Habs - Oilers - a trade that didn't happen

[jkr]

According to Friedman, Montreal and EDM came close to a deal that centred around Klingberg and the Oilers.

The gist of it was that Klingberg would sign in Montreal and then flipped to Edmonton with the Habs retaining salary. They would be compensated by EDM for their role.

montrealhockeynow.com/2022/08/25/canadiens-reportedly-nearly-involved-in-sign-trade-with-oilers/

[seventeen]

That would have been interesting. Puljujarvi, probably, plus a draft pick. That's a lot of help going Edmonton's way, so it should cost. anyway, didn't happen, but seems the Oilers really wanted Klingberg.

[folatre]

Well, Hughes seems to have been active this summer, exploring major moves from all angles. Klingberg could certainly have helped the Oilers, who are clearly in win-now mode. I imagine that Barrie would have had to be moved to make this happen.

Edmonton continues to have cap issues in the run up to opening night. Even with Klefbom and Smith slated to go on LTIR, they will be sitting at approximately $84 million with a 20 man roster. So it seems Kenny Holland is going to have to make at least a minor move to get cap compliant. Could he trade Puljujarvi? Sure, although I do not think anyone will give him more than a third or fourth round pick. Unless Edmonton knows how they are getting a genuine 20 minutes a night blue liner to plug in on the right side, I doubt they can take the risk of showing Barrie the door.

I imagine Hughes and Holland may still be talking, but it is not easy to see how anything logical for both clubs would appear in the cards.