trade to create more room in their budget?
The Oilers are now in third place in the Pacific Division with a total of 66 points. Even though their scoring remains top-notch, their defense and scoring depth have not been very steady since the Olympic break.
Bowman has been busy making moves, but bringing in a player like Roy, who is big and can play well with his right hand, would give Knoblauch a fresh start for his third and fourth lines.
This season, Roy has scored 28 points in 61 games while also being very effective in the faceoff area.
Time is running out. The next 72 hours will be filled with a lot of action in Northern Alberta.
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