Rumor: Oilers Shopping D-Man for Starting Goalie

It didn't take long for the fallout and trade rumors to start up after the Stanley Cup qualifiers. There are many questions to be answered by the losing qualifier teams, but goaltending seems to be at the top of the list. 

Word out of Toronto according to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos that Frederik Andersen has played his last game as a Maple Leaf. Andersen has 1-year left on his current contract before becomming a UFA. The Toronto Maple Leafs have failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the last 4 seasons. There have also been rumors all season that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be moving Matt Murray at the end of the season, with the emergence of Tristan Jarry and still having proven backup Casey DeSmith on the roster. Murray will be a RFA this year and will command a raise on his $3 million per year deal. The Edmonton Oilers of all the losing qualifier teams is in most need of help between the pipes. The Oilers finished the qualifiers with the bottom two worst save percentages of all 16 teams. More heat came down on the defence of the Oilers when Darnell Nurse called out the team for publicly after the series, even though Nurse himself struggled along with the Oilers top 4 all series against Chicago. 

The Oilers have many promising defencemen coming up through their system, with Evan Bouchard, Philip Broberg looking ready to push for a spot. Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones already on the roster needing more minutes next season. Edmonton is tight against the cap and would have to trade for a goalie with the top UFA goalies out of their price range. Would the Oilers move Oscar Klefbom or Darnell Nurse to get a proven starter? Both would be immediate upgrades on the Leafs' blueline, with Nurse being from nearby Hamilton. Pittsburgh has a history of turning Oilers defence prospects into solid everyday defencemen, Justin Schultz was had for a mid-round pick and John Marino was acquired for a 6th round pick last year from Edmonton. Schultz is set to become a UFA this year and perhaps the Pens look to the Oilers again to solidify their defence, the draft lottery may change the plans of all three of the teams if one of the Leafs, Oilers or Penguins win the top pick tonight.