Sometimes, it’s a simple as one NHL insider saying he thinks a team has an interest in someone. From there, another insider picks it up and before you know it, social media is buzzing with speculation that ‘this’ person is headed to ‘this’ team.
That’s how rumors and buzz heading into the NHL Trade Deadline often work and such was the case on Sunday when rumors broke that Mike Green was a potential target for the Edmonton Oilers.
A Quick Shift From the McDavid News
Sunday started great for Oilers fans as captain Connor McDavid announced he’d be back in the lineup as the Oilers took on the Los Angeles Kings Sunday night. An important game for Edmonton, McDavid said he was excited to get back in and help a team he’s had a lot of fun watching stay in the race.
Once the captain was confirmed, much of the talk on social media quickly shifted focus as word spread that Elliotte Friedman had said he believed the Oilers had interest in both Tyler Ennis from the Ottawa Senators and Mike Green from the Detroit Red Wings.
Ennis wasn’t new information. Green sort of came out of left field. But, there might be something to a Green trade as he’s being held out of the lineup by the Red Wings for precautionary reasons.
Related: Diving Into the Detroit Red Wings No-Trade Clauses
Friedman On Green
In a recent Sportsnet article and accompanying video, it was noted that Green might be a player to watch out of Detroit.
Green has a modified no-trade clause so there’s some control on his part. With just 11 points in 48 games, he is one of many Red Wings having a disaster of a season, but greener pastures could bring better production. He’s still a strong puck-mover who could thrive in a support role on a good team where he’d be surrounded by better talent. At the very least, he’d be an upgrade to many second PP units.
So, if Green was interested in leaving Detroit, more specifically, permitting a trade to Edmonton, there’s a few things to consider.
The Oilers a Fit?
With the injury to Oscar Klefbom, perhaps there’s a need for a power play quarterback. The Oilers were trying Darnell Nurse there and while he did what he could, there were certainly struggles. Considering the Oilers had one of the best power players in the NHL, these weren’t struggles Edmonton wanted to see continue.
Ethan Bear was moved over to play the role of PP quarterback in practice and will get first-unit time on Sunday. Should he struggle, how welcome would Green be in that role?
Green may not be the player he once was, but he can still run the man-advantage. And, as a rental, perhaps that’s the biggest job the Oilers would ask of him. No doubt, adding him would be an asset.
The question is the money. Green makes $5.375 million this season. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and, as such, the Oilers aren’t commited. That said, even if Detroit retains half of Green’s salary in a deal, this would be about the only move Edmonton could make.
That has fans concerned.
If Green is moved and if Edmonton is an option, they likely aren’t the only ones. There are a number of teams out there that could be kicking tires on the defenseman. That means, for fans who like Green as an Oiler, there’s potentially a deal in the works. For fans that don’t, there’s probably just as good a chance he winds up elsewhere.
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