Can Oilers Win a Bidding War for Coveted Third-Line Center?

As the trade deadline approaches, the Edmonton Oilers may find themselves competing in one of the most aggressive bidding wars on the market — and Ryan O’Reilly could be at the center of it.

The Nashville Predators’ surprising surge has complicated their deadline plans. They started out slowly, but have since been riding strong play from veteran stars Steven Stamkos, Filip Forsberg, and O’Reilly. Nashville sits just a few points out of a playoff spot after a brutal opening stretch, but they might not be close enough to competing to consider themselves trade deadline buyers. As such, O’Reilly’s name is out there.

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With limited options on the market and because of the Preds’ better stretch of play, O’Reilly’s trade value is high. He checks every box for contenders: a proven two-way center, strong faceoff numbers, playoff pedigree, and a manageable $4.5 million cap hit with no trade protection. For the Oilers, he profiles as an ideal third-line center — someone who can stabilize the middle of the lineup and handle tough minutes in the postseason.

The challenge? Edmonton doesn’t have a ton of assets to give up in a trade, and they likely won’t be alone in their pursuit. If they’re interested in O’Reilly, the Oilers will have to get creative.

With few clear sellers and multiple contenders looking for center depth, Nashville can afford to let the market dictate the price. That’s not good news for Oilers’ GM Stan Bowman. While the man behind the wheel in Nashville, GM Barry Trotz, has said veterans will be treated with respect, that doesn’t rule out a full bidding war. For O’Reilly, it’s already been determined he will have a significant say in where he lands.

Does O’Reilly Want the Oilers?

It will be O’Reilly who likely determines how much of a chance the Oilers have of acquiring him. If the Predators told him that he’ll be treated like he’s not a got a no-trade, O’Reilly can control his situation. If He wants to go to the Oilers, that changes everything.

At that point, it no longer becomes about Bowman being willing — and able — to outbid the rest of the league. It becomes about Nashville having limited options and the Predators doing right by O’Reilly throughout this process.

That’s Edmonton’s best chance. Dangle the idea of being a Cup contender and playing on a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, selling the idea that the veteran center is the missing piece.

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