Does Alex Killorn Make Sense for the Edmonton Oilers?

As David Staples of the Edmonton Journal and host Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now point out, Tampa Bay is an obvious place for Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland to shop this offseason. Thanks to more never-ending salary cap issues for the Lightning, the Oilers could find a useful top-six winger from the bunch, either via free agency or trade.

While names like pending UFA forwards Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow seem like they might be appealing, a forward like Alex Killorn might make more sense via trade. As the Lightning look to move salary, they might hesitantly be forced to give up a 20-goal winger, which is exactly the type of player the Oilers are looking for to play alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.

Related: Oilers’ McDavid Should Be Upset, But Not for the Reasons You’d Think

Alex Killorn scored his fifth goal of the postseason – the only player with more in 2021: Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (8). #StanleyCup #NHLStats: https://t.co/XOVUbUxurD pic.twitter.com/IskMAvws0j

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 2, 2021

Killorn is an interesting name. He’s 31 years old, which means he’s got a ton of years of experience, but is potentially a couple years past the age group of the core that will be with the Oilers for the long-haul. Essentially, he’s a two-year rental at a cost of $4.45 million per season. It’s an affordable number and his production tends to suggest he’s not a player Edmonton would have to worry won’t produce.

He scored 15 goals and 33 points in 56 games for the Lightning this season. He scored 26 goals and 49 points for the Lightning over the course of 68 games in 2019-20. These are both up from his 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, suggesting that he’s either being relied upon more by the Lightning or he’s figured something out as he ages. He’s always had a propensity to score, he’s just doing so with more regularity now.

Killorn played in his 100th playoff this past week, scoring the 31st goal of his career. The Oilers would love to have that kind of playoff experience on their roster.

Would the Lightning Want to Move Him?

As Staples points out, “In the playoffs this year, Killorn is excelling on the attack.” He’s got six goals and 10 points in nine games. So, the obvious answer to whether or not the Lightning want to part with Killorn is no. If they have the option, they’d perhaps prefer to keep him over players like Ondrej Palat and/or Yanni Gourde, both of whom are struggling somewhat to put up points this postseason. Killorn makes less money than both of those players, so if the Lighting are tight on the books, moving an extra $500K helps.

Also of note, Killorn does have a 16-team no trade list that comes with his contract, thus he could say no to an Edmonton trade.

But, is that the end of a potential conversation between the Oilers and Lightning. Not at all. There’s a ton of depth on that team at wing and the Oilers could and should kick tires on a few of them.

Next: Oilers, Kings, Blackhawks Among Possible Seth Jones Trade Destinations