The Oilers have made the kind of move that says plenty about where they want to tighten things up: they’ve dealt from their blue line to add another option up front.
Edmonton acquired forward Filip Hallander from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman Spencer Stastney, according to a release from the Oilers.
The move fits the shape of the chatter around Edmonton in recent days. The club had been linked to the idea of moving a depth defenceman for a forward, with speculation pointing to a young Eastern Conference center who offered upside but still had plenty to prove.
Hallander, 26, brings size and a left shot down the middle. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, he has already made noise with Pittsburgh this season, recording a goal and two assists in two games while posting a plus-4 rating.
Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now noted Hallander’s production overseas and his flexibility at forward, writing, "He finished 2nd in SHL scoring with Timra in 2024-25 (26-27-53/51 GP). He can play multiple forward positions. Oilers save over 650K on the cap with the deal."
He has also logged significant time in the AHL, where he produced 26 goals and 36 assists for 62 points, along with 44 penalty minutes, in 107 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
For Edmonton, the deal brings a productive Swedish center into the mix and gives the organization a bit more offensive depth while sending a promising blueliner to Pittsburgh.
In Other News...
Oilers Trade Talks Are Heating Up Around One Hidden Target
Trade chatter around the Oilers has picked up again, and this time the focus is on a young forward who could give Edmonton some additional upside down the middle. TSN insider Darren Dreger reported that general manager Stan Bowman has been in detailed talks with an Eastern Conference club, with the organization also weighing its own crop of young players as it sorts through roster options.
The identity of the player has been kept quiet, which only adds to the sense that the discussions are delicate and getting serious. Dreger said the sides have been working on the deal for several weeks and that it could be close, a sign that Edmonton may be nearing a move that says as much about its long-term planning as it does about the immediate roster. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Make A Needed Depth Move As Injuries Keep Pressuring Forwards
The Oilers kept working to patch their forward group by dealing defenseman Spencer Stastney to the Penguins for Filip Hallander, a swap that fits a couple of pressing needs on both sides. Edmonton has been leaning hard on its roster depth as injuries continue to squeeze the forwards, while Pittsburgh gets a left-shot defenseman in a move that helps its own blue line picture.
Hallander has seen only limited NHL action with Pittsburgh this season, but Edmonton is clearly willing to take a look at another option who can help stabilize the middle and bottom of the lineup. For a team trying to stay afloat through the wear and tear of the early season, even a modest depth addition can matter, and this one gives the Oilers a little more flexibility as they wait on healthier bodies to return. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Just Made A Fringe Roster Move Worth Watching
The Oilers have made a small roster move that could end up being more interesting than it looks on the surface, swapping a defenseman for a forward in a deal with Pittsburgh. Edmonton sent Spencer Stastney to the Penguins and brought back Filip Hallander, with both clubs confirming the trade as the Oilers continue to tinker at the margins of the roster.
Stastney had made Edmontons opening-night roster, but he has not played in a game this season, which gives the move a little extra weight for a team always trying to balance depth now against flexibility later. Hallander arrives with his own career path and recent performance history, and for the Oilers the real question is whether this is simply a depth shuffle or the first sign of a broader look at how the bottom of the lineup is being shaped. [Read more 🡒]