Edmonton Oilers defenseman Jeff Petry is drawing interest as the 2015 NHL Trade Deadline approaches, general manager Craig MacTavish said Friday.
MacTavish, speaking on 630 CHED Radio, said Petry's recent play has increased his value. The 27-year-old can be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
"The last 20 games he’s really settled into what I think is his best hockey as an Oiler," MacTavish said according to Nicholsonhockey.com. "He's aggressive. He's assertive making decisions. He's decisive on the ice. He's jumping up on the play at a level he never … he did from time-to-time, but he never really felt comfortable doing it because he's a conservative guy by nature. But he's playing the game. He's playing the game to win and everybody around the League is seeing that. He'd be a valuable piece for anybody to add.
"And pending his UFA status, there's motivation on our part to move him or get him signed. So it'll be one of those things."
MacTavish said the trade market is just starting to build momentum. The deadline is 3 p.m. ET on March 2.
"I'm not seeing or hearing a lot of activity right now," he said, according to Nicholsonhockey.com. "I think the experienced managers are biding their time to see exactly what they need. They're surveying the marketplace to see what's out there and what the cost is. But there's not been a ton of activity so far.
"In today's era it's difficult to make trades, but there are going to be substantial moves made. We all know that. History is the best predictor of what's going to happen coming up here, and there's going to be a lot of movement. But the airwaves are … everybody is just kind of feeling out each other's position and seeing if there's a potential fit."
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