NHL Trade Review: Oilers acquire Green

From the Detroit Free Press

         The Edmonton Oilers have acquired defenseman Mike Green from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for forward Kyle Brodziak and a conditional 2020 4th round draft pick. If the Oilers make it to the Conference Final this year, and Green plays in at least half of their games, the pick is upgraded to a 2021 3rd rounder. The Red Wings also retained half of Green\’s salary.

          The Oilers have had injury problems this year. Currently, Oscar Klefbom and Kris Russell are missing on defense. Green brings stability to the right side, even when Klefbom and Russell return. Green will slot in behind Adam Larsson and ahead of Ethan Bear and Matt Benning on the depth chart. Bear could be on the second pairing with Green on the third. Green also brings experience; with Klefbom and Russell out, Larsson is the only other Oilers defenseman over the age of 25. A 15 year veteran, Green finished second in Norris voting two years in a row, and scored 30 goals one of those years, but those days are long behind him. Green\’s scoring has declined with age, and so has his defense. In five years with Detroit, Green has never been a plus player, with a career worst -32 rating this season. Plus, he is a pending UFA, explaining his low return.

           Green, 34, has three goals with eight assists for 11 points in 48 games for the Red Wings this year. In his NHL career for the Red Wings and Washington Capitals Green has scored 150 goals with 351 assists for 501 points in 878 games.

           The Red Wings should have gotten more for Green. They retain half of Green\’s salary, and take on Brodziak\’s contract. All they get in return is a 4th rounder. It can upgrade to a 3rd, but that is unlikely. Brodziak hasn\’t played a game in nearly a year. He has retired due to a degenerative back issue that left him unable to play. Once a bottom six defensive center, Brodziak will have a $1.15 million cap hit for the rest of the season.

            Brodziak, 35, scored 129 goals with 167 assists for 296 points in 917 games in his career for the Oilers, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues.