[Rumor] Edmonton Oilers Interested In Brendan Perlini?

Thanks to a report by TSN Insider Trading, it’s become common knowledge that the Chicago Blackhawks have given Forward Brendan Perlini and his agent Darren Ferris permission to seek a trade that will see Perlini exit the Blackhawks organization. A forward with some upside, he’s struggled since coming over in a trade from Arizona with Dylan Strome and both the organization and the player feel its best to move on.

Is there a fit in Edmonton?

Disgruntled Forwards Moving?

Meanwhile, in Edmonton, the Oilers own the rights to another forward in a similar position. While Jesse Puljujarvi was drafted and not acquired in trade like Perlini, the Oilers have expected more out of the player and the player out of the team. Puljujarvi has been so disappointed in the way he’s been handled, he took off for Finland in the offseason and has been lighting the lamp for Karpat since his arrival.

Talk has never really calmed about the Oilers trying to move Puljujarvi, only that they won’t trade for anything less than they deem an acceptable return. The question is, ‘Does Perlini qualify as an acceptable return?’

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Thoughts on Perlini

Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer spoke on Friday’s edition of the show and asked if Perlini was the right trade piece for Oilers GM Ken Holland. Citing Perlini’s past scoring, Stauffer suggested Perlini might be a better goal scorer but Puljujarvi the potential to be an all-around better NHL’er.

Stauffer said the ideal return for Puljujarvi is a third-line center but he was uncertain if a trade like that existed for the Oilers to make. And, while Puljujarvi has played well in Finland, Stauffer questioned whether or not Puljujarvi’s inability to score more than one goal per game would mean anything if he returned to the NHL.

The other question is what Perlini actually is as a player. Just 23, he was trending towards becoming a legitimate top-six forward before being moved the Chicago. The No. 12 overall pick in 2014 by the Coyotes, Perlini is a big, strong prospect who should be built for the NHL. Through his first 131 games, Perlini has recorded 31 goals and 51 points. Still, it’s hard to overlook how much his production has dropped off since joining the Blackhawks. Is this simply a matter of him needing a change of scenery or a sign there’s more going on?

Are the Oilers Interested?

Of course, there has been no official report the Oilers have kicked tires on Perlini it if they’d consider a deal one-for-one. But, the season for Edmonton thus far has proven they are badly in need of secondary scoring as their bottom six has all of a single point through 11 games.

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