Edmonton Oilers' Biggest Needs and Best Trade Fits at the Deadline

The Edmonton Oilers are in that curious position of being sellers and potential buyers at the NHL trade deadline on March 2. 

Mike Johnston of Sportsnet reports that defenceman Jeff Petry is likely gone by the deadline, and it is clear that Edmonton general manager Craig MacTavish, while not wanting to trade some core players like winger Taylor Hall, centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and winger Jordan Eberle, could make other deals for the right pieces coming back.

Petry should have been a top priority for retaining as well, but that's a discussion for another article.

Let's take a look at the Oilers' biggest needs and the best fits at the trade deadline.

Top-Pairing Defenceman

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

The Need: Top-Pairing Defenceman

Despite adding veterans like Andrew Ference, Mark Fayne and Nikita Nikitin in the past few seasons, the team needs upgrades on the point. Help is on the way in the form of Darnell Nurse as a possible top-pairing defender, but the current top duo of Oscar Klefbom and Justin Schultz is a top pair only on a weak club like the Oilers.

With Petry's impending departure, the Oilers need to add at least one if not two minute-eaters while younger defenders continue to develop at both the AHL and NHL levels.

Possible Fit: Dion Phaneuf, Defenceman, Toronto Maple Leafs, Age: 29, Cap Hit: $7.0 million

While it would be strange to see Phaneuf in Edmonton, it could be a decent fit over the next few seasons. The main issue is his huge contract that still has several more years left before it expires. The Oilers would want the Leafs to retain some of this contract.

Phaneuf could anchor the Oilers' top pairing for at least two or three years while the veteran defenders like Nikitin and Ference are put out to pasture, and the talented young defencemen in the organization like Schultz, Klefbom and Martin Marincin continue to grow and mature. Dillon Simpson and Martin Gernat also offer hope from the minor leagues.

The Edmonton, Alberta, native would bring a wealth of experience to the team, and with the team's talent up front, he would not be expected to be a huge offensive producer. 

With 22 points this season, he would be tied with Justin Schultz for the team lead for points among defencemen. He is still a solid offensive producer.

Depth at Centre

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

The Need: Depth at Centre

What NHL team doesn't need more depth at centre? Some need it more than others, and the Oilers would qualify here. Even with the impressive recent play of Anton Lander, and the possible re-signing of Derek Roy, adding another NHL-ready centre would be a great move.

Even if a glut was created, centres can often be moved to the wing rather seamlessly. Oilers fans know all too well that the other shift is almost always disastrous. Just ask Ryan Smyth, Taylor Hall and Benoit Pouliot, more recently, about that.

Possible Fit: Brayden Schenn, Centre, Philadelphia Flyers, Age: 23, Cap Hit: $2.5 million

Brayden Schenn has shown flashes of brilliant play in Philadelphia, but for the most part, he hasn't been the impact player that the organization had hoped for by this stage of his career. 

He has 34 points in 51 games this season and would slot in as the Oilers' No. 2 pivot given the current depth chart. With just one year remaining on his contract, this would be a move that could lead to a long-term deal to secure the talented former Brandon Wheat King.

The Flyers always seem to make big splashes in the trade market, and seeing Schenn moved wouldn't be a surprise as the team tries to make a playoff push in the coming weeks.

No. 1 Goaltender

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

The Need: No. 1 Goaltender

The Oilers' goaltending has been much less than adequate this season. Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth have been the culprits in too many losses. Has the team's defensive play been subpar on too many nights? Yes, but the goaltending has been worse. 

Neither goaltender has a save percentage above .895. That is not good enough in the NHL; in fact, it's not even close.

Possible Fit: Cam Ward, Goaltender, Carolina Hurricanes, Age: 30, Cap Hit: $6.3 million

Cam Ward is a proven NHL starter who would give the Oilers instant credibility at the position. He's still in his prime and would have the added motivation of coming back to his home province, and essentially, his hometown.

He was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but was raised in Sherwood Park, Alberta, just outside of Edmonton.

Ward won the Conn Smythe Trophy back in 2006 when the Hurricanes defeated the Oilers to win the Stanley Cup. A move to the Oilers and getting them back on track could be seen as redemptive for diehard Oilers fans. 

Ward is an athletic goaltender with good fundamentals who has a .913 save percentage on a terrible Carolina Hurricanes squad. He could be a good fit in Edmonton.

Depth Winger

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

The Need: Depth Winger

The Oilers have had much better play out of their third and fourth lines in the past few weeks. Much of this has to do with personnel as well as the effect that Todd Nelson has had on the entire roster.

The team seems ready to play on most nights, and Nelson is clearly a great communicator. Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun argues that point in a recent article.

The Oilers are still thin on the bottom six in terms of proven NHL-calibre players. A depth winger with size and speed would help the cause.

Possible Fit: Chris Stewart, Winger, Buffalo Sabres, Age: 27, Cap Hit: $4.15 million

Chris Stewart is a proven forward who is a full load at 6'2" and 231 pounds. He also has some good scoring touch for a big man who hasn't always played top minutes for his NHL teams. He's had 250 points in 439 NHL games.

Stewart loves the physical game and has a career high in the regular season of 118 penalty minutes, which he talled while with the St. Louis Blues and Buffalo Sabres in 2013-14. Stewart plays the style of game that the Oilers will need on their bottom two lines if they hope to compete with the top teams in the Western Conference moving forward.

All stats can be found on NHL.com. All salary information can be found on NHLnumbers.com.