Oilers Trade News

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This is Bill Skinner reporting for the Oilers. The team has made a few moves already and I had a chance to sit down with the GM/Coach and get a little bit of information from him.

Bill Skinner: "Chris, two moves in two days. Was this planned, or did things just kind of happen?"


Chris: "Honestly, I had been looking over the team, and I knew that we needed some changes. I didnt think that it would happen as soon as it did however. All in all, Im very happy with the trades we made, and I think it improved our team.

Bill Skinner: "Lets talk about the first deal with the Penguins."


Chris: "Certainly. The deal with the Penguins really didnt take too much discussion to be honest with you. Ive known Russ, their GM for quite a while now, and when we talk, things either happen quickly, or not at all (laughs). Getting a player like Semin and his offensive ability is very exciting for us. I knew we needed some help up front, and the acquisition of Semin helps us right away. Brassard is a solid player up front and this is not a reflection of his play. With Semin coming in, it will help to take some of the pressure off of Ovechkin and Getzlaf. I wish nothing but the best for Brassard, and Im sure he will fit in quite nicely in Pittsburgh."

Bill Skinner: "How did the deal with the Islanders come about?"


Chris: "This deal took a bit more time, and it honestly wasnt something I had planned on doing. I had read on the league news that the Islanders were looking to move some salary, so I made an inquiry regarding Franzen. After quite a few messages back and forth with their GM, we were finally able to agree on a deal. Franzen is a top notch player, and his ability at both ends of the ice, not to mention is leadership abilities will benefit our team greatly. We had the money to spend, and we did it. This isnt to say that moving Miller and Eakin was easy, because it wasnt. These are two young players with some good upside. Its always hard to part with young talent, but when a player like Franzen comes along and is available, its not something you ignore. Im sure we will be seeing quite a bit of Miller and Eakin in the near future, and we wish them all the luck on the island."

Bill Skinner: "Are there more moves planned after these?"


Chris: "I dont think so. I think right now Im going to sit back, and see how these players work together. When you have guys like Ovechkin, Getzlaf, Franzen, and Semin, a goaltender like Bishop and a bunch of young guys, its going to take some time to find the right chemisty between them. I think this team is better now than it was a few days ago, and now its just a matter of time to see who ends up playing where. If changes need to be made, then I will do what I can to improve this team."


Bill Skinner: "Thanks for your time as always Chris."


Chris: "Nice talking with you as always Bill." 

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Bill Skinner back with you again as the Oilers have made yet another trade. 

Bill Skinner: "Chris, another trade with the Penguins? Care to elaborate on this one?"


Chris: "Sure Bill. Yes I pulled the trigger on another trade. Im very pleased to announce the acquisition of Vincent Lecavalier. Vinny brings us another veteran up front, and I feel he will really help us out in all areas of the ice. I felt we could use a player of his caliber. He can help us at even strength, on the power play and on the penalty kill. He can also help mentor some of these young players we have, and hopefully help them become better players. In my eyes we now can roll two very solid top lines. I havent really figured out the actual line combinations yet, but Im sure that Vinny will be on one of the top two lines. The pieces are now slowly coming into place, and I think that as long as our defense can hold up, we should be fairly competitive this season."

Bill Skinner: "How easy was this trade to make compared to other deals that you have completed?"


Chris: "This one was a bit tougher. Losing a young player like Bennett is never easy. Ive had numerous discussions regarding quite a few of our young prospects, but I felt that moving Bennett right now was the right choice. There is no doubt Bennett is going to become a very good player, but I really felt we needed another veteran on this roster."

Bill Skinner: "One last thing before I let you go. Anything else in the works, or are you happy with the roster the way it is as the regular season approaches?"


Chris: "Honestly, the way we sit now, is how we will head into the regular season. Im happy with the team. I think now its just a matter of finding the chemistry and a style of play that suits us. Im looking forward to this season. There are a lot of great teams in this league and its going to be a long battle."

Bill Skinner: "Thanks again for your time Chris. Good luck to you and the team. Talk to you later."


Chris: "Thanks Bill, always a pleasure."

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Bill Skinner here again, as I am back from my vacation and now getting caught up with things around the Oilers. While I was gone, the Oilers made a minor trade and I had a moment with Chris to see what his take on it was.

Bill Skinner: "Chris, I see yet again another deal between you and the Penguins. You guys go back a long way huh?"

Chris: "Yeah, Russ and I have known each other for quite some time now through various leagues. As Ive said before, when we talk trade, it either happens right away, or not at all."

Bill Skinner: "So, you ended up bringing in another goaltender, even though you already had 3. Care to elaborate on this?"

Chris: "Well, when the season started, I had Ben (Bishop) slated as the number one, and Viktor Fasth slated to be his back-up. As the games went on, I noticed Viktor was really having a rough time. Almost as if he was fighting the puck. I stuck with him for 4 games, but after going 1-3, I felt maybe he needed some more time in the minors. I called up Laurent Brossoit to see what he could do, but at the same time, I was looking for some insurance as well. Russ mentioned to me that Carter Hutton was available, so I made him an offer, and the trade was done. Brossoit has done a very nice job for us in the games he has started, so as long as he is playing well, the back-up job is his. Hutton and Fasth will man the nets for our farm team for the time being."

Bill Skinner: "Have we seen the end of Fasth in Edmonton?"

Chris: "I wouldnt say that. I havent lost faith in him, but right now its just a waiting game to see if he can find his comfort zone. He needed the starts down in the minors, and that is what he is getting. Time to work on his game, so that if and when he gets a call from me, he will be ready to go."

Bill Skinner: "Chris, thanks for your time."


Chris: "No problem Bill, anytime."

[Deleted]

Bill Skinner back with you again, getting you caught up on all things related to the Oilers. I had a chance to sit down with Chris a few days ago regarding his most recent moves.

Bill Skinner: "Chris, another deal with the Penguins, as well as a claim on a prospect?"


Chris: "Yeah, we did it again. This one was a bit more complex though. There was quite a bit of back and forth with this deal. This one actually took about a week or so for us to finally agree on. Russ and I both parted with players that we liked, but in the long run it was a good deal for both of us. Russ received 2 very good prospects in this deal, and I feel we received 2 very good defensemen in de Haan and Daley. Daley adds some more experience on our defense, and he can chip in with some offense as well. He has been in the league for a little while now, and I think he will be a great fit once we get the pairings set. He is in a new system, so there will be an adjustment period for sure. Calvin de Haan is a young guy, who I feel has a lot of potential to be a solid defender in this league for many years. He is still learning the game, and I know there will be growing pains with him, but he has a great attitude and should fit in nicely here. I did have to part with 2 very promising prospects to make this deal happen, but I felt our defense wasnt really giving us what we need on a consistent basis, so I decided to make the move to shore up our back end. As far as our newest prospect, that was a total shock to me when he was available, and I jumped on the chance to sign him. Letunov is probably a few years away from being in the line-up, but it will be fun to watch him grow and mature as a player."

Bill Skinner: "So is there anything else in the works as far as trades go?"


Chris: "Nothing as of now. There are a few areas in which Im looking to improve on, but nothing is going to happen as far as I can tell."

Bill Skinner: "Thanks for your time Chris, I appreciate it."


Chris: "Anytime Bill."

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Bill Skinner here, back for another episode of trade talk with the Oilers man in charge.

Bill Skinner: "Chris, you traded away one of the most feared goal scorers in the league and in return received 3 not so feared players. What was the thinking behind this?"


Chris: "Honestly Bill, it was more the fact of not only noticing the lack of depth on this team, but also the lack of consistency with Ovechkin's game. There were nights that he was an excellent player, and there were nights that he didnt show up at all. His offense abilities are never in doubt, but his lack of being a team player certainly helped move him out of town. As Ive said before, when you take over a team that you didnt build, many times you arent happy with the situation, and you have to make the best of it. Yes the trade of Ovechkin shocked many in the league, but this team lacked depth in so many ways that I had to make changes.

I feel the quality of the 3 players we received in return will help us become a better all around team. Nick Foligno, Carl Hagelin and Michael Grabner give me more options with all of my line combinations than I have had since I took over this team. Since the trade, we are 7-4-1, so we are playing decent hockey. Just not great hockey. Its still a feeling out process with the lines, and things like that. Alex is a great player, but this team needed help in every possible way, so the trade was made."

Bill Skinner: "With the deadline coming up, do you see anything happening on your end?"


Chris: "Honestly, I doubt it. There is always a chance something may happen, but I really dont believe there will be any changes. That being said, I am always looking to explore options, and see what is available to help the team out."

Bill Skinner: "Thanks for your time Chris. I will be seeing you later on for some more team news?"


Chris: "Anytime Bill. Yes you and I will be sitting down for an overall team report, along with our future plans."

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Bill Skinner here with you again to talk with the man in charge about the latest Oilers trade.

Bill Skinner: "Well Chris, a day after our last talk, you didnt think another deal was coming. However, you and the Pens have done it again?"


Chris Mitchell: "Yeah, Russ and I pulled another one off yesterday after our meeting. This one from what I can tell will be the last one that I make this season. As I look at the team now, after this latest trade, I think things are going in the right direction. Giving up two prospects is never easy to do, especially when it involves players like Pavel Buchnevich and Maxim Letunov, but adding veteran players like Blake Comeau and Steve Downie is going to help this team grow. We have some players that are young, and these two veteran guys will definately help bring them along. I understand Comeau and Downie arent going to be lighting the lamp 30 or 40 times a season, but they give me the flexibility to move players around and find some chemistry on this team. They are both versatile forwards, who can be used in many different situations. Downie also gives us that added toughness in case things should get out of hand. Im excited to have them here."

Bill Skinner: "I was going to wait until our meeting later today when you address the season as a whole, but I will ask you now. With the FA/RFA deadline looming, have you figured out who you will be tendering contract offers to?"


Chris Mitchell: "Im in the final stages of that right now actually. Ive been waiting to do this as I wanted to see how this team actually performs. I would say that Im 98% done with my selections, and those announcements will come later on today. Salary isnt an issue with this team as we do have money to spend, so this will all be based on current performance, and what I am hoping for in the future with these players."

Bill Skinner: "Thanks for the time Chris. Ill be seeing you later on today."


Chris Mitchell: "Always a pleasure Bill. Talk to you soon."

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Bill Skinner here again in Edmonton, this time to get a few details of the recently completed trade between the Oilers and the Wild.


Bill Skinner: "Chris, you made a trade recently involving the Wild. How did this come about?"


Chris: "Honestly Bill, this one just sort of happened. During the course of random talks, ideas were thrown around and it turned into a deal. With the playoffs nearing an end, there has been a bit more talking between GM's and I think you see that being reflected through the league with the deals that are being made. Even though they arent official until after the playoffs, you can see things are starting to heat up a bit. Its an exciting time for the league, and for the teams and their fans. I had been having talks with about 4 or 5 teams, and most of it was just testing the waters, trying to get a feel for what is out there. Braeden and I started throwing names back and forth and for a time, it didnt feel like we were going to be able to come up with something that worked for both teams. We had a few days between our initial talks, and then Braeden came to me with an offer that was along the lines of what I wanted to do, but still needed some work. After a little more back and forth, we were finally able to agree on a deal."

Bill Skinner: "So this trade sees you sending 2 forwards to the Wild, in exchange for 1 defenseman. On a team like the Oilers, who at times struggled to score last season, it may not make sense to some people. What was the thinking behind this?"


Chris: You bring up a good point Bill. Yes we struggled with our offense, but we also had a very difficult time in our own zone last year. Colin Wilson should be getting a pretty good rating for next season, and yes his offensive potential could be missed. Artem Anisimov is another one with potential, but I really feel that Rickard Rakell will be ready to step up, and potentially be a full time player for the Oilers next season, which made it a bit easier to move Anisimov. Dont forget, we still have the draft, as well as the free agency period to fill the holes on this team. But when you look at our defense, there is no doubting that Keith Yandle will fit in very nicely here. He is very good with the puck, so I think we will be able to use him on our PP as well as our PK, which were both weak points for us last season. Keith wasnt brought in here to fill the back of the net, he was brought here to help make our defense stronger, and any additional offensive support he provides will be a bonus. Im very happy with this trade."

Bill Skinner: "Thanks for your time Chris, and Im looking forward to covering this team as it develops."


Chris: "Anytime Bill. Im sure we will be talking again soon."

[Deleted]

Bill Skinner here in Edmonton with a recap of the deal involving the Oilers and Leafs that was made a few days ago.


Bill Skinner: "Chris, another new face is joining the Oilers organization. What was the reasoning behind this deal?"


Chris Mitchell: "Well Bill, this deal was pretty much a depth move to be honest with you. I didnt really see Laurent Brossoit getting a shot here with our club, and rather than have him sitting in the minors, I decided to move him and add some depth to our forwards. Derek Dorsett knows his role here will not be a huge one. He knows he is probably looking at 4th line duty here, maybe even 3rd line action from time to time, depending on how he performs. All in all its not a major change to our line-up, but I think Derek will bring us some stability, and also some more experience up front."

Bill Skinner: "Thanks for the update Chris. Talk to you later."


Chris Mitchell: "Anytime Bill, always a pleasure."

Another move by the Oilers as the changes continue. Im sure there will be more to come in weeks leading up to the start of the new season. Reporting live from Edmonton, this is Bill Skinner.

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Bill Skinner here again as the Oilers have made another move, this time involving an old friend, the Penguins.


Bill Skinner: "Chris, another trade today, this time seeing a veteran forward shipped out of Edmonton in exchange for a younger forward and a draft pick. Thoughts?"


Chris Mitchell: "Even though we had freed up some salary with the buy-out of Semin, I was still looking for some more cap space. Johan was a solid player for us all of last season, and I wish him nothing but the best. With finances in mind, we felt best to move him, and get some more cap relief. I feel we have acquired a decent player in Kyle Clifford. He is still young, but I think he will continue to develop into a solid player. Im not expecting him to play first or second line minutes, but I think he will fit in nicely on our lower lines. Its also nice to get another draft pick so that we can start to build up our farm system. This trade wasnt a reflection on Johan at all, it was more of a financial move than anything else."

Bill Skinner: "Thanks for your time Chris. I look forward to our next meeting."


Chris Mitchell: "Anytime Bill. I will be talking to you soon."

[Deleted]

Bill Skinner here, and yes, the Oilers have done yet another deal. This time involving the Florida Panthers.


Bill Skinner: "Chris, another move. This one seeing another veteran forward leaving town in exchange for a younger, up and coming player, along with a swap of draft picks. Seems to be a busy time here for the Oilers."


Chris Mitchell: "Yeah Bill, Ive been quite busy here lately. This move was another of the salary dump moves that Ive been working on, and I think we are finally done with the salary purge. Im very excited to be bringing in Greg McKegg as another member of the team. As far as his impact this season, well that is yet to be seen, but Im definately glad to have him in the fold. Ruutu was very understanding when I made the call to let him know he was heading to Florida. He knows his time is almost up, and the financials of his deal just didnt make sense. I wish him nothing but the best in Florida."

Bill Skinner: "Thanks again for your time Chris."


Chris Mitchell: "Anytime Bill, take care. I will talk to you later."

So another veteran is gone from the Oilers, and another new, young face has arrived. Its not a full blown re-build here in Edmonton, but pieces are definately changing and this team is looking like it will be much different when the new season starts. Stay tuned!

[Deleted]

Bill Skinner here in Edmonton, discussing the latest in a series of moves by the Oilers.


Bill Skinner: "Quite the major move by you in this trade with Toronto. Im not sure many people expected you to trade your 1st round selection in the draft, was this something you planned on doing?"


Chris Mitchell: "Honestly, the thought of trading the 1st rounder was something I had been thinking about for quite some time. I was willing to move it, but at the same time, I wouldnt have had any issues keeping it either. I reached out to Kevin when I noticed he had the 14th selection in the draft, and I knew he was looking for more selections. As Ive said before, my goal for the coming season with this team is to reach the playoffs. We were so close last season, that I really feel we can make it in this time."

Bill Skinner: "So you gave up not only your 1st round selection, but also a young defenseman in Klefbom, and a young prospect in Fasching. With all the changes you have made, how do you feel about the roster at this point?"


Chris Mitchell: "Honestly, I feel much better about the roster now, than I did a few weeks ago. Ive made the salary cuts I needed to make, and added some more pieces to the puzzle. Im really excited about adding Maroon and Kreider up front, and adding Martinez on the back end. I really wasnt sure about Klefbom being ready to play on a nightly basis, so adding Martinez really gives me some confidence in our defense. Not only did we add Martinez, but we added Yandle in a previous deal, so I am pretty happy with where our defense is now. As far as the forwards go, Im really looking forward to having Kreider and Maroon join the team. There have been so many changes to the roster, that Im sure it will take some time to get the chemistry going on the lines, but Im confident it will happen. I have some targets in mind during the free agency period. I think this will be a good season here in Edmonton. Im looking forward to it."

Bill Skinner: "Thanks for time Chris. Talk to you later."


Chris Mitchell: "Anytime Bill, its always a pleasure."

There you have it. Another move, this one quite big for the Oilers. It seems the roster is taking shape pretty quickly here, and we still have the draft and free agency periods ahead of us. Reporting live from Edmonton, this is Bill Skinner.

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Bill Skinner here in Edmonton, bringing you the latest updates in what has been a busy few weeks for the Oilers.


Bill Skinner: "Chris, a lot of moves for you in the past 3 or so weeks here. Two trades with Toronto, a trade with Nashville, and another deal with Dallas. How about a quick rundown of the moves, as well as your thoughts on them."


Chris: "Sure Bill. Yeah, Ive made quite a few moves here lately, as I continue to try and get this roster ready to contend for a playoff spot, and hopefully more this season. Being so close last season really left a bad taste here in the organization, so Im hoping all these moves will get us to where we need to be, or at least closer. The first deal with Toronto was really a way for me to get some more depth players here, most of whom will probably be in the minors this year. Giving up pick #73 which would have turned into a prospect anyway, ended up getting us Dylan Olsen, Chris Summers, Chris Terry and Zach Boychuk. It was very nice to be able to add 2 defensemen, and 2 wingers to our team at such a low cost. Their salaries were also very easy to take on, which made this really an easy move to make.

My second deal with Toronto actually happened the next day, and was kind of a surprise to me. When I was approached regarding the 43rd selection in the draft, again, it was a pick that would be used on a prospect who would be in the minors for us. Instead, that pick turned into Anton Zlobin, Stefan Noesen and Matt Peca. Being able to add 3 more forwards to our team, along with the added depth at such a low cost contract wise, really made this another really easy move to make. With such a limited amount of players in our farm system last season, it was a bit of a struggle at times trying to find new combinations, or cover for injuries. I think by adding those 7 players in exchange for 2 draft picks, really will help this team grow and develop. 

The deal with Nashville was simply just a minor swap of players. Fasth wasnt going to be a part of the future of this team, and I was able to find a way to move him in exchange for forward Andrew Copp. Adding Copp will definately help out our minor league team, which is where he will spend most of his time. Again, it was a low risk, low cost move that gave us a little more depth in the farm, at very low cost to the budget.

The most recent deal with Dallas was a bit more of an impact move for the coming season. I did have to give up my 2nd round draft pick in year 3, and it did also cost us Carl Hagelin, which was not something that was easy to do. However, bringing in a player like Tyler Bozak will definately help our offense this season. I will be able to play him basically anywhere up front, and Im very excited to have him on this team. His contract was a bit more than Hagelin, but now having Bozak signed for 4 years is a huge bonus for us. Im really looking forward to finding the chemistry on this team, and I think its going to be a really good season here in Edmonton.

All in all, it was quite a few moves, and now that we are in the middle of the free agent draft, there will be more potential pieces added."

Bill Skinner: "Chris, thanks for the recap, and I will be looking forward to our next meeting, most likely after the draft is completed. Take care, and Ill be in touch."


Chris: "Anytime Bill, always a pleasure. I will talk to you after the draft is completed."

[Deleted]

Bill Skinner here, getting you caught up on the recent moves by the Oilers here as the pre-season continues.


Bill Skinner: "Chris, you made 2 trades in the past few weeks here, one with Buffalo, and then another one with Montreal. One of those deals was quite the blockbuster for your team. Care to give your thoughts on these most recent moves?"


Chris Mitchell: "Sure Bill, and thanks for joining me today. Roughly 2 weeks ago, Dan and I started negotiations for a deal that would help both of our teams in different ways. Dan is building for the future, and with this trade, I feel that this team has a very legitimate shot at making the playoffs, and going pretty deep. Last season, we missed the playoffs by only 4 points. To be that close, and have to watch from the outside, really left a bad feeling in the locker room. As the offseason continued, and I started looking at things, I felt we were so close, that if we could possibly add some pieces, we could be in good shape for a run this season. When I had the chance to acquire veteran players Pavel Datsyuk, Daniel Sedin, and Johnny Boychuck, as well as a 2nd round draft pick, that really helped change the face of this team. Getting these players didnt come without a price. We had to ship out veteran forward Vincent Lecavalier, veteran defenseman Jordan Leopold, our 1st round draft pick, as well as promising young defenseman Jacob Trouba. With all due respect to Vinny and Jordan, the hardest part of this trade was losing Trouba. He was a very important part of this team last year, and had an outstanding season for us. He has so much talent, and so much potential, that he is going to be a name people hear for years and years to come. Vinny and Jordan will help provide some leadership in Buffalo, as Dan has quite a young roster that is developing over there. I know all 3 guys will give everything they have for the Sabres as they build for the future. Here in Edmonton, the time is now though, and I think this trade shows that I am ready to do whatever it takes to get us to the next level. 

As far as the other trade with Montreal goes, that was really a move that involved cutting some salary from the budget. When I made the trade with Buffalo, it really put a squeeze on my available cap space, so I needed to make a minor move. I ended up shipping Kyle Brodziak to Montreal in exchange for young forward Justin Florek. This move enabled me to have a little breathing room salary wise, and also helped the Canadiens to become cap compliant. Kyle was a free agent signing for us and I was able to acquire Florek for the future of this team. Overall, with these 2 deals, Im very happy with where we stand right now, even though the budget is tight, I still feel we can be very competitive in this league this season, and I think the fans here in Edmonton will be in for a really good season."

Bill Skinner: "Thanks for your time Chris, I will talk to you when the preseason ends, or when another deal is made."


Chris Mitchell: "Anytime Bill. Ill be in touch when there is more news to share."

There you have it everyone. Quite the move by the Oilers, and it appears they are ready to go all in this season and try to bring a championship to Edmonton. Reporting live from Edmonton, this is Bill Skinner.
    

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This is Mickey Sires, your new reporter here in Edmonton, with a rundown of all the moves made by the Oilers here in recent weeks.

Mickey Sires: "Chris, a few weeks ago, you informed the league that the Oilers were going into full rebuild mode. Since then, you have made numerous trades, as well as waiver moves, which have completely changed the face of the organization. How about a quick rundown of the moves that have been made?"

Chris Mitchell: "Sure thing Mickey, and thanks for joining me today."

"The first move involved the Devils:

New Jersey Devils Receive:

Tyler Bozak (C)
Rickard Rakell (F)
Justin Schultz (D)

Edmonton Oilers Receive:

Zach Hyman (C)
Tyson Baillie (RW)
Iiro Pakarinen (RW)
Ben Betker (D)
Mark Fayne (D)

This deal allowed me to allowed me to acquire 4 decent prospects, 2 of which I was highly motivated in acquiring. The key to this deal was Baillie and Pakarinen for us, so Im very happy with this move. I took on the contract of Fayne as a condition of the trade, so we will see how he works out. In order to stay compliant with our roster size I had to release 2 players that just didnt pan out for us in Joakim Lindstrom and Travis Morin.

The second trade involved the Stars:

Dallas Stars Receive:

Nick Foligno - F

Edmonton Oilers Receive:

Scott Kosmachuk - F
Tim Bozon - F
Minnesota Wild 1st Round Pick Year 3
Edmonton Oilers 2nd Round Pick Year 3

This deal allowed me to acquire young talent up front, and also a couple draft picks. As I build for the future, any and all picks will help with that process. In order to stay compliant with the roster requirements, I had to release Justin Florek who really didnt fit in with our plans moving forward.

The third trade was with the Avalanche:

Colorado Avalanche receive:

Keith Yandle - D

Edmonton Oilers receive:

Toronto 3rd Round Pick Year 3
Bill Arnold - C
Robert Bortuzzo - D
Thomas Chabot - D

The most exciting part of this trade was being able to acquire promising young defenseman Chabot. He was the key to this trade for me. Im excited about all the players that I have brought in, and cant wait until they are ready to play here in Edmonton. In order to satisfy roster rules, I ended up releasing Jeff Schultz and Chris Summers who really never found a home here in Edmonton.

During the course of these trades, I really wanted to grab a young, up and coming future goaltender. I was able to complete this by doing the following:

The Edmonton Oilers release:

Michael Leighton - G

The Edmonton Oilers will sign:

Sam Brittain - G

Michael Leighton really never had any success here in the few games he played, and I was very happy to be able to acquire young goaltender Sam Brittain.

The fourth move involved the Penguins:

The Pittsburgh Penguins receive:

Ben Bishop - G
Matt Frattin - C
Zach Boychuk - RW

The Edmonton Oilers receive:

Jacob Markstrom - G
Joe Hicketts - D
Jordan Subban - D

This trade was made possible by being able to acquire young defenseman Jordan Subban and hopefully our future number one goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

The fifth trade involved the Predators:

Nashville Predators receive:

Pavel Datsyuk - LW
Jay McClement - C

Edmonton Oilers receive:

Austin Watson - F
Mark McNeill - F
Valentin Zykov - LW
Mike Cammalleri - F

The keys to this deal were young forward Austin Watson and also being able to bring in a great veteran in Mike Cammalleri. Mike will add some much needed offense and leadership as this team starts to grow. In order to stay within roster limits, I had to release defensemen Andrew MacWilliam and Bobby Sanguinetti, who both never really found a home here.

The sixth, and as of right now final move involved the Devils again:

New Jersey Devils receive:

Matt Peca (R) - RW
Dennis Rasmussen (R) - LW
Mark Arcobello - C
Ville Pokka (R) - D
Daniel Sedin - RW

Edmonton Oilers receive:

Matt Hendricks - RW
Radovan Bondra (R) - RW
Duncan Siemens (R) - D
Travis Dermott (R) - D
Roland McKeown (R) - D

This trade revolved around us being able to acquire Radovan Bondra and Duncan Siemens. We elected to take on the contract of Matt Hendricks in order to complete this trade.

The final move that I made was releasing Chris Terry and signing young forward Alan Quine. Terry wasnt seeing much ice time, and the time he did see, well, he didnt make the most of it, so I decided a change was needed."

Mickey Sires: "So after almost a complete overhaul of the team, do you see any more moves in the future?"

Chris Mitchell: "I think for now, Ill see how everyone performs, and give some of the pro roster eligible kids some time to play, and see where we stand and go from there. Its going to be a long season with ups and downs, but Im looking forward to this challenge of starting this process. We gave up a lot of veteran players, and obviously some of these deals were a bit lopsided, but Im okay with that as Ive said before, Im building for the future."

Mikey Sires: "Thanks for your time Chris. Talk to you later."

Chris Mitchell: "Anytime Mickey. Thanks for being a part of this. Ill be in touch."

There you have it everyone. Changes have been made, and now we will play the waiting game and see how these young players develop. Reporting live from Edmonton, this is Mickey Sires.

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Mickey Sires here in Edmonton, reporting on the latest deal involving the new look Oilers.


Mickey Sires: "Chris, you made another deal a couple of days ago with the Flyers. What were your thoughts behind this deal?"


Chris: "Well Mickey, this deal in which I sent defenseman Alec Martinez to the Flyers was in no way an easy decision. Alec has been a solid defenseman in the league for many years, and it was hard to let him go. The deal almost never happened, but at the last minute I was able to negotiate and have young defenseman Chris Wideman added into the deal. I added in young forward Tim Bozon in order to make room on the roster. I think it will be a little while before Wideman will get to see full time duty, however, Backlund will be seeing a great deal of ice time. Im very excited having these 2 young players on this team, and the added bonus of a 2nd round pick as I rebuild definately made this trade a bit easier to do."

Mickey Sires: "Anything else in the works, or is it all pretty quiet right now?"


Chris: "Its all pretty quiet honestly. There have been a few minor discussions, but nothing that really made sense for me at this point. Im really not sure how many moves I will make between now and the deadline, but you never know what could happen."

Mickey Sires: "Thanks for your time Chris. Good luck."


Chris: "Anytime Mickey. Talk to you later."

So there is another trade in the books for the Oilers. It certainly is becoming quite the young roster here in Edmonton. Only time will tell if the wait will be worth it or not. Reporting live in Edmonton, this is Mickey Sires.

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Mickey Sires here in Edmonton, reporting on the latest trade made by the Oilers.


Mikey Sires: "Chris, you just made another trade, this time involving the Panthers. How did this one come about?"


Chris: "Well Mickey, this one has been some time in the making actually. Joe had reached out to me regarding a player, and those talks actually didnt last long. A few days went by, and Joe came to me again with some different names, and the discussions began. I did end up moving two veteran players in Cammalleri and Daley, and I wish them nothing but the best with the Panthers. But for a team like mine, building for the future, I think the return will pay off in the years to come. Sheary, despite his lack of size has some really good hands, and does have potential to be at least a top 9 forward in a year or so. Wotherspoon has all the things you could want in a defenseman, and he is still developing his game. I really have high hopes that he will be a solid performer on our blueline for years to come. Being able to add a mid to late 1st round pick doesnt hurt with the direction this team is going in either. In order to make room on the roster, I released Hendricks and Comeau. Comeau was set to become an unrestricted free agent who I was not going to sign. Hendricks was added to the team just for salary reasons in a previous trade, so he was also released. I did also add defenseman Kyle Quincey who has 2 years left on his contract, so I will see how well he fits in this season, as well as next season. Shawn Horcoff is in the final year of his contract, so I added his salary to help Joe fit his newest players into his budget."

Mickey Sires: "Anymore trades coming Chris?"


Chris: "Right now, there are discussions ongoing, but nothing that is close to being finished."

Mickey Sires: "Thanks for your time Chris. Ill talk to you later."


Chris: "Anytime Mickey, and thanks for joining me tonight."

There you have it everyone. Another deal pulled off by the ever changing Oilers. Stay tuned here for the latest news and trades as they are released. Reporting live from Edmonton, this is Mickey Sires.

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Mickey Sires here in Edmonton, getting a rundown of the rest of the moves made by the Oilers leading up to the trade deadline.


Mickey Sires: "Chris, you have made quite a few more deals since the last time we spoke. How about a quick recap?"


Chris Mitchell: "Sure Mickey, its been a little while since we last spoke. Here is the rundown":

The first trade involved the Predators:

Nashville Predators receive:

Johnny Boychuk - D



Edmonton Oilers receive:

Stefan Matteau - LW
Tyler Ganly - D
Bryce Salvador - D
NSH 2nd Round Draft Pick Year 3

This was another tough one to make, but I think the return in the future will be worth it. In order to stay roster compliant, I had to release Patrick Maroon and Anton Zlobin.

The second trade was with the Capitals:


The Washington Capitals receive:

Ryan Getzlaf - C


The Edmonton Oilers receive:

Marcus Johansson - F
Joe Colborne - F
Dmitry Orlov - D
Mikhail Grabovski - F
Jack Roslovic - C
Colin Miller - D

Moving a player like Getzlaf wasnt easy, but I think the youth that I received in return will be worth it moving forward. In order to remain roster compliant, I released Alan Quine, Daniel Carr, Joe Hicketts, Duncan Siemens and Tyler Ganly.

The third trade involved the Avalanche:


To COL:

Calvin De Haan


To EDM:

Stanislav Galiev
Zack Smith

Moving De Haan for Galiev and Smith is a risk, but I think those two players will be solid additions as the Oilers rebuild for the future. In order to stay roster compliant, I released Roland McKeown as he really wasnt someone I wanted to wait on to develop.

The fourth trade was with the Ducks:


The Anaheim Ducks receive:

Valentin Zykov - RW
Thomas Chabot - D


The Edmonton Oilers receive:

Patrik Berglund - LW

This trade caused a little controversy, but nothing too bad. I know there is still a high ceiling for Zykov and Chabot, but I am pretty happy with my defensive prospects moving forward, and Berglund brings a little experience onto the team at a very affordable salary. Being able to use him on the PP and PK as well as at all 3 forward positions gives me some flexibility with all the young players trying to find their spot on the team. It also allowed me to open up a roster spot for the draft.

The fifth move that I made before the deadline was with the Panthers:


Florida Panthers Receive:

Travis Dermott
Toronto 3rd round pick
Edmonton 3rd round pick

Edmonton Oilers Receive:

Joel Edmundson

This trade for me was a risk as well, but one that I feel will work out well. Moving two draft picks and a prospect for Edmundson wasnt easy, but I really think despite the lack of offense that Edmundson brings, his solid play in his own zone, and his willingness to get involved is worth the risk. He isnt afraid to hit, and to hit hard, and I think his physical style of play will be something that helps out our young team.

The sixth and final deal, was one that involved the Stars:


Dallas sends:

Sam Gagner
Jakob Silfverberg

for

Kris Versteeg
David Desharnais
Zach Hyman

This again was another case of bringing in some young talent, and hoping it pays off. It also allowed me to have another open roster spot for the upcoming draft."

Mickey Sires: "Now that the trade deadline has passed, and free agency coming up here soon, have you figured out who will be coming back?"


Chris Mitchell: "I pretty much have it all figured out, but Im waiting to make decisions on a few players, so Im taking a little longer to make it official than usual."

Mickey Sires: "Thanks for your time Chris, and I look forward to talking more once free agency begins, as well as the draft."


Chris Mitchell: "Anytime Mickey. Thanks for taking the time to catch up on things today."

There you have it everyone. Another long list of moves for the Oilers. The roster for next season is a long way from set, but it will definately be completely different from the one that took the ice this season. Reporting live from Edmonton, this is Mickey Sires.