The Oilers poked around on Kraken forward Shane Wright, according to Elliotte Friedman, but he doesn't expect anything to come of it.
"I wondered about Shane Wright for Edmonton and I think they poked around but I don't know but I don't believe that's going to happen," Friedman said on 32 Thoughts.
The timing makes sense. Mike Babcock said Friday that Jason Dickinson is unlikely to start the season after re-aggravating a foot injury.
Trent Frederic has slid into the third-line center role, and Colton Dach has taken reps down the middle.
Wright put four shots on goal and picked up an assist in Seattle's 4-3 loss in Vancouver on Saturday.
Two nights earlier, he logged 16:42 with three shots in a shootout win over Calgary. That's seven shots over his last two preseason games.
So will Seattle actually move him?
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Elliotte Friedman reveals Oilers poked around on Shane Wright
The Kraken probably won't. Friedman's "I don't believe that's going to happen" is about as clear as insider talk gets.
Edmonton's bigger target remains Kirby Dach. Frank Seravalli wrote that the Oilers' interest "borders on drooling."
Dach carries a $3,600,000 cap hit and becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season.
The Oilers already carry Leon Draisaitl at $14,000,000 and Connor McDavid at $12,500,000.
Poking around on Wright was smart. Checking on every young forward out there is exactly what a team with a hole in the middle should be doing.
It's like test-driving a car you have no plan to buy. You learn what the market looks like, and you save your money for the one you really want.
The Oilers finished the preseason 4-0-0 and open Tuesday against the Canucks.
Lane Lambert's Kraken went 3-1-0 in exhibition play and open October 1 in Calgary.
Stan Bowman also has a clock working against him, with opening rosters due today, the opener one day away and Dickinson's return still undetermined.
If Friedman is right, Wright stays in Seattle. The Oilers' search for a center doesn't stop there.
Should the Oilers make a real push to trade for Shane Wright?
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Friedman confirms a three-way Hellebuyck trade is in the picture with another star involved
