Tyler Myers Waiting on Preferred Team — Oilers in Play?

As the NHL trade deadline inches closer, the situation surrounding Tyler Myers continues to draw intrigue. According to NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal, Myers remains patient about waiving his no-move clause in Vancouver. That patience suggests this isn’t simply about accepting the first available deal — it’s about finding the right fit.

For a veteran defenceman with trade protection, leverage matters. Myers controls part of this process, and it appears he’s willing to wait and see which teams formally enter the mix before making a decision.

Adding another wrinkle, a social media report from a non-verified source claimed Myers prefers to remain close to Vancouver and would be more inclined to waive for a team like the Edmonton Oilers rather than a market such as Detroit. It’s important to stress that this information has not been confirmed by any established insider. Still, geography often plays a role in no-move negotiations, and Edmonton’s proximity to Vancouver naturally fuels speculation.

Why the Oilers Could Make Sense

The Oilers have been looking for a right-shooting defenceman to stabilize the blueline. Myers stands 6-foot-8 and has plenty of playoff experience to his credit. The Oilers are looking for someone to stabilize the right side of the blueline behind Evan Bouchard.

Myers would likely step into a role on the second or third pairing of the Oilers blueline. A scenario would see Myers paired with Darnell Nurse on the shutdown pairing, allowing Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm to continue to drive play from the top pairing role.

The Oilers’ biggest need isn’t necessarily a superstar defenceman. It’s someone who can stabilize the blueline and contribute on the back end. While Myers won’t be expected to quarterback the power play or eat 25 minutes a night, he will be expected to defend and clear the crease to stabilize high-leverage defensive zone situations.

What Would It Cost?

The bigger challenge is the cost of the deal. Myers does not have a significant cap hit, and if the Canucks are not retaining salary, the Oilers are going to have to shed salary to make the deal work.

There is going to have to be some kind of sweetener. If the Canucks are going to retain 50 percent of Myers’ salary, the price is going to have to start with a draft pick, potentially even a third-rounder. Without retention, the Oilers are going to have to send back salary, which becomes even more complicated.

The Oilers are not going to have an excess of high-end draft picks to give away, especially considering the deadline deals they made last year. This is going to have to be a smart deal, not an aggressive one.

From the Canucks side, retention is going to come down to what they are thinking. Are they in asset management mode and willing to eat salary for future pieces? If not, Myers is going to stay in Vancouver.

Is Edmonton Actually Interested?

The same source also indicated that the Oilers have a limited interest in Myers, which is the same as their interest in other right-shooting defensemen available for trade. This implies that the Oilers are considering other options and not specifically targeting Myers.

Ultimately, the decision in this case will be determined by two things: whether the Canucks have a good enough offer and whether or not Myers thinks it is a good destination for him.

For now, it seems like Myers is willing to wait. Having trade protection, and with the deadline looming, he has more control than most rental defensemen. Whether or not the Oilers get involved, which might just be rumor and speculation, remains to be seen.

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