Simon Edvinsson is exactly the kind of blueliner the Oilers need. Prying him out of Detroit is another story.
Jim Matheson made the case Saturday morning that Edmonton should go after the Red Wings defenseman. He also doubts the Oilers have the assets to win a bidding war.
His projected price? Isaac Howard or Matthew Savoie as part of the return.
Start with what Edvinsson actually brings. He's a 23-year-old left shot standing 6-foot-6, taken sixth overall by Detroit in 2021.
And the production has caught up to the frame. He posted 31 points in 78 games in 2024-25, then went plus-12 again last season.
Career-wise, he's at 60 points over 175 NHL games. He doesn't shy away from the heavy going in front of his own crease, either.
Here's the wrinkle. Edvinsson hasn't dressed for the Red Wings through their first four games.
Jake Walman's quiet start exposes Edmonton's blue line
The need on Edmonton's back end is easy to spot. Walman carries a $7 million cap hit and has no points through four games, along with a -3 rating.
Shakir Mukhamadullin went minus-6 across two appearances. Mattias Ekholm is 36, and Connor Murphy is 33.
Evan Bouchard is driving the group with 11 points. Somebody else has to soak up the hard defensive minutes so he can keep doing that.
The Oilers are 3-0-1, but they've given up 16 goals already. That's a lot of traffic for a team with Stanley Cup ambitions.
Devon Levi owns an .863 save percentage behind that group. Something in front of him has to give.
Now the cost. Savoie put up 18 goals and 37 points in 82 games for Edmonton last season.
He's 22, shoots right, and carries an $886,666 cap hit through this season. Leon Draisaitl alone eats $14 million, so cheap scoring is gold in Edmonton.
Howard is the other name on Matheson's list. The 22-year-old forward has one assist through four games on a $972,500 deal.
If Stan Bowman can land Edvinsson with Howard headlining the package, he should sign off before lunch. Even with Savoie in it, it's the right hockey trade.
But Shawn Horcoff isn't exactly a motivated seller. Asking him for a young, big left-shot defenseman is like asking a farmer to part with his best tractor right before planting season.
Detroit sits at 1-3-0 after a 6-3 loss to Seattle on Friday night. A sluggish start can soften a GM's stance. It can also harden it.
The Oilers are in San Jose tonight, while the Red Wings visit Montreal. The two clubs meet in Edmonton on October 26, and that could be an awkward night if this has legs.
And Matheson's biggest doubt hangs over all of it. If rival clubs are bidding too, does Edmonton have enough left in the cupboard to win?
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Should the Oilers include Matthew Savoie in a trade for Simon Edvinsson?
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