NHL analyst Greg Wyshynski predicts Edmonton Oilers trading for $9.5M Blackhawks D-man under new GM

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Sep 30, 2024 05:49 GMT

NHL analyst Greg Wyshynski believes the Edmonton Oilers might target Seth Jones from the Chicago Blackhawks this season. The Oilers need a top-four defenseman and Wyshynski sees a trade as a possibility. With Ken Holland leading the Oilers, the idea of reuniting with a player he once signed is interesting.

Jones, now 29, has a high salary of $9.5 million per season until 2029-30. He was drafted fourth overall in 2013 but has not met expectations in Chicago. His defensive struggles include a troubling -38 rating two years ago. This raises questions about whether he can justify the investment the Oilers would need to make.

The Oilers’ defense looks weak, especially on the right side. After Evan Bouchard, options are limited. Ty Emberson is still unproven and players like Troy Stecher and Josh Brown are not long-term solutions. Adding Jones, who is big and mobile, could help. However, his inconsistent play is a significant risk.

Wyshynski notes that Chicago’s GM Kyle Davidson might be willing to trade Jones if the right situation comes up. Since Davidson did not sign Jones, a trade could benefit both teams.

"This could be the season where Jones gets moved if the right situation presents itself to GM Kyle Davidson, who is not the GM who traded for and signed Jones to that contract," Greg Wyshynski writes (via ESPN)

The Edmonton Oilers have the salary cap space and assets to make a big move. If Holland believes in Jones, a trade might be possible.

What challenges do the Edmonton Oilers face with their defense as preseason ends?

The Edmonton Oilers are nearing the end of preseason, facing issues with injuries and player inexperience on defense. Coach Kris Knoblauch wants a solid defensive plan, but he has one inexperienced defenceman in the top four. Ty Emberson is expected to pair with veteran Darnell Nurse, but they have not played together in the NHL yet. This raises concerns about their teamwork.

Due to injuries, many important defensive pairings have not been tested. Right now, only Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard have logged ice time together, totaling 20 minutes. Nurse and Emberson have not played any minutes as a pair.

Emberson has shown promise in preseason, achieving a 66% expected goal share. This makes fans hopeful he can support Nurse well. However, if Nurse and Emberson struggle, the team might consider alternatives like Troy Stecher and Brett Kulak. The Edmonton Oilers need to quickly review their defense and think about possible trades as preseason ends and the regular season gets closer.