Two Canadian Teams Reportedly Heavily Involved in Trade Talks: Defenseman on the Move
Two Canadian teams, notably the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, are desperately looking to add a right-shot defenseman.
Unfortunately, with very few on the market, the two teams are competing against each other, as trade rumours run rampant.
While the Canucks recently placed a right-handed defenseman on the trade block, notably 6'7" free agent signing Vincent Desharnais, they are looking for a more skilled and higher end option. The Oilers are looking to capitalize on another elite season from Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, as well as a solid resurgence from Darnell Nurse.
Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks Eyeing Trade
All this considered, these two teams look to be active in the trade market:
Pierre, we about to see two Pacific Division arch rivals duke it out over who gets the best top-four defenseman?"
NHL insider Pierre LeBrun responded:
My sense from talking to teams around the league is that Vancouver is poking around and looking at top-four D options. Obviously, the injury to Filip Hronek has really been impactful.
And so I think there's a little more urgency on the part of the Canucks.
And second of all, Jim Rutherford, Patrick Allvin, the Rutherford-esque tradition has been continued by Allvin, who last year in January, traded for Elias Lindholm. They don't need to wait until the trade deadline. We know that from Jim Rutherford.
Whereas I think the Oilers listen, I do think they end up adding to their blue line before March 7th, but I don't feel the same level of urgency.
In the sense that I think that they feel their, their defense, which was much malignant pre-season because of the losses, has actually been better than what people anticipated.
So I don't think they feel, you know, they're in a situation where it has to happen now. But all things being equal, yes, that is where the Oilers are determined to, to add before March 7th as well.
We will see which team can lock down the best right shot defenseman before the trade deadline; likely Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames.
The Canucks are no strangers to trades with the Flames, having acquired Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm in separate deals with them last year, but nothing is certain until pen is to paper.
| POLL | ||
DÉCEMBRE 25 | 321 ANSWERS Two Canadian Teams Reportedly Heavily Involved in Trade Talks: Defenseman on the Move Do you think the Canucks or Oilers will win the Stanley Cup? | ||
| Yes | 113 | 35.2 % |
| No | 208 | 64.8 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Charlie Coyle | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Jared McCann | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Elias Lindholm | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Brad Marchand | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jacob Middleton | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jamie Oleksiak | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| David Pastrnak | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Will Smith | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Chandler Stephenson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Tage Thompson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ryker Evans | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Peyton Krebs | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jordan Kyrou | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Liam Ohgren | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Matthew Poitras | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Shea Theodore | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Matthew Beniers | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Brock Faber | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cam Fowler | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Barclay Goodrow | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Capitals | 46 | 31 | 10 | 5 | 67 | |
Jets | 47 | 31 | 13 | 3 | 65 | |
Oilers | 46 | 29 | 14 | 3 | 61 | |
Golden Knights | 46 | 29 | 14 | 3 | 61 | |
Maple Leafs | 47 | 29 | 16 | 2 | 60 | |
Stars | 46 | 29 | 16 | 1 | 59 | |
Wild | 46 | 27 | 15 | 4 | 58 | |
Devils | 49 | 26 | 17 | 6 | 58 | |
Hurricanes | 46 | 27 | 16 | 3 | 57 | |
Avalanche | 47 | 28 | 18 | 1 | 57 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||