We also have five LHD NHL defensemen currently on the roster--four of them signed beyond next year. The Oilers don't have the cap space to be wasting on players who don't fit any organizational needs.
I know it's boring but the Oilers are better suited looking for someone to fill that bottom pair slot for the rest of the season. Possibly in a deal moving Kassian's salary the other way. Anything else just isn't affordable.
The only other thing that Chiarelli should be mindful of are decent quality prospects who are falling out of favor in other organizations. We can never have too much of that kind of depth. I was saying we should've asked on Dal Colle this summer and now he's off to a bit of a torrid start.
I was kind of hinting at hoping Sekera can be moved elsewhere, a defense of:
Klef-Larsson
Leddy-Nurse
Russell-Bouchard
Doesn't look all that bad imo, I get what you're saying about an organizational need, but I wouldn't hesitate replacing Sekera with him. I also think we made the right choice not taking a flyer on MDC.