The Edmonton Oilers already look like a real Stanley Cup threat, but there’s still a clear hole they could try to fill: another right-shot top-six forward who can slide next to Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. In this trade idea, that player is Mark Scheifele.
The proposed deal sends Scheifele to Edmonton and gives the Winnipeg Jets a package built around Isaac Howard, Spencer Stastney, Kasperi Kapanen, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick.
For the Oilers, the appeal is obvious. Scheifele is still producing like a star.
The 33-year-old just posted 36 goals and 67 assists for 103 points in 82 games, which was the first 100-point season of his career. Across 961 NHL games, he has 372 goals and 535 assists for 907 points, a track record that says he’s been one of the league’s most reliable scorers for a long time.
He’s a center by trade, but the fit in Edmonton is about more than position. Scheifele shoots right and has the kind of offensive instincts that can work with elite passers.
He could play on McDavid’s wing, or give Mike Babcock more ways to stack the top six. Either way, he gives the Oilers another true first-line scoring threat.
His skating is part of the case too. NHL EDGE has Scheifele hitting a top speed of 23.44 mph, which ranks in the 94th percentile, and he averages 4.43 miles skated per game, good for the 99th percentile league-wide. In other words, the speed is there to keep up with Edmonton’s pace even as he enters his mid-30s.
Winnipeg’s side only makes sense if the season goes sideways. Under normal circumstances, the Jets would have no reason to move one of the faces of the franchise. But if they were sitting near the bottom of the standings by the 2027 NHL Trade Deadline, the conversation changes fast.
Scheifele would become one of the biggest names available because he wouldn’t be a rental. He’d still be under contract for several more seasons, which would drive up the price.
That’s where the proposed return comes in. Howard is the headliner, with the profile of a dynamic top-six scorer.
Stastney brings an NHL-ready defenseman who could step in right away. Kapanen helps with the salary and adds veteran depth for the rest of the season.
And the 2027 second-round pick plus the 2028 first-round pick give Winnipeg more premium pieces to work with if it decides to reshape the roster.
This kind of move would only happen if the Jets cratered, but it’s the sort of aggressive deadline swing that could help both sides. Edmonton gets an elite offensive weapon for more than one playoff run, and Winnipeg gets a mix of young talent and future draft capital.
The closest comparisons are deals like Bo Horvat, Claude Giroux and Vladimir Tarasenko. Those trades followed a similar pattern: the contender got a proven top-six forward, while the other team landed a blue-chip prospect, an NHL-ready piece and strong draft value. Scheifele’s age lowers the return a bit compared with younger stars like Jack Eichel or Matthew Tkachuk, but the contract keeps his value well above what a pure rental would bring.
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