The Edmonton Oilers are likely to go hunting for another top-nine forward during the 2026-27 season, and the trade market could open up in a few different places depending on how the standings shake out. A handful of rebuilding or retooling teams already look like the most obvious clubs to watch.
Pittsburgh stands out as the most natural match. The Penguins are still shaping up as one of the league’s likeliest sellers, and both Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust have been floating in trade talk as the team looks to get younger.
Rakell would give Edmonton a proven top-six scorer. Rust would bring speed, playoff experience and the kind of versatility coaches love.
Neither would come cheap, though, since both are under contract beyond this season. That extra team control would make them more valuable than a standard rental, and Pittsburgh would almost certainly ask for a premium prospect or a high draft pick.
Andrei Kuzmenko is another name to keep on the board if Pittsburgh slips out of contention. He’s on a one-year deal and can finish plays, but his defensive issues could make Edmonton think twice.
Detroit could end up being the biggest prize if things go sideways there. The Red Wings may turn into major sellers if the playoff drought continues, and Alex DeBrincat is already on early trade-candidate lists after scoring 41 goals in 2025-26.
He’s in the final season of his contract and would fill a major need for Edmonton as the right-shot finisher the club has been chasing. The challenge is obvious: his $7.875 million cap hit and the cost to get him would be steep.
Former Oiler Viktor Arvidsson would be the cheaper fallback if Detroit decides to move pieces.
New York is another team that could still make more changes after already doing some roster reshaping. Alexis Lafrenière heard his name in trade speculation during the Rangers’ disappointing season, and he’d be a pricey target.
Still, his age, physicality and five-on-five scoring would make him a strong long-term fit next to Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Pulling that deal off would likely mean moving salary and including one of Edmonton’s best young players.
Vancouver could also create some noise if its rebuild keeps going. Filip Chytil is entering the last season of his contract, and Drew O’Connor offers affordable bottom-six speed.
Chytil comes with real injury concerns, but he also brings versatility and enough offense to look like a classic buy-low target. The problem for Edmonton would be trying to swing a deal with a Pacific Division rival.
Seattle belongs on the list for similar reasons. The Kraken’s direction is still murky, and both Shane Wright and Jared McCann have been mentioned as possible names to watch.
Wright would be more of a long-term play, while McCann could step straight into Edmonton’s top six and help right away. As with Vancouver, though, the Oilers would likely have to pay a divisional premium to make either move happen.
Of all the possible partners, Pittsburgh feels like the cleanest fit for Edmonton’s needs. But if Detroit decides to move DeBrincat, that’s the kind of swing that could change the whole conversation.
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