Oilers ship out Dubnyk, bring in Scrivens

Craig MacTavish discusses the trade that saw Dubnyk head to Nashville for Matt Hendricks and acquiring Ben Scrivens.

The Devan Dubnyk era in Edmonton is over, and Ben Scrivens is coming home.

The Oilers traded Dubnyk to the Nashville Predators Wednesday in exchange for forward Matt Hendricks.

2013-14 NHL Trade Tracker

The team then traded a third-round 2014 draft choice to the Los Angeles Kings and acquired the Kings’ backup goaltender, Ben Scrivens.

“It hasn’t really set in to be honest,” Dubnyk said. “It’s been an unfortunate season and the team wanted to go in a different direction.

“It’s a new opportunity for me, and I’m really excited to go to Nashville.”

Dubnyk got off to a rocky start this season as the Oilers No. 1 goaltender, causing Edmonton to sign free agent Ilya Bryzgalov in attempt to strengthen their position in net.

Scrivens, a 27-year-old native of Spruce Grove, Alta., went 7-5-4 in 19 games for the Kings this season with a 1.97 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. Scrivens played solid for L.A. during starter Jonathan Quick’s injury, but so did rookie sensation Martin Jones. When Quick returned, Jones was returned to the AHL. He was recalled immediately after the Scrivens trade.

Scrivens, who was acquired by the Kings last summer from Toronto, is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He carries a cap hit of $612,500. Oilers bench boss Dallas Eakins coached Scrivens when both men were part of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

Dubnyk, 27, has a record of 11-17-2 this season with two shutouts, a 3.36 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage. The Regina, Sask., native carries a salary cap hit of $3.5 million and will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career on July 1.

Dubnyk was Edmonton’s first pick (14th overall) in the 2004 Entry Draft. He has represented Canada at the past four world championships and won a gold medal at the 2006 world junior championships.

The Oilers also traded veteran goaltender Jason LaBarbera to the Chicago Blackhawks in December for future considerations.

The 32-year-old Hendricks scored two goals and two assists in 44 games for the Predators this season. The former Washington Capital was acquired by Nashville this summer in free agency.

Hendricks has been used both at centre and on the left wing. The veteran depth player is signed through 2016-17 and carries a $1.85 million cap hit.

Nashville had been relying on the inexperienced tandem of Carter Hutton and Marek Mazanec in goal, with star netminder Pekka Rinne dealing with a hip infection.

Rinne has played just nine games this season and has been out of the lineup since Oct. 22. There is no timetable for his return.

Dubnyk is in his fifth NHL season and brings a career record of 61-76-21 to Tennessee. His tenure with the Oilers concludes with a 2.88 GAA, .910 save percentage and eight shutouts.

Watch: Devan Dubnyk discusses the trade

[polldaddy poll=7718244]

[polldaddy poll=7718465]

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.