The Edmonton Oilers have a defensive defenseman from the Montreal Canadiens in sight for a trade
The Edmonton Oilers are trying to position themselves for a deep playoff run and will try to help their defensive ahead of the March trade deadline in the NHL.
According to Pierre LeBrun who is a TSN's Insider, the Oilers are prioritizing a defensive defenseman who is good at penalty-killing over a guy who can only play offensively.
The Edmonton Oilers have a limited cap space and it means that any deal would require creative roster adjustments.
The Oilers' are very good this season as they are currently sitting comfortably in a Pacific Division playoff spot and it supports their need for defensive reinforcements.
Some potential targets linked to Edmonton include David Savard of the Montreal Canadiens and Ivan Provorov from the Columbus Blue Jackets who are both known for their defensive reliability.
A significant factor could be Evander Kane's health since Evander Kane require a move to LTIR, the Oilers would gain the cap flexibility needed to make impactful move.
Stan Bowman recently rolled the dice on veteran defenseman John Klingberg by signing him to a $1 million deal.
Klingberg is recovering from an invasive hip resurfacing surgery that is similar to Patrick Kane's did last year and John Klingberg has been training very hard to refind his shape.
The Oilers see potential in the 32-year-old who is a right-handed shot with good offensive skills for a defenseman.
If Klingberg can return to his past form, his signature would be an incredible value for a bargain price and if not, the team will likely look for other options before the trade deadline.
With a six-game homestand ahead, Edmonton can evaluate if Klingberg's is ready while continuing to look at the market for a depth defenseman who can help their stability at the blue line.
