If the sharks can't resign Hertl to an extension I see this as a good option honestly, but if we can resign him the point is mute.

The Oilers would probably pass on Kempny, but may have interest in Vanecek. Although McLelland just gave up his 2023 2nd round pick to reacquire him from Seattle so the asking price is likely to be too much for Ken Holland's tastes.

Whats the point of the Jensen trade? Do you think WSH wants to move him after already moving Dillon?

Also thats a lot of pending UFA's.

Getting Hertl for Kuzy would be an all time steal

This package will not land you Hertl. It will need to be a 1st to get it even considered.

Caps need a LHD after dealing Dillon and limited cap space. Since TVR can step in for Jensen, who's coming off of a great year, can get a pretty good LHD in return if we throw in picks

Their defense is looking thin. For a fifth, I'd do it. Low risk.

That's a $2.5M cap hit. Given their limited cap space, I'd say there is quite a bit of risk for the Oilers.

The defense in Edmonton is not as thin as some might believe. There has been a lot of criticism of how Holland rebuilt the Oiler blue line after Larsson bailed on the Oilers. The options for replacing Larsson were extremely limited, one player really. We are told that Holland contacted Savard's camp, and he had no interest in heading out west. So, the Oilers have remade their defensive core in order to play a different style. Even at 38-years-old Keith should be an improvement over the combination of Russell, Lagesson, Kulikov, Koekkoek, and Jones (all tried and failed to fill the role of 2LD). Bouchard is bigger, stronger, a better skater, better passer and much better shooter than Bear, and Ceci is also bigger, stronger, and a better skater than Bear. What is missing is the big, strong, tough, shut-down top-4 d-man, and in its place is a more mobile group of with a better distribution of size and improved ability to retrieve pucks before the opposition can get the cycle going. Only time will tell if these changes provide the Oilers enough to improve upon last season. 3LD should prove to be the weakest position in the group, and there just happens to be at least two, possibly three, young LHD ready to make the jump to the NHL should Russell and Lagesson struggle.

If Edmonton could afford to commit $2.5M for more depth on the blue line, they might prefer to bring in a guy like Ryan Murray. He originates from Regina and could be a solid partner for Evan Bouchard. He has the ability to fill in should there be need within the top-4, and his injury history should make him an inexpensive acquisition. He's a mobile defender, so he would fit well with the style of play the Oilers will be employing, and he would not be a long-term player who may block those three prospects mentioned previously.