Seravalli: Oilers interested in Derek Ryan (and other right shot centres)

Over at TSN, senior reporter Frank Seravalli discussed possible trade targets for the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday’s edition of Insider Trading. Among them? Calgary Flames centre Derek Ryan.

Seravalli noted that the Oilers are looking for right shot centres who can take (and win) face-offs, especially on the penalty kill. Ryan fits that bill nicely.

The Oilers could avoid cross-border quarantine restrictions by acquiring Ryan. Ryan’s cap hit ($3.125 million) is higher than one player Seravalli mentioned – Detroit’s Luke Glendening ($1.8 million) – but lower than Vancouver’s Brandon Sutter ($4.375 million), the other possibility mentioned. According to Puckpedia, the Oilers are relying on LTIR cap space to say afloat and so their situation… is complicated.

The price they’re hoping to spend is a fourth round pick, as they’ve already parted ways with their second, third and fifth rounders in the upcoming NHL Draft. The Flames have Edmonton’s third rounder already from the Milan Lucic trade.

Should the Flames trade Ryan? And would Edmonton be palatable as a landing spot? Sound off in the comments!