The Edmonton Oilers made a significant trade last week. In an effort to improve at the goaltending position, they acquired netminder Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a multi-player deal.
To successfully acquire Jarry, the Oilers sent goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick to Pittsburgh. The Oilers also acquired forward Sam Poulin from the Penguins as part of the deal.
With this move, the Oilers addressed one of their biggest roster needs. They will now be hoping that Jarry ends up being the answer for them between the pipes, and he certainly has the potential to be. In 15 games this season, he has a 10-3-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.69 goals-against average.
While the Oilers have gotten their goalie upgrade, they should not be done making moves. When looking at their current roster, it is clear that they could use another star winger in their top six. Acquiring one would only make the Oilers a more difficult team for opponents to go up against.
Due to this, the Oilers have now been mentioned among the top potential landing spots for one of the NHL’s top trade candidates.
Oilers Named Potential Landing Spot for Sabres’ Alex Tuch
In a recent article for The Score, John Matisz mentioned the Oilers as a top potential landing spot for Buffalo Sabres star winger Alex Tuch. The other team Matisz argued could be a good trade destination for Tuch was the Carolina Hurricanes.
“The Oilers are desperate for a top-six winger – especially one who shoots right and can skate and create alongside Connor McDavid. Tuch showcased his utility Tuesday by scoring an overtime goal on the road against Edmonton,” Matisz wrote.
When looking at the Oilers’ roster, there is no question that Tuch would have the potential to be a strong fit on their roster. As Matisz noted, Tuch could make some real magic playing on a line with superstar center Connor McDavid. However, he could also work incredibly well on a line with superstar center Leon Draisaitl. In either scenario, Edmonton’s offense would greatly improve with a Tuch addition.
In 31 games this season with the Sabres so far, Tuch has posted 11 goals, 17 assists, 28 points, and a plus-2 rating. He also scored 36 goals in two out of his three previous seasons, so he would have the potential to be a major difference-maker for the Oilers if acquired.
Sabres Have Big Decision to Make With Tuch
The Sabres are going to need to make a big decision with Tuch soon. With Buffalo being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and Tuch being a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), the Sabres will need to decide if they plan to extend him or not. If he still does not have a contract extension by the trade deadline, the Sabres may have no choice but to move him.
If the Sabres officially make Tuch available for trade, the Oilers should be among the teams to watch in the sweepstakes. Yet, there is no question that the Sabres would expect a big return for their star forward in any potential move.
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