Insider: Oilers "A Team To Watch" For Flames' Trade Target

The Edmonton Oilers had their 16-game winning streak snapped earlier this week, now it's time to get back to reality, and the serious business of making the moves necessary to keep this team on the trajectory to being a serious Stanley Cup contender come playoff time. 

With that in mind, general manager Ken Holland is doing his due diligence on the trade market. And while a top-six forward is said to be their "priority", a defenseman is also on the menu. And while several teams have been connected to Calgary Flames' impending UFA Chris Tanev, for the first time now, the Oilers are jumping into that ring, according to TSN's hockey insider Darren Dreger on TSN 1050 radio on Thursday. 

I think the Oilers would love to have Chris Tanev… (that's) a team I hadn’t heard about, that I heard about today. I am not putting them in the realm of being a front runner, just one of the many teams that has expressed interest in this player.

"They're having conversations on some of the top available defense," Dreger reiterated about Edmonton on TSN's Insider Trading. But if a top name like Tanev is added, "it seems likely you'd have to move either Cody Ceci or Brett Kulak." He also mentioned the Philadelphia Flyers' Sean Walker as a potential big splash target on D. 

Insider Elliotte Friedman also said on Friday's 32 Thoughts podcast that he thinks Tanev “is possible” for the Oilers. 

Edmonton heads into Friday night's action at 29-16-1 for 59 points, good for 3rd place in the Pacific Division, three points up on the Los Angeles Kings with two games in hand. After their dreadful start to the season, they're no longer too concerned about making the playoffs — now, it's what can they do once they get there? 

And with that in mind, as Dreger notes, "Holland and the Oilers are making sure they're staying in the market in every single position, so if they have to shift or pivot in a certain direction, they're educated to do that."

Photo: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports