The Edmonton Oilers are in the thick of another playoff push, and with the March 6 trade deadline looming, they’re reportedly on the hunt for reinforcements up front. According to league insider Pierre LeBrun, the Oilers are eyeing top-nine forwards to bolster their depth scoring - an area that’s lagged behind the high-octane production of their stars.
Let’s be clear: the Oilers’ core is doing its job. Connor McDavid is once again playing like a man possessed, leading the NHL with 85 points in 51 games.
When your captain is putting up numbers like that, you’re always in the fight. But the supporting cast?
That’s where the questions start to pile up.
Edmonton made a few moves in the offseason to address this very issue, bringing in Andrew Mangiapane and Isaac Howard to inject some secondary offense. So far, the returns have been underwhelming - the duo has combined for just 17 points this season. That’s not going to cut it for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Then there’s Trent Frederic, a player the Oilers brought in ahead of last year’s deadline and committed to long-term with an eight-year extension. He’s managed only three points across 49 games this season. While Frederic brings physicality and defensive reliability, the offensive production simply hasn’t followed.
With the Olympic break set to pause NHL action in late February, don’t expect any immediate fireworks on the trade front. LeBrun notes that any significant moves are likely to come after the break, as teams reassess their rosters and the market begins to take shape.
One complicating factor for Edmonton: the salary cap. The Oilers are working with just over $270,000 in cap space, per PuckPedia.
That’s not enough to bring in meaningful help without sending money out - which means any deal they make will likely involve some financial gymnastics. Expect general manager Ken Holland and his staff to explore creative options, whether that’s retaining salary, involving a third team, or moving out a contract to make room.
Despite the depth concerns, Edmonton is still right in the mix. They’re sitting second in the Pacific Division, just two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights - though it’s worth noting that Vegas has three games in hand. That makes the margin for error razor-thin, and it puts even more pressure on the front office to get the upcoming moves right.
Bottom line: the Oilers have the top-end talent to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league. But if they want to make another deep run - and maybe finally get over the hump - they’ll need more from the middle and bottom of the lineup. The next few weeks could be pivotal in determining just how far this team can go.