Oilers working on trade for Flyers’ Simmonds

The Oilers have long coveted big right-winger Wayne Simmonds, and are well aware of the need to add size to their Top 6 group of forwards. (Paul Bereswill/Getty)

The Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers are believed to be working on a trade that could mark the third transaction of the day for impatient Edmonton GM Craig MacTavish.

The Oilers have long coveted big right-winger Wayne Simmonds, and are well aware of the need to add size to their top-six group of forwards. Sources tell Sportsnet.ca that Flyers GM Paul Holmgren is listening to offers on any Philadelphia player not named Claude Giroux or Steve Mason.

In a four-player swap earlier in the day, Edmonton sent defenceman Ladislav Smid to Calgary, leaving a hole on an already substandard D-corps. Sources tell Sportsnet.ca that 24-year-old defenceman Luke Schenn, who has been a healthy scratch of late on a crowded Flyers blueline, could be on his way to Edmonton as well.

Rumours abound that right-winger Ales Hemsky is going east, and he is a player that has been on the block for a long time in Edmonton. The Flyers will need much more than Hemsky (a pending UFA) in return, and are likely asking for right winger Jordan Eberle, who could add some scoring touch on a Flyers team averaging just 1.47 goals per game, dead last in the NHL.

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