With new front office management, a new head coach and a brand new franchise player, the Edmonton Oilers didn't necessarily expect to become a playoff-bound team this year, but they certainly didn't believe they would once again be the basement dwellers of the NHL.
But key injuries to Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle ensured that the Oilers would once again be in the running for a lottery pick in the 2016. And with that, Edmonton is certainly out of the playoff race.
That makes the upcoming trade deadline crucial for the Oilers. They will be sellers, looking to add more prospects and picks to fuel their seemingly constant rebuilding machine.
Whatever the Oilers can get there hands on becomes a team need. Their forward unit is particulary young and promising, so forward prospects shouldn't be a big need for Edmonton. However, the team is always looking to improve defensively, and they would relish the opportunity to acquire a promising defensive player. Edmonton is always a large player at the NHL draft, so aquiring whatever number of picks they can get is also a plus.
Teddy Purcell
Teddy Purcell seems to fit the bill as the Oiler that is most likely to be on the trade block. The 30-year-old winger will become an unrestricted free agent next year, and with 11 goals and 18 assists, Purcell will give the Oilers a modest return. Any team looking to improve their third line, or even their second-line, situation would do well in adding Purcell.
A team that trades for Purcell could be pleasantly surprised. And Purcell has proven in the past that he can play big roles with talented teams. Purcell was a cap casualty trade in Tampa Bay, who had to clear some space for other big-name players back in 2014. Purcell had 42 points in his final full season in Tampa Bay, and he is well on pace to surpass that total this season.
If a player like Curtis Glencross can return a second and a third-round pick at the last trade deadline, Purcell should be able to at least do the same. Unless Edmonton sees Purcell as a critical part of their future (and, they'd likely have to make him a large offer, as he can field an offer from a contending team quite easily if he chooses to test free agency this offseason), parting with Purcell makes too much sense.
Lauri Korpikoski
Outside of Purcell, the Oilers don't have too many options of upcoming rental pieces for playoff-bound teams to add. Eric Gryba would have been a nice addition for any team looking for depth, but he's out with a knee injury. That puts Lauri Korpikoski on the board as a likely forward to be put on the block. Korpikoski carries a $2.5 million cap hit that runs through next season, which is a little steep for a fourth-line player. But if the Oilers are willing to retain a bit of salary, and some team happens to throw them a late-round draft pick, they might as well do it.
Justin Schultz
When Justin Schultz arrived in Edmonton after the Anaheim Ducks failed to sign him out of college in 2012, the Oilers were supposed to acquire a young offensive defenseman that would become the cornerstone of the franchise. At first, he showed promise, but over the course of the last three seasons, Schultz has been underwhelming offensively, and at times has been defensively irresponsible. Schultz is only 25, and can serve a contending NHL team well in the right system and usage. But, the question is, are the Oilers willing to give up on Schultz?
It seems completely likely, and if a team truly believes they can tap into Schultz's protential, the Oilers will certainly part ways with him.
It will be interesting to see what the demand for Schultz is, and what kind of return he can command.
Tommy Chalk writes about the NHL and NFL for FOX Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @Tommy_Chalk
