Photo credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
The Edmonton Oilers may not be in a position to facilitate any significant trades this season and analyst David Pagnotta agrees.
Oilers looking to free-up cap space
One main reason why Edmonton is having trouble making a trade is because of their tight cap-situation, with just under $160K available to spend.
Of course, there have been many instances when GM Stan Bowman may have pulled-off a move, or two, but was prevented from doing so largely because of no-movement clauses.
Unless a player with a NMC agrees to waive it, GM’s hands are tied. Players like Trent Frederic for example, cannot be traded, waived, or sent to minors, unless he agrees. That is $3.95M earning the Oilers no value.
Andrew Mangiapane, another player not producing this year with only 4G and a minus-14, carries an AAV of $3.6M, which could go against a potential trade for a goalie, or any number of roster-needs, if he could be traded.
There are many other examples of Oilers’ roster-players with NMC or full-on no-trade clauses.
We may not have heard much from Stan Bowman on the trade-front because there may not have been much to report, with no cap-money to put against incoming players.
The good news is that Edmonton is showing signs of life once more, and a trade is not so pressing as it was a few weeks ago, when their season appeared done.
As of today, Bowman can go about his business without the pressure of making a game-changing move, as the help finally seems to be coming from within.
Still, NMC are a definite hindrance to doing business in the NHL.
Previously on Edmonton Hockey Daily
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