The Edmonton Oilers are still hunting for more size, and one name on their radar is Matt Rempe.
Frank Seravalli of Sportsnet reported that coach Mike Babcock has wanted to add more size and toughness to the forward group, while GM Stan Bowman continues weighing the options. Rempe, a New York Rangers forward, is believed to be a player Babcock likes. The question is what it would take to pry him loose, with Seravalli suggesting the price could be a mid-round pick since Rempe is not seeing much action under Mike Sullivan.
Rempe would bring exactly the sort of deterrent the Oilers may be looking for around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He is from Calgary, played just outside of Edmonton, and he requires waivers.
Around the league, the trade market is widening beyond the usual rental targets. Daily Faceoff’s David Pagnotta said players with term left on their contracts are drawing more attention as the rising salary cap gives teams more room to maneuver.
“Because of where the caps at, not just now, but we’ve got the projections. Like, we started to see more guys with term start to move last year.
It’s allowing more flexibility, you know, for a lot of these teams to be a little bit more, you know, creative. Guys that have another year on their contract or two years.
You know, you look at Pittsburgh directly; they’ve got Bryan Rust without any no-trade protection, another year on his contract. Rickard Rakell, 10 or 15-team list or somewhere in that neighbourhood of a no-trade list. But another year left on his contract.
So teams are looking at these players, going, “We don’t necessarily have to bring on expiring deals now. If they have one year, two, three, yeah, we can, we can make something work if the price is right.”
So a lot of teams are looking at Pittsburgh because of those assets. A lot of teams still again, as I mentioned, circling on Nashville to see what options may be available there.
Like St. Louis is another team that’s pretty aggressive, more so looking on the blue line.
But would they be willing to give up some of their younger forwards in order to make something like that happen?
The Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks are Looking for Scoring
You know, we’ll, we’ll kind of see. Carolina’s always looking to add, and they’ve been active beyond the Hellebuyck discussions, looking to add to their roster as well. So don’t be surprised if, if you know, even the Canes that are trying to defend their championship, even a team like that that does have some cap space to play with, if they start getting a little bit more aggressive in terms of trying to add a little bit earlier on in the season.”
In Other News...
Oilers Fans Cant Ignore This New Elite Forward Twist
The ripple effects of a busy NHL news cycle have a way of reaching Edmonton quickly, especially when elite forwards start changing the conversation around the league. Tampa Bays Nikita Kucherov has reportedly told the Lightning he does not plan to re-sign, and that alone is the kind of development that gets every contenders attention. Add in the broader backdrop of international hockey uncertainty, including Team Russia being barred from tournaments, and the market for star talent suddenly feels even more volatile.
Dylan Larkins situation in Detroit only adds to the sense that this could become a summer defined by movement at the top of the forward market. He is currently sitting out and suspended without pay while awaiting a trade after submitting a request with a preferred list of teams, a reminder that even established names can force their way into the center of the rumor mill. For Oilers fans, the question is no longer whether big names might become available, but which ones could realistically shake loose and how aggressively Edmonton would have to pursue them. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Trade Search Could Come Down To One Crucial Center Decision
The Oilers search for help down the middle is starting to sound less like a broad shopping list and more like a test of priorities. Edmonton is looking for a center who can bring some size and a more physical edge while also adding depth, and the names floating around range from the rugged to the highly talented. Matthew Rempe, Quinton Byfield, Kirby Dach and Shane Wright have all surfaced in the conversation, with the speculation shaped by reporting from Sportsnet and Elliotte Friedman and by how each player might fit what Edmonton is trying to build.
What makes the discussion interesting is that the Oilers are not just chasing a body for the lineup, but weighing different kinds of upside against the cost of getting it done. Some of these targets are more speculative than others, and some have already been tied to trade chatter, which only adds to the intrigue around how aggressive Edmonton wants to be. For a team that knows how valuable center depth can be in the spring, the real question may be which direction it chooses when the market finally asks it to pick one. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Just Got Tied To A Concerning Flames Injury Update
The Flames are dealing with a fresh injury issue in goal after Devin Cooley was ruled week-to-week with a lower-body injury, according to coach Ryan Huska. Cooley went down in the game against Edmonton after a collision with Colton Dach, adding another layer to a matchup that already had plenty of physical edge.
Brennan Othmann is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury, while Connor Zary of the AHL's Calgary Wranglers is week-to-week after knee surgery. For the Oilers, the immediate concern is less about the injury report itself than the ripple effect it can have on a division rival, especially if Calgary has to shuffle its depth and crease plans for the near future. [Read more 🡒]