7 defencemen Oilers could target in a potential trade
Early season returns on this year’s Oilers team have shown a few critical holes on the roster, specifically on the backend.
Edmonton has seen a bit of turnover with the defensive group over the offseason, losing guys like Cody Ceci and Vincent Desharnais and adding Ty Emberson and Travis Dermott.
The hope was that Emberson would blossom into a top-four defenceman beside Darnell Nurse on the second, but that dream was quickly squashed a mere month into the new season. Now, that second-pair RHD spot has become a bit of a revolving door.
Dermott and Troy Stecher have been rotating in that role for the majority of the season with neither making any strides in grabbing ahold of it. This points to the Oilers most likely having to rely on an outside solution through trade to eventually shore things up.
If Bowman wants to fill this void, he’ll have to think bigger. A lot of teams around the league are looking for a defenceman right now and the following seven players could potentially be targets for the Oilers to finally find a consistent partner for Nurse:
1. Dante Fabbro, Nashville Predators
- Age: 26
- Hand: Right
- 2024-25 stats: 6 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS
- Contract: 1 x $2.5 million (UFA 2025)
Dante Fabbro has played just six games this season and has been a regular healthy scratch. That is despite putting up decent underlying stats with the Predators over the last few seasons and getting looks alongside Roman Josi. Nashville is off to a horrid start and is reportedly toying with the idea of a rebuild.
He’d be a fantastic buy-low candidate for the Oilers and one who won’t require much commitment as his contract runs out after this season.
2. Rasmus Andersson, Calgary Flames
- Age: 28
- Hand: Right
- 2024-25 stats: 13 GP, 4 G, 7 A, 11 PTS
- Contract: 2 x $4.55 million (UFA 2026)
There will be no shortage of suitors if the Flames look to trade away Rasmus Andersson at this year’s deadline. He has the perfect mix of snarl, grit, and two-way acumen that would make him a perfect fit on Edmonton’s second pair next to Nurse.
The only worry is that the price to acquire him from the rival Flames will be too much to bear.
3. Connor Murphy, Chicago Blackhawks
- Age: 31
- Hand: Right
- 2024-25 stats: 13 GP, 0 G, 6 A, 6 PTS
- Contract: 2 x $4.4 million (UFA 2026)
The flailing Blackhawks are sure to be sellers at the deadline this year and will almost certainly be taking calls on guys like Connor Murphy. He isn’t the most productive guy, but he has proven stable enough to nab top-four minutes in Chicago.
Is he good enough to play that role on a contender? The jury is out on that one, but Bowman does have experience with the player.
4. Henri Jokiharju, Buffalo Sabres
- Age: 25
- Hand: Right
- 2024-25 stats: 12 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PTS
- Contract: 1 x $3.1 million (UFA 2025)
At the start of his career, Henri Jokiharju was seen as an offensive defender but that has recently morphed into a more defensive-minded game. He is playing top-pairing minutes next to Rasmus Dahlin with the Buffalo Sabres and is currently putting up decent underlying defensive numbers this season.
Knowing the usual fate of the Sabres over the past decade, he could certainly shake loose for a reasonable cost.
5. Ivan Provorov, Columbus Blue Jackets
- Age: 27
- Hand: Left
- 2024-25 stats: 12 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 3 PTS
- Contract: 1 x 6.75 million (UFA 2025)
In his first full season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the offence seems to have slowed a bit for Ivan Provorov and the physical game he used to play has waned. That’s on top of a defensive game that tends to break down at times.
There is still plenty of potential and skill with Provorov, but it may not be what the Oilers are looking for.
6. Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers
- Age: 30
- Hand: Right
- 2024-25 stats: 13 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS
- Contract: 3 x $5.1 million (UFA 2027)
The Philadelphia Flyers are not expected to compete this season and will probably be selling off some veterans at the deadline. Rasmus Ristolainen is a defensive defender who has mixed results over the past several seasons and could probably play on Edmonton’s second pair.
The issue is the term left on his current deal, which may be too expensive for the Oilers to bear.
7. David Savard, Montreal Canadiens
- Age: 34
- Hand: Right
- 2024-25 stats: 13 GP, 0 G, 4 A, 4 PTS
- Contract: 1 x $3.5 million (UFA 2025)
David Savard is the most veteran option on the list and seems to have been on trade lists for quite some time.
He is a more defensive defender but hasn’t exactly had sparkling numbers recently. There are also some concerns about his age and ability to play as a top-four guy on a contending team.