Oilers acquire Mike Green from Red Wings for retired Kyle Brodziak, pick
Pending free-agent defenceman to step in for injured Kris Russell, Oscar Klefbom
The Edmonton Oilers have added much-needed defensive help.
The Oilers announced the acquisition of veteran blue-liner Mike Green from Detroit in the third period of Sunday's 4-2 win at Los Angeles. Forward Kyle Brodziak and a conditional draft pick in either 2020 or 2021 is headed to Detroit, with the Red Wings retaining 50 per cent of Green's salary.
Green, 34, has three goals and eight assists for Detroit this season. Brodziak, meanwhile, was forced to retire back in September due to a back injury.
"It's exciting. I've been on the other side where you're losing friends to trade and all that, so it's nice to be on the other side where you're acquiring guys and trying to make a push," said Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who had a goal and two assists in Sunday's victory after missing six games with a quad injury.
Green brings experience to a position group for Edmonton that is currently missing two of its top defenders in Kris Russell, recovering from a concussion, and Oscar Klefbom, out with a shoulder injury.
"When you can bring in guys that are only going to help your team, help your depth, and we already know what we got in this locker room right now, just to be able to add to that and be a threat I think it's fun," Oilers forward Riley Sheahan said.
Leon Draisaitl scored on the power play, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and Edmonton moved ahead of idle Vancouver into second place in the Pacific Division. Mike Smith made 21 saves.
"I look at those players in that room, they've earned the right to keep pushing," Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said. "And Kenny's [general manager Holland] added a piece for us that will help, but I give all the credit to the players. They're the ones that have to come out and get the work done.
"They want to be a good team, they want to be a playoff team, they want to earn the right to be a playoff team, so to put ourselves in this position where we're looking to try to get better down the stretch, that's a positive sign for us."
With files from The Associated Press