The Edmonton Oilers have the cap space to do something meaningful this summer. What they don’t have is much time to wait around for the free-agent market to magically open up.
With close to $6 million available and a path to push that figure past $8 million through a few roster moves, Edmonton has room to chase help. The issue is simple: the winger market is thin, and the Oilers still need a real top-six scoring threat.
Anthony Mantha is still unsigned after a 33-goal season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he doesn’t look like an ideal Edmonton fit, especially if he’s still aiming for a multi-year contract. Patrick Kane is coming off another strong year in Detroit, though his preference is reportedly to stay out East.
Michael Bunting has some appeal as a depth option, but he doesn’t solve the bigger problem. Patrik Laine has also been floated, but Mike Babcock being the Oilers’ head coach takes Edmonton out of that discussion.
That leaves trade as the clearest path if Stan Bowman wants to make a real upgrade.
And there’s a strong case for acting now instead of hoarding cap space for later. Keeping more than $5 million sitting around until the deadline might look smart on paper, since it could let the Oilers absorb roughly $27 million in cap hits.
But under the new playoff cap rules, that kind of flexibility doesn’t automatically translate into being able to dress everyone. Even with Tristan Jarry off the game-day playoff roster and a few other players in the press box, it still wouldn’t come close to matching that number.
There’s also the simple matter of assets. Edmonton doesn’t have the pieces to chase three quality deadline additions, so waiting around could mean saving money for a scenario that never really materializes.
The better move is to target a winger in the $5-6 million range, work Spencer Stastney into the deal, send Mattias Janmark down, and let the remaining $2-4 million continue to accrue. That would give the Oilers help now without boxing themselves in later.
Among the trade candidates, Jake DeBrusk stands out. He scored 23 goals last season, but only three came at 5v5, which leaves plenty of room for a rebound in that area.
He also brings speed, and he’s reportedly not interested in sitting through what will be a long rebuild in Vancouver. If the price is something like a mid-round pick, Edmonton should be all over it.
David Pagnotta’s trade board also linked the Oilers to Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both have cap hits under $5.5 million, both scored more than 20 goals last season, and both have experience playing with high-skilled centremen.
Rust is the stronger finisher, while Rakell offers more defensive value along with strong 5v5 scoring. Either one would fit well in Edmonton’s top six.
Pittsburgh’s thin left side on defense could make Stastney attractive to them, too. A package built around Stastney and the Oilers’ 2027 second-round pick for Rakell might be a long shot, but it’s the kind of conversation Edmonton should be having. Pagnotta did have the Oilers linked to him.
There are bigger names on the horizon as well. Jared McCann in Seattle is a reliable 20-goal scorer at a very manageable $5 million cap hit. Alex DeBrincat in Detroit brings the highest ceiling of the group after scoring 41 goals last season, and he already has a connection with Connor McDavid from their Erie days.
Neither McCann nor DeBrincat seems likely to move before their teams decide to sell at the deadline, though.
That’s why the Oilers may be able to do both: land a winger from Pittsburgh or DeBrusk in Vancouver without giving up Ike Howard or one of their first-round picks, then still keep enough assets and flexibility to chase a premium rental later if needed.
Bowman has been patient, and that approach has already paid off in some smart moves this summer. But the forward group still needs a jolt, and sitting on the cap space isn’t the answer.
If Edmonton wants help that can matter from opening night, it’s time to get aggressive.
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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 🡒]
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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 🡒]