Two New Trade Targets Emerge for Maple Leafs After Oilers' Stanley Cup Final Defeat
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
After Edmonton fell yet again to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup, it looks like both Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson could find themselves elsewhere this summer.
Unfortunately for the Oilers, they were unable to get past the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Finals yet again, losing their second straight Cup and feeling more disheartened and disappointed than ever.
They have a lot of questions to answer this offseason and with a lot of potential moves, who might be on the chopping block is going to be hotly debated.
Kane, Arvidsson potential casualties of a change in Edmonton
Two players who might find themselves on the trade block are Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson.
Both men are veterans that offer a wildly different game, but could no doubt help a team add some scoring, physicality and playoff production to their ranks.
But a new report from The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta shows that Edmonton might need to open up some more space than the $12M they have, and he feels both Kane and Arvidsson could be casualties:
Also on Oilers, in an effort to create additional salary cap space, I wouldn't be shocked to see the names of Evander Kane (16-team trade list) and Viktor Arvidsson (full NMC) pop up in the trade market this month.
Both men do possess some leverage in where they want to go, but with the Oilers potentially looking to move on, and the potential to win elsewhere; it might end up being a mutual split.
So if that's the case, the Maple Leafs should really take a look at seeing what Edmonton would take for either of the players.
Why Toronto should trade for Evander Kane or Viktor Arvidsson
Kane, 33 (soon to be 34), would add that extra pshyicality and toughness that Brad Treliving and Craig Berube want to add while not sacrificing too much on offense.
A perennial 25-30 goal scorer, Kane offers stability and size while bringing in some much needed scoring. In 930 games he's posted 617 points (326G, 291A) split with Atlanta/Winnipeg, Buffalo, San Jose and Edmonton.
Kane has also added 55 points in 97 playoff games (32G, 23A) and besides his offensive help, will give Craig Berube a guy who skates around and crushes everything that moves.
Think of him as a more seasoned Matthew Knies, and the fact they might be able to bring him in is a huge boost towards making those big changes.
Arvidsson, 32, is more of a role-playing forward who excels on the power play, is great defensively, and can offer you the potential for 30 goals; though 15-20 is more realistic.
He would be given a third-line role with the chance to move up to the second line with William Nylander (and maybe form a Swedish partnership).
For his career, Arvidsson has 389 points in 613 games (194G, 195A) and a plus-43 rating with time spent in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Edmonton.
Kane makes $5.125-million meanwhile Arvidsson makes $4-million. That's not an unreasonable amount of money, especially with their pending free agency next season.
If Toronto can trade off a couple of safe contracts to take on their money, or end up finding themselves able to dish a prospect or two with some picks, it might sway Edmonton enough to part ways.
They are in a cap crunch and teams get desperate, so hopefully the Maple Leafs can take advantage before they end up becoming desperate themselves.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 18 | 779 ANSWERS Two New Trade Targets Emerge for Maple Leafs After Oilers' Stanley Cup Final Defeat Who should the Maple Leafs target this summer from the Edmonton Oilers? | ||
| Evander Kane | 122 | 15.7 % |
| Viktor Arvidsson | 62 | 8 % |
| Both | 72 | 9.2 % |
| Neither | 523 | 67.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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