The Edmonton Oilers take on the Los Angeles Kings in Game 6 of the first round of their playoff opener Saturday night. If successful, they will move on to play the Vegas Golden Knights who eliminated the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. But, with the Oilers preparing for what will be a rowdy affair, other talk surrounds the team as an insider named a forward to his top 20 offseason trade bait list, then mentioned that GM Ken Holland might be spinning a defenseman the team was rumored to have interest in. before the trade deadline.
Frank Serravalle noted in a recent article for Trade Targets that Kailer Yamamoto was a player to watch from the Oilers. With one more season on his current contract, health issues and the fact that he’s not exactly delivering value at $3.1 million, Seravalli writes, makes him someone the team could move.
Serravalle explains:
Every part of this season has been a little “off” for Yamamoto. It didn’t seem right. He’s been dealing with a vestibular system problem, symptoms not dissimilar to a concussion, for much of the year, which also kept him out of the lineup in early 2023. When he’s healthy, Yamamoto can be a contributing influence. He collected 20 goals last season. It’s just that the Oilers will have other players to pay (see: Evan Bouchard) and limited room to make deals, making him potentially expendable.
Serravalle isn’t the only one who wondered if Yamamoto might play his final games in Edmonton. Alan Mitchell of The Athletic wrote, “His playoff run to date has been less than hoped and alternative options are emerging.” He adds, “The cover is the cover, and if Ryan McLeod or Warren Voegele (both less expensive) can do the job and deliver more production, Yamamoto is on the hook for next season. There are also candidates that come through the system (Dylan Holloway and Raphael Lavoe will push during camp training session, probably in Holloway in these qualifiers). Ultimately, Mitchell came to the conclusion that the cap might be too big a problem to ignore and that Yamamoto hadn’t taken enough offense in his NHL career to justify the investment. The Oilers have other options and will likely look to explore them in the off-season.
What about Eric Carlson?
Serravalle was also asked if the appearance of Evan Bouchard would put the Oilers out of the running when it comes to Erik Carlson. After all, Servalli indicated, the Sharks were finally willing to listen seriously to offers on the defenseman and he might drop the asking price to make a deal.
Considering how well Bouchard has played and that the Oilers would need to pay him good wages (either on a bridge deal or a long-term contract) to stay in a suspended RFA situation, it would make sense that Karlsson is not an option. suddenly , Serravalle said he wouldn’t You’d be shocked if the Oilers at least reconsidered the idea.
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