2 Outlandish Oilers' Trade Proposals to Acquire Erik Karlsson

Here are two outlandish Edmonton Oilers trade proposals that could land them elite defender Erik Karlsson.

The Edmonton Oilers are on a mission to upgrade their top-4 defence. They are looking for a way to extend Evan Bouchard and (if they can) bring in an upgrade on Cody Ceci. But what if they go a different route? What if they bring in a defenceman in the middle of a resurgence? 

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Erik Karlsson just became the sixth NHL defenceman of all time to hit 100 points in a season. Karlsson is no stranger to scoring a lot of points as he has routinely been a 60-80 point defenceman. Bouchard has a high offensive ceiling, but is it Karlsson-high?

Let's look at a few completely outlandish trade proposals the Oilers could table to the San Jose Sharks to acquire. Please note: this is all pure speculation and not based on any rumors or insider information. 

Bouchard is still waiting for a new contract, one that should pay him quite a bit. The Oilers are likely to offer him a bridge deal because of cap constraints. That creates circumstances that make a trade even more likely, because of the opportunity that presents Bouchard to play on the best power play in the NHL and record at least 50 points. 

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Darnell Nurse has a $9.25-million cap hit, Karlsson has a $11.5-million cap hit. If the Sharks retain at least $2-million in salary then the Oilers save a couple hundred thousand dollars. The Sharks get an offensive defender who can play point on their power play, and the Oilers get a dynamic Norris-Trophy-winning player in Karlsson. With Nurse being a part of the Oilers core group, it's hard to imagine a deal like this making it past the finish line.

The Oilers signed Jack Campbell to a five-year contract worth a $5-million cap hit last off-season. Kailer Yamamoto is a young forward still budding with potential who could make a big splash with a new team. Bouchard is a 40-point defender with an even higher offensive ceiling. This would no doubt be an appealing package for the sharks. They get a good goaltender, a young forward and a fantastic defenceman who is dangerous on the power play.

But again, there is no way that the Oilers do this. It would not look great on the organization to trade a goalie one year removed from signing them long term. Yamamoto is the most likely to be traded of this proposed package, but even he isn't a sure thing to be moved. The Oilers also really like Bouchard.

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Acquiring a talent like Karlsson might have to remain as speculation and not reality. The Oilers don't have the resources to make this happen, without also creating a hole on their roster that a prospect or inexpensive contract could fill.