Edmonton Oilers Ruined Trading This Offseason With Duncan Keith Deal
The New Jersey Devils are trying to make deals this offseason with their plethora of cap space and young roster looking to get back into contention. Unfortunately, the Edmonton Oilers exist, and teams will likely use them as a benchmark when it comes to trades before the NHL Entry Draft and expansion draft.
The Oilers just traded Caleb Jones and a conditional 3rd-round pick that could turn into a 2nd-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for soon-to-be 38-year-old defenseman Duncan Keith. The Oilers will obtain the entirety of Keith’s $5.5 million contract for the next two years.
***deep breath***
What the heck are the Oilers doing? Keith is not nearly the defenseman he once was, and his skill set is actually that of a third-line defender. One might argue he brings about the same amount of value as Jonas Siegenthaler on the ice. Off of it, of course, he can bring a veteran presence and the ability to flaunt his three Stanley Cup rings.
Is that really worth sending Caleb Jones, who is the brother of Seth Jones, and a pick that could turn into a 2nd-round pick? The conditions on the pick are if the Oilers make an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, the 3rd-round pick becomes a 2nd. It’s incredibly unlikely, but if the Oilers do make the Final, it likely won’t be because of Keith.
Also, the Blackhawks desperately wanted Jones to pair the brothers together. Literally, the Oilers were the only team that made sense for the Blackhawks with this deal. How did they give up a 3rd-round pick plus a 24-year-old NHL player?
The Devils were looking to take advantage of some teams that were looking to drop some cap, but teams will think they can get value while also making moves to save themselves money. The Tampa Bay Lightning have constantly found teams to bail them out, that is until they just find loopholes in the rule to get $18 million over the cap. The Devils are looking to get good players, but if the cost is taking on the whole contract, an NHL player, and a conditional pick, it makes taking a risk too pricey. This is like if the Devils traded a 2nd-round pick and Will Butcher for Ryan Murray last season. At least Murray still has a long career ahead of him.
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This could all be an overreaction. Maybe this is one deal, and when teams can’t find good deals for their cap dumps, they’ll come crawling back to the Devils. For now, it seems like trades could come harder than expected this offseason.