Oilers Want a Forward, But That’s Likely Not an Opportunity for Maple Leafs

The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly poking around the trade market, and the move might involve their blue line. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that Edmonton has a lot of defencemen and some forward injuries, and has explored a “lateral trade,” possibly a defenceman for a forward.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs recently acquired forward Miles Wood, whom they’re trying to offload. Is there a fit here? Nestor Quixtan of Editor in Leaf thinks so. I’m not as sold.

Who Could Edmonton Move?

The injuries explain why the Oilers are looking around. They are without Zach Hyman, Jason Dickinson, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Matt Saovie. Friedman noted the absences aren’t long-term, so Edmonton isn’t panicking, but a depth swap is on the table if the right one comes along.

The Oilers have more defencemen than spots. Spencer Stastney has been called the odd man out in the logjam, while Shakir Mukhamadullin, the main piece from the Darnell Nurse trade, looks like a player, but one who is struggling early. Ty Emberson is a quiet piece that offers solid depth and isn’t high maintenance.

One might argue that any or all of these players could be fits in Toronto.

Where the Maple Leafs Come In

Friedman didn’t name Toronto, so the Leafs angle here is mere speculation. At the same time, this is what writers, analysts, and media members are going to do: speculate as to who might be on the move and which teams make sense.

Toronto just reshaped its forward group, and Wood came over from Columbus in the Kirill Marchenko trade. Reports were that they immediately tried to flip Wood before ultimately placing him on waivers. John Chayka says Wood will remain with the Toronto Marlies. He doesn’t do much good there, so their attempts to move him make sense.

Why It’s a Tough Fit

Wood is 31, has three years left at a $2.5 million cap hit, and has a six-team no-trade list. Against Stastney’s $1.525 million expiring deal, or Emberson’s $1.3 million hit, Edmonton would take on roughly $1 million more in cap and two extra years of commitment. It’s tight.

Wood is also a depth winger who cleared waivers just days ago. That’s a lot of long-term cost for a team like the Oilers to trade a player if they could have had him for free.

Toronto might not want to add for the sake of adding either. This move, if it were made, would be about clearing Wood’s contract and then making a second decision on the defenseman they add.

The Leafs’ salary cap situation is as tight as, if not tighter than, Edmonton’s. Meanwhile, their back end isn’t lacking options. A team with cap trouble and no pressing need on defense has little reason to take a defenceman. They would likely waive whoever comes back in the trade, even if there’s a chance that player gets claimed.

The Maple Leafs Might Have to Offload Wood Elsewhere

A Leafs-Oilers swap isn’t impossible, but it’s not a perfect fit. Neither side has much cap flexibility, and neither gains much from the other’s surplus. If the Oilers wanted Wood, they could have had him.

The likelier scenario is that Edmonton moves a cheap, expiring defenceman like Stastney to a team that needs back-end depth. In return, it gets a forward on a short deal to cover the injuries until Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins and Saovie return. That player wouldn’t be locked into any deal. It would be someone the Oilers could move on from next season, or even during the year without much concern.

And, if all else fails, the Oilers trade a defenseman for future considerations, then subsequently sign an unrestricted free agent who remains on the market and doesn’t have a deal.