Could the Oilers presence at Blues-Bruins be a sign of trade interest?

The Edmonton Oilers had a much-needed offensive explosion on Thursday night, dismantling the Seattle Kraken 9-4 thanks to a combined eight points from the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid (three goals, one assist) and Leon Draisaitl (one goal, three assists).

While the team was busy collecting a critical two points, part of their scouting staff was in Boston to play the Bruins-Blues match, which ended in a 5-2 victory for the home team.

With so much talk about Edmonton’s goaltending woes and their quest to upgrade at the position, even something as small as scouting another team will lead to speculation.

That was especially true when Jordan Binnington, who they have been linked with for weeks, was in action, although it was another night to forget for the 32-year-old, who allowed five goals from 27 shots in the losing effort.

It would also make sense if the Oilers brass had been keeping an eye on what was happening on the other side of the ice in the Bruins crease, which was occupied by backup Joonas Korpisalo, who stopped 37 of 39 shots in the win.

While it was a strong performance from Korpisalo, it’s unlikely Edmonton would have much interest considering the veteran appears to be a lateral move at best. But what about the All-Star netminder who was watching on the bench?

Is Jeremy Swayman an offseason target for Edmonton?

The Oilers’ connection to Swayman is nothing new, though those rumors have certainly died down thanks to his strong start to the season, which has helped the Bruins to a 16-13-0 first 29 games.

Boston likely isn’t looking to move the 27-year-old while he’s in the playoffs, but if they ultimately fall out of the race, Edmonton could certainly find their way back to the table in the offseason, when many expect Stan Bowman to be most aggressive in his pursuit of a goaltender.

Swayman would be a clear upgrade over the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, and while it won’t be an easy move, almost any player can be acquired for the right price.

Oilers fans would obviously prefer to acquire a high-end goaltender this season to improve their chances of winning the Stanley Cup. That said, their best chance to land a true number one will come this summer, and Swayman could be a name to keep an eye on.

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