Would the Oilers be interested in Torey Krug?
NBC Sports: Joe Haggerty reports the Boston Bruins raised some eyebrows on July 1 when they signed defenseman John Moore to a long-term contract and thereby locked themselves in with eight NHL-caliber defensemen headed into training camp next month.
It sparked plenty of informed speculation that one of the D-men would eventually be moved, with Torey Krug the most likely candidate given his contract, value on the trade market and what the Black and Gold could get in return.
With Oilers Andrej Sekera out long-term, that leaves Edmonton badly in need of a left-shot, top-four D-man with some offensive upside and leaves open the kind of job description that Krug could very neatly fill in Edmonton. This is after some very clear interest from Edmonton in the talented, productive Krug last season. It would bring about a reunion of the offensive D-man with the general manager who originally signed him with the Bruins as an undrafted defenseman out of Michigan State.
Could a strong trade package featuring Krug be enough to pry Ryan Nugent-Hopkins away from the Oilers after he showed some great things on the wing last season?
More Edmonton Oilers trade rumors
Edmonton Sun: Will Edmonton Oilers defenceman Andrej Sekera out likely 4-6 months with his torn achilles tendon the team will be looking to make a trade.
“We’ll have to see how Sekera comes along, but at some point, we’re going to have to look at replacing him,” said Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli.
First-round draft pick Evan Bouchard’s chances of making the squad now go up exponentially because he’s a right-side option with Sekera out, although he would still need a good camp and show he’s of NHL calibre.
Available free agents or trade options for the Oilers are ex-Oiler Brandon Davidson, who has been on the roster twice already. Also, Toby Enstrom (although he might be thinking of retiring), Luca Sbisa, Paul Martin, Jason Garrison, Alexei Emelin, Kevin Bieksa, Kyle Quincey, Cody Franson and Johnny Oduya. Sbisa would be the best of that group but the most expensive to sign.
The Oilers have just $4.98 million in salary-cap space, although they can put Sekera on long-term injury, which would buy them more room to sign somebody.
