The Edmonton Oilers are starting to look a lot more like the team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years.
With hopes of another deep postseason run, Edmonton is now exploring ways to add more firepower up front. That search has led to an interesting name, as a veteran Oilers reporter has linked a Stanley Cup–winning forward from Pittsburgh.
Which Penguins’ $30,750,000 Star Has Been Linked to Oilers as a Possible Trade Target?
They’ve won five of their last seven games and have climbed into third place in the Pacific Division, putting themselves in a strong playoff position after a rough start to the season.
Longtime Oilers journalist Jim Matheson, who has covered the NHL for more than four decades, recently floated the idea of the Oilers targeting Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust. Rust is currently in the fourth year of his six-year, $30.75 million contract. He won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017.
Matheson explained his thinking by saying, “Ideally Oilers need Nugent-Hopkins as 3C for offence but then they need trade winger for 97 and 18. Alex Tuch ideal for size as rental. I like Bryan Rust too.”
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins continues to be a puzzle piece for Edmonton. He’s valuable as a top-line winger alongside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman. But he also playing his best as a center with Leon Draisaitl down the second line. The Oilers have tried different combinations to balance the lineup. But none have fully solved the issue. Jack Roslovic could be an option once he returns from injury, but questions remain.
According to Matheson, Rust could slide in as a top-line winger, while Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch was also mentioned as a possible fit. Tuch is in the final year of his seven-year, $33.25 million contract without extension.
Matheson also pointed to another clear area of concern for Edmonton, saying, “Oilers bottom six tonight has 9 total goals. Third line of Mangiapane (4), Henrique (2) and Janmark (1). Frederic has 2 as 4C. Sometime before trade deadline Bowman will address that. Ideal third-liner in trade would be UFA Blake Coleman but don’t Flames sending rental to Oilers.”
That lack of production from the bottom six has been glaring. Just nine goals from those lines underscores the need for secondary scoring, something GM Stan Bowman is expected to address before the trade deadline. While a player like Blake Coleman would be an ideal fit, it’s unlikely the Flames would move a rental to a direct division rival.
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For now, the Oilers will stay focused on the ice as they prepare to face the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, with trade speculation sure to keep building in the background.
