Edmonton Oilers looking to shed salary?
The Fourth Period: The Edmonton Oilers are capped out and need to shed salary to re-tool and be a contending team again.
The Oilers have already dealt goaltender Cam Talbot to the Philadelphia Flyers for netminder Anthony Stolarz in order to do just that, but this team, similar to the Anaheim Ducks, have to be offering a clearance sale to the rest of the League.
If there’s an offer out there for defenceman Kris Russell that makes sense, that he would comply with as he has a no-movement clause, the Oilers should most definitely jump on it.
Zack Kassian is another name that could clear up some space if he were dealt and would be serviceable to a contending team’s fourth line.
Milan Lucic, who asked to be traded last season but changed his tune at the start of this season, is also a player the Oilers are exploring the market on.
Where will Matt Duchene end up?
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman reports Matt Duchene will be traded. But what team will he be traded to?
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators are the two most likely destinations. Friedman does not feel Duchene will be traded to the Winnipeg Jets. Friendman thinks the Calgary Flames and the New York Islanders have serious interest in Duchene. There is talk that if he ends up in Nashville, both player and team will work to make it a long-term relationship.
Friedman thinks if Predators GM David Poile gets any extensions done in the near future with arbitration eligibles like Ryan Hartman and Colton Sissons, or Kevin Fiala — coming out of his entry-level contract. That would give him a better idea of the cap room he’s got to play with, assuming none of those players are involved in a potential trade.
