Oilers looking at skaters, not goalies ahead of deadline

The Edmonton Oilers are prioritizing skaters over goaltending as they approach next week’s trade deadline.

The Oilers sit in third in the Pacific Division, just three points ahead of the Seattle Kraken, who hold the final wild-card spot in the West. But with a loss to the Sharks on Saturday and a 1-2 record out of the Olympic break, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the team is looking to add a forward or a defenceman.

One name mentioned was the Maple Leafs’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson, whom Friedman believes is “on the Oilers’ radar”.

“From what I’ve heard, I think Edmonton is looking at two possibilities: a defenceman who can play the right side, OEL has done that before, or potentially a third centre, especially if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stays on the wing,” Friedman said on Hockey Night in Canada’s Saturday Headlines segment. “They’ve got to move on from (Andrew) Mangiapane, but those are, I think, the two positions that Edmonton is considering shoring up.”

Ekman-Larsson has enjoyed a solid season with the Maple Leafs, logging eight goals and 25 assists in 59 games, and represented Team Sweden at the Olympics.

The 34-year-old is under contract for two more seasons after this one with an average-annual value of $3.5 million, and despite being a left-shot, often plays on the right side with Toronto.

The Oilers currently have just $10,508 in cap space and $12,009 in deadline cap space, per PuckPedia, meaning some money would need to go out in order to add to the roster.

Mangiapane makes $3.6 million for this season and next, far too rich for a struggling player on a cap-strapped team. The 29-year-old signed in Edmonton last off-season, and he’s produced just seven goals and seven assists this year while receiving a handful of healthy scratches.

Friedman also added that he doesn’t believe the Oilers will look to add a goalie despite the recent struggles from Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram.

“No, I don’t think so. They’ve already made their move,” Friedman replied when asked if the team will target a netminder. “I think they’re either looking at D or 3C”.

Jarry, of course, was acquired on Dec. 12 from the Penguins in exchange for goalie Stuart Skinner.

But in 12 contests with Edmonton, Jarry has posted a 3.85 goals-against average and an .864 save percentage. Ingram, meanwhile, owns a 2.75 GAA and a .894 save percentage in 16 games.

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Report: Vikings moving on from RB Jones, DT Hargrave

The Minnesota Vikings are poised to make significant moves ahead of the new league year.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Vikings have informed running back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave that, barring a trade, both will be released at the start of the league year later this month.

The moves would create some financial flexibility for Minnesota. Releasing Jones would save the club $7.75 million against the salary cap, while moving on from Hargrave would clear an additional $10.9 million.

Jones, who joined the Vikings after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers, provided veteran stability and versatility in the backfield. The 31-year-old played in just 12 regular-season games due to a slew of injuries, finishing with 132 carries for 548 yards and two touchdowns while adding 28 catches (on 41 targets) for 199 yards and a score

Hargrave, meanwhile, was brought in to bolster the defensive front with his interior pass-rush ability. He had 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and 52 total tackles in 16 games.

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