NHL: Joel Edmondson will be on the list of defensemen who could interest the Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers They are looking for reinforcements in defense in anticipation of what they hope will be a long qualifying tournament.

According to our colleague Pierre Lebrun, the Alberta club would have identified a defender Montreal Canadiens Joel Edmondson and the back of Anaheim Ducks John Klingberg As potential candidates who meet their needs.

“The Edmonton Oilers intend to get on the buy side as March 3 (trade deadline, editor’s note) approaches,” LeBron said during the segment. Insider trading From TSN on Thursday. “What we’ve been talking about since the start of the season is that they’re looking to make additions to the blue line. There are some names to keep in mind as Oilers senior management looks to see who will be available by March 3rd. I know they’ve discussed internally the benefits of, for example, John Klingberg and Joel Edmondson, who are on a long list of advocates to look out for.

“Obviously they are very different players. John Klingberg, who has struggled this year with the Anaheim Ducks, has signed a one-year contract with the Ducks knowing full well that he will likely be traded before the March 3 deadline. He has a full no-trade clause at this time.” But from January 1st, that clause will change to 10 teams he can be traded to.Obviously he’s an attacking defender.

“It’s very different from Joel Edmondson, who’s a purely defensive guy, and the captain with the Stanley Cup on his record. The [Canadiens de Montréal] By the way, they’re not looking to trade him in, but they’re clearly in a rebuilding phase and are willing to listen to most veterans. »

Edmondson, 29, has one goal and three points in 20 games this season, averaging 19:49 minutes per game for the Habs, who currently trail the playoffs by five points. Edmondson is under contract until the end of the next campaign at an average annual salary of $3.5 million.

Klingberg, 30, has three goals and 10 points in 24 games this season with the Ducks, who are second to bottom in the NHL standings with 19 points. He earns a salary of $7 million this year.

The Oilers currently sit in first place in the Western Conference standings with a record of 17-13-1 in 31 games played. Already taking advantage of their long-term injured list, the Oilers have just $1.6 million in slack under the salary cap right now, according to CapFriendly. striker salary Evander Kane ($5.125 million) is not currently counted because he has been on the injured list for a long time. However, Kane is expected to return to the roster before the March 3 trade deadline.