The Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings could be an interesting trade match if both teams decide to make a major move. One Hockey Vice mock trade has Edmonton acquiring Alex DeBrincat from Detroit in exchange for Spencer Stastney, Beau Akey, Ike Howard and Tristan Jarry.
For Edmonton, the attraction is obvious. DeBrincat is an established goal scorer who could give the Oilers even more firepower alongside their star forwards. Adding another dangerous offensive weapon would make an already talented Edmonton lineup even tougher for opposing teams to match up against.
DeBrincat has built his reputation around his ability to find the back of the net. He doesn’t need a ton of space to create offense, and playing with elite talent in Edmonton could give him even more opportunities to produce. If the Oilers are looking for another scorer who can make a difference in the playoffs, DeBrincat would certainly fit that description.
Detroit, meanwhile, would be taking a completely different approach with this trade. Instead of getting one established NHL scorer back, the Red Wings would add multiple pieces to their organization. Spencer Stastney and Beau Akey would give Detroit additional defensive depth and potential, while Ike Howard would add another young forward to the pipeline.
The biggest name on the return, however, might be Tristan Jarry. The goaltending position has become increasingly important for teams trying to make the jump into playoff contention, and acquiring Jarry could give Detroit another option in net. Whether the Red Wings would view him as a long-term answer is a different question.
The risk for Detroit is losing one of its most dangerous offensive players.
DeBrincat is the type of player who can score 30-plus goals, and replacing that production is never easy. Detroit would need the prospects and other pieces coming back to develop into meaningful NHL contributors for this deal to ultimately make sense.
For Edmonton, the question is whether the price is too high. The Oilers would be giving up several pieces, including young assets who could become important players down the road. But when you’re trying to win a Stanley Cup, future potential sometimes takes a back seat to adding proven NHL talent right now.
This would be a fascinating gamble for both organizations. Edmonton would be betting that Alex DeBrincat can help push them closer to another Stanley Cup, while Detroit would be betting that depth, prospects and goaltending can help build the next version of the Red Wings.
Who wins this trade: Edmonton or Detroit?
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