It’s still early, but the Edmonton Oilers are already giving a pretty clear read on where the roster could use help.
An 8-2-2 start is the kind of opening most teams would happily take in October, yet the last few games have brought a little turbulence into the picture. The top line has done most of the heavy lifting offensively, with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Vasily Podkolzin carrying the load. That’s why a top-six forward has become an obvious name to circle if GM Stan Bowman decides to get aggressive.
There’s another area to watch, too. The left side of the blue line has been a bit messy, with Jake Walman unable to secure a role on the second pair and no clear internal fix waiting in the wings.
With that in mind, these six players stand out as early trade possibilities for Edmonton.
Ryan O’Reilly has the kind of profile the Oilers have already chased in recent seasons: a veteran centreman who can step in and steady things down the middle. The 35-year-old is off to a strong start with the Nashville Predators, sitting tied with Steven Stamkos in goals and second on the team in points through 12 games. He carries a $4.5 million cap hit and is under contract through 2026-27.
Jake DeBrusk is another name that fits the Oilers’ needs, even if the fit isn’t perfectly clean financially. The 30-year-old winger has long been linked to a return to his hometown, and he could be available if the Vancouver Canucks decide to move pieces for future assets before the deadline. He’s on pace to remain the kind of reliable 20-goal scorer Edmonton could use in its top six, but his $5.5 million cap hit runs through 2031, which makes the commitment a bigger one than the Oilers may want to make.
Vince Dunn would be a much different kind of addition. The Seattle Kraken defenseman is already popping up in trade chatter, and his name makes sense if Edmonton wants a high-end blue-line boost.
He’s producing offensively, but the defensive metrics point to some issues in his own end. If the Oilers went after him, he’d be a major addition to the top four.
He’s also a rental, with free agency coming this summer.
If Bowman is aiming higher, Elias Pettersson is the swing-for-the-fences option. The Vancouver forward has been in trade rumours for much of the past year, and after showing signs of rediscovering his game, his value could be climbing again.
The question is whether Vancouver cashes in or keeps him. Either way, he’d be a strong fit in Edmonton - if the Oilers are willing to put together a major package and work through the cap implications attached to his $11.6 million hit.
Rickard Rakell is another forward who has repeatedly found his way into Oilers trade discussions. His start with the Pittsburgh Penguins has been quiet, but his track record still speaks loudly.
He has scored 20 or more goals in four of the last five seasons, including a peak of 35 in 2024-25. He isn’t a true driver of play, but he has been a dependable complementary top-six scorer for a long time, and his $5 million cap hit runs through 2028.
Then there’s Alexander Nikishin, a defenseman who would add a different kind of upside. After a long contract dispute, he signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this month and is back with the club this season.
The Hurricanes could keep him and run the whole situation back next summer, but the tension between player and team is plain. Nikishin posted 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in 81 games last season and was part of a Stanley Cup-winning team.
He’s not a top-pair defenseman yet, but he would bring real value to Edmonton’s back end and still has room to grow.
In Other News...
Oilers Suddenly Face A Battle Of Alberta Lineup Question
The Ducks are trying to sort through their own injury picture as they wait on several key pieces, but Edmontons attention is closer to home with the Battle of Alberta approaching. Around the league, teams are starting to get players back on the ice, and that usually forces coaches to rethink combinations, minutes and matchups almost as soon as the updates come in.
For the Oilers, the timing matters because the roster has already been in a state of flux, and any fresh availability can change how the lineup is built heading into a rivalry game. There are still moving parts, though, and one of the bigger questions now is whether Edmonton can count on a pair of familiar names being ready to slot in when the stakes get high. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Linked To Young Winger But One Trade Hurdle Remains
Ivan Miroshnichenkos name has surfaced as a possible fit for the Oilers, with the young winger reportedly being allowed by Washington to explore trade options after struggling to find steady NHL playing time. Edmontons interest makes sense on paper, given the appeal of adding a skilled, still-developing forward, and the Capitals have at least acknowledged that Miroshnichenko has done his part off the ice and in practice.
Spencer Carbery has spoken highly of Miroshnichenkos professionalism and work ethic, but Washingtons forward depth has left him squeezed out of regular opportunities. That is the part Edmonton has to weigh carefully, since the conversation now is less about talent than about whether the right trade structure can be found to get a deal across the finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Ekholm Return Nears As Oilers Wait On One Crucial Decision
Mattias Ekholm is moving closer to a return for the Edmonton Oilers after missing two games because of a head injury suffered against the Carolina Hurricanes. He was back on the ice in practice and gave a positive update on how he was feeling, a welcome sign for a team that has spent plenty of time shuffling bodies in and out of the lineup while trying to stay steady through the early grind.
Jason Dickinson is also inching toward a comeback after sitting out most of the season with injuries, but the Oilers still do not have firm return dates for either player. Edmonton continues to navigate a broader injury picture that includes Zach Hyman, Devon Levi, Matt Savoie and Frederik Andersen, and the next question is whether Ekholm is ready in time for a marquee Battle of Alberta test Wednesday night. [Read more 🡒]