Oilers And Hurricanes A Fit For Immediate Blue Line Trade

According to Frank Seravalli on Frankly Hockey, the Carolina Hurricanes are actively in search of blue-line help. With key injuries to a good chunk of their defense corps, K’Andre Miller, Jaccob Slavin, and Shayne Gostisbehere, the team is running thin on serviceable defensemen.  

If the Hurricanes are willing to make a trade, the Edmonton Oilers might be a team they talk to. 

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What the Hurricanes are likely looking for is a quick and fairly temporary fix. Seravalli explained: 

“Sources indicate that the Carolina Hurricanes are active on the trade front. They want to acquire a stopgap defenseman — someone they can plug into their lineup now that’s not going to cost them an arm and a leg. A warm body that can give them some NHL minutes.” He adds that General Manager Eric Tulsky is making calls, targeting inexpensive options who can step in immediately and stabilize the back end.

The Oilers have at least three: Troy Stecher, Alec Regula, and Ty Emberson. 

Stecher ($775K) is a pending UFA and an extra on this Oilers’ roster. When the team plays 11-7, he’s in. When they don’t, he’s often sitting. A serviceable defenseman, there’s a lot to like about Stecher in a depth role. Carolina could use his tenacity and energy, filling in while they get their players back healthy. 

It’s possible the Hurricanes later have to put Stecher on waivers, in which case the Oilers could potentially get him back. 

Emberson ($1.3 million) just signed an extension with the Oilers and the team isn’t likely looking to move him. However, he might fetch the most in return from the Hurricanes and the Oilers have too many blueliners. If they value Regula over Emberson, this could be an option. 

Regula ($775K) is also a player the Oilers don’t want to give up on and seems the least likely to go given how much time and effort the organization has put into him getting healthy and up to speed. An early injury set him back this season, but when he’s healthy — and he was on the ice this week — Regula likely slots ahead of both Stecher and Emberson on the Oilers’ depth chart. 

Because the Oilers will have too many roster players and some tough decisions are coming, working a trade with a team like Carolina — who has a clear need — might be a solution. 

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