Holland: Any Oilers deadline deals will be 'dollar in, dollar out'

Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland said the salary cap is the biggest hurdle to making moves prior to the March 3 trade deadline.

"Whether it's forwards or defense, it's my job to be aware of who is available and eventually what the price might be," Holland said on TSN's "Got Yer Back" podcast Wednesday.

"(Regardless) of names, we're dollar in, dollar out, so (if) we start bringing in people with big cap numbers, we're going to have to do some real gymnastics here to move people out. When you're in a (long-term injury) situation like we are, it's much more difficult at the trade deadline. I would like to do something. Am I convinced I will do something? I don't know."

The Oilers have $1.125 million in wiggle room, according to Cap Friendly, but they face an impending roster move as Kailer Yamamoto's $3.1-million cap hit can be activated off long-term injured reserve as early as Saturday.

"Once Yamamoto comes off LTI and no one else goes on, I've got some real difficult decisions to make," said Holland. "All of our bottom-of-the-roster players are going to be involved in that decision to decide. They all can't stay."

The Oilers positioned themselves to be buyers at the deadline with an 8-1-1 run ahead of the All-Star break. Edmonton holds the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference but is only two points off the Pacific Division lead with games in hand on two of three teams ahead of it.

At last year's deadline, the Oilers made a pair of depth acquisitions in Derick Brassard and Brett Kulak. It's unclear which direction Holland will go this time around, but Edmonton has recently been linked to Chicago Blackhawks blue-liners Jake McCabe and Connor Murphy.