EDMONTON – The world is a little better if we help each other out.

The Edmonton Oilers haven’t gotten a lot of help from other teams recently. Moves in recent history would suggest other teams have gone out of their way to pester the second-consecutive Stanley Cup runner-up.

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Specifically, the St. Louis Blues offer sheeted the Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg duo last summer – forcing the Oilers to make a couple of trades to give themselves flexibility and absorb the blow of losing two great young players.

However, the Vancouver Canucks could make interesting trade partners with the Oilers.

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On the Canucks' side of things, a report suggests they are gauging the market for Thatcher Demko. They are also in the market for a number two center and a top-six winger.

The Oilers are looking at improving their forward group and goaltending. This brings to mind an interesting scenario, one that might benefit both teams.

My proposal is simple, the Oilers send the Canucks Evander Kane for Demko. One-for-one. A good ol’ fashioned hockey trade.

Kane hasn’t lost his offensive juice. In his last full regular season, he recorded 24 goals and 44 points, averaging 16:47 a night, while playing the majority of the season injured.

He’s played on the second unit powerplay in Edmonton for the majority of Kris Knoblauch’s tenure as Oilers head coach. If the Canucks could offer him a spot on their top powerplay, it would make Vancouver a desirable option. Not to mention, Kane would likely accept a trade to his hometown team.

It’s made its way out there that the Oilers are looking to move on from Kane. That, combined with a desire to improve the goaltending situation, makes Demko an appealing option. 

By trading Kane for Demko, they improve their goaltending without needing to dump a contract first. Demko makes $5 million while Kane makes $5.125 million. Demko is still a good goaltender, even if he has run into a string of injuries lately.

This also frees up a roster position for Matt Savoie to join the Oilers' top six next season, or another young player the Oilers have on a lower-cap hit contract.

While a trade of this magnitude with a Pacific Division rival is unconventional, both teams could benefit by helping each other out.

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