There’s been plenty of talk surrounding Jack Campbell and his lack of success early on with the Edmonton Oilers. There’d also been talk for weeks leading into the NHL Trade Deadline that the Edmonton Oilers were kicking tires on the availability of San Jose Sharks’ defenseman Erik Karlsson. The Oilers and Sharks played each other in an overtime thriller on Monday night, with Campbell getting the win (a shaky one). But, it was Karlsson who looked like a much better bet in a losing effort.

Just a couple of days ago, one scribe wondered if the Oilers and Sharks could help each other out this offseason and use these two players as the centerpieces of a summer trade that would see Campbell go as part of a package to the Sharks, with Karlsson coming back to Edmonton.

What is The Trade Being Suggested?

Full specifics of a deal weren’t offered up, but Eric Duhatschek of The Athletic writes that the Oilers were interested in Karlsson and noted, “The key to executing a successful trade between the Oilers and Sharks is finding a way to accommodate the Karlsson contract – while still providing the Sharks with some value for the player.”

I wonder if the solution doesn’t revolve around the Oilers’ underachieving but occasionally exciting Jack Campbell. The Oilers signed Campbell last summer for five years at $5 million in the hopes he would emerge as their true No. 1. No matter how they tried, they couldn’t get Campbell to seize the job. … Campbell’s contract then becomes an albatross they need to send away.

Duhatschek believes Campbell could be a viable option for the Sharks who — outside of last night when James Reimer was stellar — hasn’t had great goaltending. Not only that, but Reimer is 34 and an unrestricted following this season (one in which there was some negative off-ice attention after his refusal to wear the Pride Jersey). The scribe adds that Kaapo Kahkonen is signed for another year at $2.75 million and could work as a 1B.