The front office has few options left in free agency, but that doesn’t mean that can’t find the help they need. Trade rumors have been circulating regarding the organization and for good reason, this team lacks a leader on the power play and needs a solid option on the back line for their second and third lines.
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal is keen to see the team make another move and suggests disgruntled Colorado Avalanche youngster Tyson Barrie could be the answer.
The 24-year-old hasn’t seen eye-to-eye with Avs’ vice president of hockey operations Patrick Roy, and that has led hockey experts to believe a trade could take place in the coming weeks.
A former third round pick, the Canadian native is just what the Oilers need, a hard-nosed defender who can also move the puck and take charge when on the power play. With 49 points last year and 153 career points in 264 games in his NHL career, the young man is just starting to scratch the surface on what he can accomplish in hockey and with his troubles in Denver, a move now could really jump-start his confidence on and off the ice.
Barrie would likely cost a high end prospect and possibly a future second round draft pick and for that price its worth making the effort on a deal, but if Colorado is asking the moon for the youngster, Edmonton would be better off with a cheaper veteran.
No matter what decision the front office for the Oilers make in the coming weeks, this squad is set to make a run in the near future and that alone should create some excitement, but if they could add that one more piece to the puzzle, the playoffs aren’t out of the question in 2017.
