3 Edmonton Oilers Trade Targets This Summer, Inc. Jordan Kyrou

The Edmonton Oilers have a critical offseason, as they face, effectively, one more year to show Connor McDavid that they can put a Cup winner around him. Next summer, he'd be heading into his pending UFA year, and that could be the end of the line for him in Edmonton if they haven't made huge strides.

To that end, insider Jeff Marek joined Daily Faceoff Live to discuss some of the moves that the Oilers should look to make this summer. And he says Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues should be front and center in their plans, while also offering a couple of Buffalo Sabres they could target for the defensive side of the puck.

Jeff Marek talks about some options for the Edmonton Oilers, including UPL, Kesselring and Jordan Kyrou

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Jordan Kyrou a trade target for Oilers

"Who's going to play with Connor McDavid? I would expect to hear the name Jordan Kyrou a ton this offseason as someone who can skate with McDavid. And it's not exactly a secret that Kyrou has been out there for a couple of years."

A prime trade candidate, the 28-year-old Blues forward has five years to run on an $8.125 million AAV. Edmonton is projected to have about $16.5 million in cap space for next season, but there are several pending UFAs to consider.

One of those is defenseman Connor Murphy. If they can't re-sign him, then that's where Marek's next trade suggestion comes in.

Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring as a potential Oilers trade target

"I wonder if Michael Kesselring could be somebody who could slide in there." He is currently a pending RFA for the Sabres, coming off a $1.4M cap hit. He had a frustrating and injury-plagued season in his first year in Buffalo, but we saw in his first two NHL seasons that the 6'5" d-man could grow into a sizeable factor on the blueline.

Marek also suggests that Oilers GM Stan Bowman look to the San Jose Sharks, who have a surplus of young forwards but a need for a defenseman. Would they be interested in a deal for Darnell Nurse and his $9.25M cap hit for four more years?

Another Sabres trade possibility for Oilers resides in goal

And then, of course, is the biggest, most important area of need for the Oilers this offseason: Goaltending.

"Tristan Jarry is, at best, a backup. He's your backup netminder. You're still looking for a No. 1... I wonder if there could be something (with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen) if the Sabres decide to move off of him," said Marek.

UPL, 27, has three years to run at a $4.75M AAV.

We also know that Devon Levi is now a trade candidate out of Buffalo, so perhaps he enters the discussion instead of Luukkonen. Levi, 24, who was stuck in the AHL all season long, has one year remaining on his $875K contract before becoming an RFA.

"...In the end, Bowman's gotta get creative here," concluded Marek. "It's not as if they have the luxury of a lot of room to maneuver here."