3 Top-Four Defense Targets Named for Edmonton Oilers

Noted Edmonton Oilers insider Bob Stauffer is dropping hints at who the team could be targeting in its season-long search for a top-four defenseman—something it will need to add before the trade deadline if it is to take another serious run at the Stanley Cup.

Per Stauffer, on a recent addition of Oilers Now:

I envision the Edmonton Oilers adding a Top 4 defensemen. Preferably, a guy that can play the right side and can be a left shot, and probably a guy that can move the puck. And maybe, since they’re going to move a couple picks, some draft capital, we’re likely looking at a guy with a little bit of term left. That’s the scenario. I’m not going to name the name. Could be a guy right now that’s on a team that nobody thinks is out of the mix, but may end up out of the mix as well.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journal did some sleuthing, and came up with three names that generally fit this profile:

Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers

His name has been prominent on the rumor mill and the trade boards thus far this season. He has "a little bit of term left", one of Stauffer's criteria, at two years, with a $5.1 million cap hit. The Flyers, we all assume, will end up "out of the mix", though they are currently holding down a Wild Card spot at 12-10-3. But we've seen this movie before.

Ben Chiarot, Detroit Red Wings

The "term" qualification is met, as he has one more year after this one at $4.7 million. The one aspect that might not fit the mold is the part about the Wings not being "out of the mix" at the moment. Their head coach is on thin ice, but nevertheless, Staples figures this still fits with Stauffer's clues. The Wings will almost certainly wind up on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. There's already word that boss man Steve Yzerman is ready to shake things up.

Nick Jensen, Ottawa Senators

Jensen is off to a nice start this season, with a plus/minus rating of +10 in 23 games, along with eight points. He does have one more year left after this season at $4.0 million. As with Detroit, it's doubtful that any observers consider Ottawa at this point as fitting the profile of "nobody thinks is out of the mix", though the team is desperate to rectify that. They are another team ready to make some moves.

In the end, however, Staples suggests that a top-four D-man might not even end up being the Oilers' top priority come the deadline, as "a top winger or top goalie" could be higher on their list of needs.