The Edmonton Oilers have made it clear that acquiring a puck-moving defenceman is a priority ahead of the trade deadline and there’s a possibility Erik Karlsson could be a target, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Karlsson, 32, has spent the past four and a half seasons with the San Jose Sharks and is under contract through the 2026-27 campaign with an $11.5-million cap hit. Friedman says the Oilers will likely need the Sharks to cover between $4-5 million per season for a potential trade to work.
“Nobody knows at this point in time if San Jose is going to be willing to do that,” Friedman said during Saturday’s 32 Thoughts segment on Hockey Night in Canada. “So, I think before we can even think about the possibility of this occurring, that’s No. 1 on the list.
“The other thing too is Karlsson’s willingness to go to Edmonton,” he continued. “Look, a bunch of guys were just together at the All Star Game — maybe there was some arm twisting, who knows. But I think until the math works, I don’t know if the rest of the deal can work.”
Karlsson is enjoying his best season in years. He has 17 goals and 70 points in 53 games and is on pace to shatter his career high of 82 points, set during the 2015-16 campaign with the Ottawa Senators.
Friedman added that a fallback option for the Oilers could be Arizona Coyotes defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere.
Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek added during Saturday’s segment that Oilers winger Jesse Puljujarvi could be placed on waivers this week as the club looks to bring Kailer Yamamoto back from injury.
“We’re all watching the waiver wire Tuesday,” Marek said. “I think the name we’re all looking for here is Jesse Puljujarvi. Unless he’s traded by them, I think we wonder if this is the next chapter in the Jesse Puljujarvi saga in Edmonton.”
Puljujarvi, 24, was the Oilers’ fourth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. He’s largely struggled during his time with the organization and has five goals and 11 points in 50 games this season. Though he did score in Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Senators, the winger has been a healthy scratch in three of Edmonton’s last eight games.