Kyle Turris Waived by Edmonton Oilers Ahead of Deadline

In what appears to be a last ditch effort to free up a bit of cap space before Monday’s trade deadline, the Edmonton Oilers have waived forward Kyle Turris. He’s got one more season on a brand new two-year deal at $1.65 million and it’s not terribly likely a team picks up that contract, but anything is possible.

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? #Oilers roster move ?

Kyle Turris has been placed on waivers.

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 9, 2021

If he clears, the chances are he’ll be moved to the taxi squad. The move creates more roster flexibility and the ability to call up another taxi squad member. The Oilers only have two extra skaters on the active roster because they’re carrying three goalies.

Turris has not had the kind of season the Oilers and general manager Ken Holland would have hoped for. Meant to be that missing piece to the team’s third-line, right-shot center woes, he was given an opportunity to turn his game around from a fairly poor season in Nashville. It hasn’t happened.

As such, the Oilers are on the lookout again for a center at the deadline who can win faceoffs and kill penalties. No doubt, the Oilers have likely shopped Turris’ name around the trade market as they look for a solution to their needs in that area. It’s also unlikely anyone is buying considering he’s got five points in 25 games. Moreover, on Thursday, in a game where there was no Ryan Nugent-Hopkins due to a bit of an injury, Turris didn’t capitalize.

Mark Spector writes, “He’s not looking like an NHL player anymore, which is too bad. He is excellent to deal with – smart, well spoken and humble.”

Next: Blue Jackets Scratch David Savard Ahead of NHL Trade Deadline