Oilers' Trade Deadline Pressure: Needs, Rumors, Games

0:00It's March 1st, here's your NHL news in two minutes. Subscribe to stay locked in all season. Edmonton Oilers fans are holding their breath as the NHL trade deadline hits on March 6th. The team sits at 29 wins, 24 losses, and 8 overtime losses after a rough stretch that has exposed big weaknesses. General manager Stan Bowman faces huge pressure to make moves, but he has almost no cap space and few draft picks to work with. A key hurdle is forward, Andrew Mangia Payne and his $3.6 million contract. He has just seven goals this season and does not fit well, so the Oilers put him on waivers. They need to trade him, likely adding extra assets, just to free a broom for any deadline deals. The biggest needs are on defense and a third line center. Rumors link them to shut down defenseman Artem Zubb from Ottawa and veteran Oliver Ekman Larson from Toronto. For center, Nashville's Ryan O'Reilly tops the wish list for his face off wins in two-way play, though other names like Nicholas Roy and Scott Lafton are in the mix too.

1:04Goldening has been up and down with Tristan Jerry and Connor Ingram. The Oilers have poked around for upgrades, but without trade ships, they will probably stick with the pair through the season. This week ramps up the stakes with three tough games. They host Ottawa on Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern, face Carolina on deadline night, Friday at 9 p.m. Eastern and Rogers Place, and wrap up Sunday against Vegas at 9.30 p.m. Eastern on the road. The Daily News Now is powered by our sponsor, link in the description. Soley Pillow is a pillow with built-in headphones, lay back, press play and disappear into what you are listening to, S-O-L-I, soleypillow.com