Edmonton Oilers

If the Edmonton Oilers feel the need to add an experience defenseman and the Canadiens see their young guys step up, is there a fit there?

The point here is that the Oilers and Canadiens might want to keep an eye on their respective situations. It doesn’t solve the Habs’ immediate need for a power-play quarterback and it doesn’t solve the Oilers’ cap issues, but throwing in a player like Derek Ryan on an expiring deal might make the money work. He’s been a trusted source for five-plus years at The Hockey Writers, but more than that, he’s on a mission to keep readers up to date with the latest NHL rumors and trade talk. Jim Parsons is a senior THW freelance writer, part-time journalist and audio/video host who lives, eats, sleeps and breathes NHL news and rumors, while also writing features on the Edmonton Oilers. What’s interesting about Edmundson likely moving on is that insiders believe the Canadiens are still in the market for a defenseman. Do the Oilers have that to give? But, it’s an offensive d-man that can run the Canadiens’ power play that the team really needs. Edmundson played just 24 games in 2021-22 and this could be a player that has issues moving forward. Will never be an offensive force but is an acceptable puck mover who can play 20-plus minutes per game and is a good match for an offensive partner. Playing 11-7 on most nights, the team is cycling through defensemen trying to find the right combination of shutdown pairings, but keeping teams from shooting repeatedly on their netminders has been a real issue in all four games this season. That’s where a team like the Montreal Canadiens comes in. But, a few late goals as the Hurricanes tried to push their way back into the contest was just more proof that the Oilers’ blue line could potentially still use some work.