Oilers Fans Calling for Holland to Take Action After Savard, Foligno Deals

After the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lighting proved that dollar in, dollar out deals aren’t much more than an excuse this season, a good portion of Oilers Nation is calling for Edmonton Oilers general manager to take action and make a trade prior to Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline. Specifically, many fans are calling for the Oilers to make a play for Taylor Hall.

Related: Oilers Looking to Add a Depth Defenseman Before NHL Trade Deadline

Oilers might have Michael Del Zotto on their radar. But, is he really an upgrade? https://t.co/HOVUKb6pKX

— NHL Trade Talk (@nhl_tradetalk) April 11, 2021

Tampa and Toronto showed that a deal can be made to add a player with a significant salary without giving up big salary in return. There just needs to be a willingness to move draft picks and prospects, along with an effort to find a third team to act as a broker in any deal. In Tampa’s case, that team was Detroit. In Toronto’s case, that was San Jose.

That said, there’s an issue for the Oilers, even if a deal for Hall is possible.

First, the Oilers have to decide if moving a first-round pick is worth it to land Hall, a player who only has two goals on the season. Ken Holland has already said he’s not willing to move that first-rounder for a rental. Second, you have to decide if extending Hall is a good idea. That means talking about an extension and convincing him to sign at a much lower rate than he did with the Buffalo Sabres. Third, who is that third team?

Finally, the Oilers don’t have other draft picks outside of a fourth-rounder. If the Oilers used that fourth (the asking price it seems to be for the third team to broker the deal), they would have practically nothing in terms of draft picks for this year’s draft. Sure, this might be the year to sacrifice those picks because scouting is going to be a real question mark. Still, having no draft picks in the first five rounds is a big deal.

Do the Oilers Respond to the Leafs and Canadiens?

So, what does that mean for the Oilers? Do they take action and try to respond to what the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs did on Sunday? Both teams added pieces that will help in their playoff run. Or, do the Oilers stand pat and run with what they have?

Either way, there are going to be complaints among the fan base. Many will argue that Holland is wasting a window that won’t stay open forever. Others will hate the fact he moved a first-rounder for a player who hasn’t moved the needle at all this season.

Next: Maple Leafs Have Traded For Nick Foligno [Report]