The Vancouver Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers made a trade on Friday after the trade deadline. They exchanged young forwards, which makes this deal more like a minor-league trade.
The Canucks traded 22-year-old Josh Bloom to the Oilers for 23-year-old Jayden Grubbe. Both of these players have not played in the NHL yet.
Although this trade seems small, it is a way to let these young players get a new chance with a different team.
Bloom was picked in the third round by the Buffalo Sabres in 2021. He became part of the Canucks when they traded for him in 2023. He has played in both the ECHL and the AHL. In 19 games with the ECHL, Bloom scored 15 goals and got 28 points. Because of his performance, he moved up to the AHL, where he only managed to score one goal in 19 games.
Because of this, Bloom might be a good addition to the Oilers. He will probably play the rest of the season in Bakersfield.
On the other hand, Grubbe, who is 23, was also a third-round choice, this time by the New York Rangers in the 2021 NHL Draft. He moved to Edmonton after the Oilers traded a 2023 fifth-round pick to the Rangers in 2023.
Grubbe has played in the AHL, where he scored two goals and got 14 points in 62 games last season. This year, he has played 28 games in the ECHL, scoring seven goals and earning 19 points. Grubbe could be a useful addition for the Canucks’ AHL team in Abbotsford.
Oilers Not Afraid to Give Prospects Fresh Start
The Oilers are willing to let their players who haven’t been performing well try again on other teams. Earlier this season, they made a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning, exchanging players who seemed stuck in their development.
Both teams swapped their best young players, with the Oilers sending Sam O’Reilly to Tampa. In exchange, Edmonton received Isaac Howard. Howard has actually done really well for the Oilers. He has scored 16 goals and made 35 points in just 33 games in the AHL.
At the NHL level, Howard has scored two goals and gained five points in 28 games. While those stats are not very impressive, the 21-year-old has made a lot of progress. Howard is expected to be part of the Oilers’ future plans.
Canucks Continue on Rebuild Path
On the other hand, the Canucks are still working on rebuilding their team. The trade with the Oilers on Friday was mainly about collecting as many chances to win as possible. Teams that are rebuilding usually seek out players who might have had a hard time in other teams.
So, why not take a chance on those players?
Bloom is likely to get an opportunity at training camp next fall. If he can show that he has what it takes, the Canucks might consider him for next season.
For now, both the Oilers and Canucks will be trying to improve their AHL teams. It’s important to remember that NHL teams make trades with the goal of helping their minor league teams succeed in the long run.
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