Oilers zone in on two significant trade targets for back end boost!

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland’s mission is clear. He needs to improve on the back end to make sure the Oilers can have a longer playoff run.

On Thursday’s edition of Insider Trading on TSN, Pierre LeBrun revealed parts of the plan Edmonton is setting its eyes on ahead of the March 3 trade deadline, looking to be buyers on the market.

“A couple of names to keep in mind, as the Oilers’ front office looks at who potentially is out there between now and March 3. I know they had discussed internally the merits for example of both John Klingberg and Joel Edmundson, as part of their long list of D that they’re looking at. Totally different players, of course, now John Klingberg, who has struggled this year with the Anaheim Ducks. He signed a one-year deal with the Ducks, specifically knowing he’d be flipped more than likely before the March 3 deadline. He’s got a full no-trade clause right now. But on January 1, that switched to a modified no-trade where there’s 10 teams where he can be traded to. And he’s obviously an offensive quarterback-type defenseman. Totally different with Joel Edmundson, obviously, a shutdown-type defenseman; leadership guy, Stanley Cup pedigree. The Habs aren’t looking to move him by the way. But they’re obviously, where they are in their retooling, willing to listen to most of their veterans.”

While acquiring the latter might be tough for Holland, the GM could have a good shot at landing Klingberg in the coming months. However, if he waits too long, Holland could be faced with the Ducks’ inflated price closer to the deadline, but Klingberg would remain a rental.

He signed a one-year contract this summer as a free agent with a $7 million salary and negotiated a modified no-trade clause (NTC) into it as well. The clause is a full NTC until Jan. 2023, and then it changes to a 10-team no-trade list that he would need to submit.

It’d be hard to believe that Klingberg would reject a trade to Edmonton, to play with the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with how poorly the Ducks’ season has gone…

Let’s see if Holland can land his target!

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