The Edmonton Oilers are firmly in the playoff mix, sitting second in the Pacific Division, and with the 2026 NHL trade deadline approaching, all signs point to them being buyers. This is a team built to contend now, and if there’s an area that could use a little reinforcement, it’s down the middle on the third line.
Enter Charlie Coyle.
The Columbus Blue Jackets forward is starting to generate some buzz as a potential trade chip - and for good reason. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent on a Blue Jackets team that’s currently seventh in the Metropolitan Division. That puts Columbus in a position where moving veterans like Coyle for future assets makes a lot of sense, especially with the postseason looking like a long shot.
For Edmonton, Coyle checks a lot of boxes. He’s a big-bodied, 6-foot-3 center who brings a smart, two-way game.
He’s got the kind of versatility that playoff teams covet - capable of playing the wing, sliding up the lineup when needed, and logging key minutes on the penalty kill. That kind of flexibility becomes invaluable in the postseason grind, where depth and adaptability often separate the contenders from the pretenders.
And it’s not just about the intangibles. Coyle is producing.
Through 46 games this season, he’s put up nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points, while also dishing out 64 hits. That blend of offense and physicality is exactly what you want anchoring your bottom six come playoff time.
And let’s not forget - this isn’t just a flash in the pan. He’s only two years removed from a 60-point campaign with the Boston Bruins in 2023-24, showing he’s more than capable of chipping in offensively when given the opportunity.
For the Oilers, who are already boasting top-end talent in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, adding a steady, experienced presence like Coyle to the third line could be a savvy move. It would give them another layer of depth, a player who can help tilt the ice in their favor even when the stars aren’t on the ice. And in a Western Conference that’s shaping up to be a dogfight, that kind of depth could make all the difference.
So, if Edmonton is serious about making a deep run this spring - and all indications are that they are - don’t be surprised if Charlie Coyle is a name that stays hot on their radar as the trade deadline draws closer.