New Jersey Devils Trade Deadline Profile: Edmonton Oilers

The New Jersey Devils are clearly sellers the NHL Trade Deadline this season. One team that could look to make a move is the Edmonton Oilers, even if they are hanging on by a thread.

With the Edmonton Oilers firing their general manager Peter Chiarelli, the New Jersey Devils lost one of their best trade partners. We all know about the “one-for-one” trade that sent Taylor Hall to the Garden State, but the trade at the very last second of the trade deadline last year might have put the Devils over the top and sent them to the playoffs. Patrick Maroon was a really good fit for this team, and he only cost a third-round pick.

Now, the Oilers aren’t really committed to moving anyone, and haven’t said anything about going for the playoffs. This, despite having Connor McDavid on the roster. Despite the fact that a crazy man is no longer at the helm of the franchise (crazy as in the moves he made, we don’t know the man personally), it throws a wild card into what comes next.

Still, these two teams could really help each other at this month’s trade deadline.

The players the Oilers will want from the Devils will be much different than the players other teams are going to ask about. They won’t want a Brian Boyle or a Ben Lovejoy who comes as just a rental, they will want young players who could provide a spark. This could actually look like a change of scenery deal that looks to get players going.

There are a couple players the Oilers could target, and they come with varying compensation returns. The number one player I think they would want is Will Butcher. Would Ray Shero immediately say no if Keith Gretzky asks about the Devils talented 24-year-old defenseman? This might actually turn into a conversation.

However, if the Devils were to even think about trading Butcher, the cost would be lofty. Even with Ty Smith coming next season, a player who could do what Butcher does with a similar body frame just five years younger, it’s still nice to have two defensemen who can move the puck like they can. The price will likely be too rich for the Oilers liking.

They could go extreme low budget, and ask about John Quenneville. We’ve seen flashes from Quenneville, and he can probably be had for a mid-round pick. If Gretzky offers a third-round pick for Quenneville straight up, Shero will think about it. However, this team still values him, and it might be too soon to make a deal.

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The player that the Devils likely land on is Miles Wood. This isn’t to say the Devils should try and trade Wood, because he gets more flack than he deserves, but at the same time the Oilers could offer a really good deal for him.

Wood is still so young. He’s just 23 years old, and head coach John Hynes has been playing him first-line minutes with Travis Zajac and Blake Coleman lately. He’s been part of a shut-down line that’s also providing offense every game.

We know about Wood’s inconsistencies, but the Oilers could have dreams of Wood developing into an eventual wing for either McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. He’s one of the only players in the league who could keep up with McDavid, so that could be a lethal weapon for the future of the Oilers.

Now that we’ve established who the Oilers might want, what would it cost them? In a word, more than you’d think.

The Devils will likely ask about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He could immediately fill the team’s second-line center position that’s been an issue since the Devils traded Adam Henrique last year. However, I don’t see this team doing another one-for-one where RNH comes to New Jersey for just Wood. Would Shero be willing to sweeten the pot?

Well, the first thing the Oilers will ask is for the Devils to take on Milan Lucic‘s contract. Shero will likely say no immediately. Lucic still has four years left on his deal paying him $6 million per season after this year. That’s the worst contract in hockey. They already have Travis Zajac making a similar price, playing a more important position, and playing much better.

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Honestly, it just seems like they’d want too much for Nugent-Hopkins at this juncture of the season.

I think the player the Devils demand in a trade for Wood is Kailer Yamamoto. He was the team’s first-round pick in 2017. On paper, it’s a major upgrade for the Devils because they developed a fourth-round pick into a trade for a first rounder. However, you’re also trading a guy who was one goal away from 20, is clearly playing the best hockey of the season now, is learning how to do things with his speed that other players can’t replicate and again is just 23.

Yamamoto really, really struggled in the NHL this season. He had two points in 17 games. He’s been better for their AHL team in Bakersfield, but he hasn’t been great with nine points in 15 games. Yet, he’s shown promise.

This seems like a deal that neither team is thrilled with, but one that could make both teams better now and in the future. Yamamoto seems destined to be a middle six right wing, which the Devils need, and Wood can be one of the many players to play next to Connor. Except, this time he can at least show some skill. This isn’t my favorite trade for Wood, but how both team’s assets shake out, this might be the deal on the table.

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