Alternate Trade Solution to the 3 Oilers Being Shopped By Holland

Frank Seravalli spoke on a recent Daily Faceoff Live about the need for the Edmonton Oilers to move salary when Kailer Yamamoto returns from LTIR. With Evander Kane on the roster, GM Ken Holland has pushed the salary cap issue down the road for now, but there’s still a need to move salary to be cap compliant when Yamamoto returns. That has led to the GM calling around to see if he can interest a team in one of three forwards.

Seravalli says that Derek Ryan, Warren Foegele, and Jesse Puljujarvi are all being shopped. While it’s possible (maybe likely) that one of these players is moved, is there an alternate solution? Let’s take a look at the deal that makes the most sense, not only from an Oilers’ perspective but from a team that might be looking into each of these three players. Then, let’s see if there’s a better option.

The Jesse Puljujarvi Conundrum

When it comes to Puljujarvi, the Oilers don’t seem to know what to do and other teams aren’t sure either. When a fan noted that a team could swing in and steal the forward in a pre-deadline trade because the Oilers are facing cap issues, Mark Spector of Sportsnet truthfully pointed out, “31 “teams,” including whoever you consider to have the most analytics leanings in the NHL, could have had this player for the last two-plus seasons. For an ever-decreasing price. None have stepped to the plate.” Is there a buyer out there now?

Seravalli seems to think so. In his report, he notes that teams are expressing interest and perhaps more than the other two players the Oilers are making available. Essentially, the Oilers have been trying to move Puljujarvi for a while but he’s still here because of the lowball offers Holland has gotten. Is it time to take the best deal possible? Or, should Holland stick to his guns?

If the Oilers can’t move Puljujarvi, one has to wonder if they consider waiving him. That’s a huge risk but one that could pan out because of his $3 million salary and rumors there isn’t a team in the NHL willing to take on his cap hit without the Oilers throwing in a sweetener. There will be plenty of fans suggesting there’s no way the Oilers waive the player, but if Edmonton is keen to move out his money, it might be a gamble Holland takes. He’s been a healthy scratch and his ice time will only go down as the rest of the roster gets healthy.

Moving…