REPORT: Oilers and Canadiens almost pulled of a historic trade this summer

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Dorin Canaday
August 25, 2022 (2:03 PM)

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Some exciting news to share today!

On the most recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens were very close to pulling off a historic trade earlier this summer.

Basically, the Oilers' general manager Ken Holland worked very hard to sign UFA defenseman John Klingberg (before he signed with the Anaheim Ducks).

The Oilers didn't have the cap space, and that's where Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes attempted to help out.

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''Before he ended up in Anaheim, I think they (the Edmonton Oilers) really wanted Klingberg, and they were trying to do something with another team, specifically Montreal.''

''Klingberg would have signed there (in Montreal) and then been traded to Edmonton. Montreal would have kept some of it (salary), and the Oilers would have given the CH something in return. (like a prospect or picks) I also believe Edmonton would have had to trade a player or two.''

It would have been interesting to see the return in a trade like that, and according to Friedman (in addition to the picks and/or prospects), Kent Hughes would have possibly acquired the young Jesse Puljujarvi.

If that deal had worked out, the Canadiens wouldn't have gotten Sean Monahan from the Calgary Flames. Interesting to see how much this move would have changed the Oilers' rival Flames' offseason. Would they have been able to offload Monahan to sign Nazem Kadri?