The Edmonton Oilers are being pushed toward a different kind of offensive balance under head coach Mike Babcock, and that shift could create a path for an unexpected addition. If the mandate is to spread the attack around, the second power-play unit suddenly matters a lot more - and that opens the door for a player who is still sitting on the market.
Patrik Laine fits the idea on paper. He would be inexpensive, he would bring a clear scoring punch, and he is still looking for a chance to prove himself. On a team that has leaned heavily on Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard to handle nearly every minute of the man advantage, Laine could give Edmonton another true shooting threat.
The fit comes with obvious baggage, though. Babcock and Laine have a well-known history from their time in Columbus, and it did not end well. Babcock never coached a game for the Blue Jackets before he was removed, and Laine later moved on to the Montreal Canadiens.
Even so, the connection is not as cut-and-dried as it first appears. During the summer and early training camp, after Babcock was removed, Laine spoke positively about the Oilers’ new coach and said he respected that he was “hard but honest.” Laine was also reported to be directly connected to the league’s review of the incident that led to Babcock’s exit.
Those investigation details were never made public. The only thing said was that what was uncovered did not reflect well on Babcock, but not enough to keep him out of the NHL. Since news surfaced that Babcock wanted another shot, Laine has not commented on either the investigation or his relationship with the coach.
That leaves the possibility of a fresh start, even if it feels like a long shot. If the issue between them was not as severe as it once seemed, both sides could have a reason to move on.
For Babcock, making it work with Laine would say plenty about how he has changed. For Laine, joining a team led by Babcock would suggest the divide was never as wide as it looked.
From the Oilers’ side, the appeal is straightforward. Laine could step in as the trigger man on the second power-play unit and do it on a team-friendly, bonus-focused contract. What he would provide at 5-vs-5 is less certain, and maybe not much at all, which means he would need to accept a narrow role.
It remains a long shot. But if Laine stays unsigned deep into the summer and a PTO becomes his only realistic path to a contract, Edmonton could become a place where the wrong gets righted and the fit finally makes sense.
In Other News...
Oilers Face A Costly Top Six Decision They Can't Delay
The Oilers are sitting on close to $6 million in cap space, which is enough to keep the conversation going but not enough to make the need disappear. A top-six winger remains the obvious target, and the list of realistic options is not exactly overflowing, which is why the front office has to weigh whether a move can be made now rather than letting the market tighten even further.
The names that keep surfacing point to the same kind of player Edmonton is after: a winger who can score and fit into a contenders top six without disrupting the rest of the lineup. With the free-agent path looking thin, the real question is whether the Oilers want to wait for the trade deadline dance or get aggressive before the asking price and the competition both climb. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Still Have One Roster Problem Fans Wont Ignore
The Oilers have room to maneuver, and that alone keeps the conversation around their roster from settling down anytime soon. With salary cap space available and a few defensive additions already in place, Edmonton has at least given itself options as it tries to round out a team that still looks a little light on the blue line after moving Darnell Nurse.
The bigger question is how the club balances those options at the start of the season, especially with a three-goalie plan hanging over the roster picture. There is a path for Edmonton to keep adjusting as the year goes on, and the cap flexibility gives it some breathing room if the front office decides the current mix still needs another jolt before the trade deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Blue Line Squeeze Could Force A Move Fans Saw Coming
The Oilers have spent the summer building depth on the blue line, but the math is starting to get awkward. After a run of trades and signings, Edmonton now has eight defensemen making $1.3 million or more, and it is hard to imagine the club carrying all of them when the season opens. For a team that has spent years trying to stabilize its back end, this is the kind of surplus that can look like a luxury right up until it turns into a roster decision.
What makes the situation interesting is that the likely move does not appear to involve one of the more established names. Edmontons choice seems to be narrowing around a pair of younger defensemen, with handedness and recent usage both part of the equation. One option has the cleaner fit on paper, while the other spent more time on the outside looking in, and the Oilers now have to decide whether they want to keep the extra insurance or turn that depth into something else before camp sorts it out for them. [Read more 🡒]