The newly acquired Vancouver Canuck was almost traded to the Edmonton Oilers for one of their defensemen.
With the regular season underway, there have been a few minor trades around the league. It is almost a year to the day that the Edmonton Oilers acquired Klim Kostin from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Dmitri Samorukov.
Former Oiler Caleb Jones was just traded to the Colorado Avalanche after being waived by the Carolina Hurricanes. Additionally, Sam Lafferty was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in return for a 2024 5th round draft pick.
Sam Lafferty.Elliotte Friedman reported that the Oilers were actually interested in Lafferty - dating back all the way to last season. Ultimately it didn't materialize, and now we have an indication as to why that might be.
Friedman also reported that the supposed ask for Lafferty was Vincent Desharnais. I can understand why that wasn't a possibility for the Oilers. Desharnais has great physical tools and has played meaningful NHL games as a 7th round draft pick.
Vincent Desharnais.Lafferty is a great complimentary piece, who can play up and down the lineup. Is that piece worth a prized young defenseman like Desharnais? The Oilers don't seem to think so.
Subscribe to the new Striking Oil podcast hosted by Oilers Site Editor, Caleb Kerney. He tackles topics and questions surrounding the Oilers on a weekly basis. Check it out on Youtube, as well as on the podcast player of your choice.
Related: Oilers Cut Sniper From Camp Roster
Related: Babcock Resignation Proves Oilers' Made the Right Call