The Edmonton Oilers are currently on a roll and appear to be a genuine contender. They plan to add more players before the trade deadline, but it’s unclear if that would be a top-six forward, a top-four right-shot defenseman, or a backup goaltender. I believe the most pressing necessity is to improve the top four and upgrade over Cody Ceci, not just this season but also next season.
Any deal involving Ceci will take him off the books for this season and next, as he will be an unrestricted free agency (UFA) in 2025. Because the numbers for this pairing with Ceci and Darnell Nurse (including Corsi for percentage, Fenwick for percentage, shots for percentage, expected goals for percentage, scoring chances for percentage, and high danger chances for percentage) have been the worst of the three pairings on the Oilers this season, this is the only change required. Any idea of needing more depth and bringing someone in without moving someone out (Ceci) is illogical, given that the Oilers now have many depth alternatives in the minors in Philip Broberg, Ben Gleason, and Philip Kemp who can fill in if absolutely necessary.
Having considered all of this, a trade for a new partner for Nurse would have the greatest influence on the squad this season, and that improvement should come in the form of Sean Walker from the Philadelphia Flyers.
Why Sean Walker?
The Flyers are now ranked among the top eight in the Eastern Conference, so why are they willing to sell specific pieces? They are still committed to rebuilding, therefore roster players will get their futures back. Walker has had a terrific season, particularly at the start, and is a UFA this summer. In terms of rentals, the Flyers can benefit from a limited market of right-shot defencemen because he also plays offensively.
Walker is a second or third-pairing defenseman who has spent the majority of the season playing in the top four. While he is not a top-pairing defenseman, the Oilers do not need one because Evan Bouchard leads the team in average ice time per game (22:46). Walker will simply have to fit in beside Nurse while outperforming Ceci at a cheaper cap hit. Walker has only 37 seconds less ice time per game than Ceci this season, and that is due to the Flyers having more competition for playing time than the Oilers, particularly on the right side.
Walker has more blocks (69-65), hits (53-30), and takeaways (23) than giveaways (19), thus he can have a greater influence than Ceci. It’s rare to see a defenceman with a positive takeaway/giveaway ratio. During many Oilers games, it is clear that the Nurse/Ceci combo makes more mistakes than the other two partnerships. Walker has been a surprising performer for the Flyers on both ends, but the team has lost five consecutive games and is on the verge of missing the playoffs. They have a strong work ethic but lack the necessary expertise. Futures will benefit them more than keeping Walker for the rest of the season and perhaps losing him to free agency.
Who links the Oilers to Walker, and which other team is in the running?
An insider reportedly linked the Oilers to Walker, while also citing another team that has had talks with the Flyers. Elliotte Friedman disclosed this on The Jeff Marek Show, saying, “I think more likely than not, Walker gets moved, whether it’s Edmonton or I saw some Tampa (Bay Lightning) conversations yesterday.”
The Oilers are clearly wanting to upgrade on the right side, and Walker’s name is prominently mentioned. If they send a draft pick (which the Oilers have in abundance) and Ceci to the Flyers in exchange for Walker before the trade deadline, it would benefit both sides and must be done from the Oilers’ standpoint due to position and cap constraints. With Nick Seeler and Marc Staal likely leaving at the deadline or after the season, the team will be lacking in veteran leadership on the back end, which Ceci can contribute to for the season. The Oilers would not have to surrender their first-round pick for a defensive boost, and they could use it elsewhere (as a top-six forward) or keep it in their back pocket. This transaction would benefit both the Oilers and the Flyers in terms of their current standings and future.
The Lightning are even more competitive for a playoff position than the Oilers. While they are sixth in the league for goals, they are 23rd in goals against. Along with injuries, the team has simply not been as strong defensively. Yes, Walker will assist, and his cap hit is more appropriate for their squad than other prospective possibilities, but when Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak return from injury soon, there will be too many defencemen on the roster to justify adding more.
Walker is a better choice for the Oilers, and the cap space would be more beneficial in Edmonton, as his cap hit is $2.65 million average annual value (AAV), whereas Ceci’s is $3.25 million. The Oilers will not be the only team interested in Walker, and acquiring him will not be simple, but it makes a lot of sense for Edmonton to target him this season.
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