Teddy Purcell knows the deal.
He’s been traded a few times in his eight-year NHL career -- including once at the deadline -- and now, as a pending UFA, the Oilers winger realizes he could be dealt by Feb. 29.
“If we were closer to the playoffs, maybe I wouldn’t be worried about it as much,” Purcell said of the upcoming trade deadline, per the Edmonton Journal. “But as a piece who has some playoff experience (in Tampa), maybe they can get some prospects or a pick for me.”
Purcell, 30, does have plenty going for him. There’s the aforementioned playoff experience -- 18 points in 22 career postseason contests -- a reasonable cap hit ($4.5 million) and the fact that, having played with Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl a bunch this season, he’s been pretty productive with 11 goals and 31 points in 59 games.
Purcell also noted he doesn’t have a no-trade clause, saying “it’s not like I’d be submitting a list of teams [to go to].”
A former 24-goal scorer, Purcell could be picked up by a team looking to add offense in its top-six forward group.
Florida GM Dale Tallon has said he wants to acquire a goalscorer by the deadline, and the Journal suggests the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils could be in the mix for Purcell’s services.
All of which has Purcell a little nervous for the end of the month.
“Am I concerned about the trade deadline?” he asked. “If I said no, that would be a lie.”