As the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline looms, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves in familiar territory - chasing that final, elusive piece to get over the hump. After two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final that ended in heartbreak, there’s no mistaking the urgency in Edmonton.
The roster is close. Really close.
But close doesn’t raise banners. And with the clock ticking, GM Stan Bowman has some critical decisions to make.
Let’s be clear: goaltending, once a glaring hole, is no longer the issue. Bowman addressed that head-on, bringing in Connor Ingram back in October and doubling down with Tristan Jarry in December.
That tandem has stabilized the crease and given Edmonton the kind of reliability in net that contenders need. So the focus now shifts to the rest of the roster - and where the Oilers can make the biggest impact without blowing up the cap or the future.
With limited cap space and a pretty thin pile of trade assets, Bowman won’t be able to check every box. Prioritization is key. Let’s break down Edmonton’s trade deadline needs, from least urgent to absolutely essential.
Least Important: Depth on the Blue Line
Depth defensemen are always a deadline staple - cheap, available, and helpful in a long playoff grind. But for the Oilers, this isn’t the top priority.
Sure, adding another body to the back end wouldn’t hurt. You don’t want to roll into the postseason assuming your top six will stay healthy all spring.
That’s not how playoff hockey works.
Right now, Spencer Stastney and Ty Emberson are holding down the fifth and sixth spots, with Alec Regula as the seventh man. The question is whether the team trusts Regula in a pinch. He’s had a rough go this season, and if management doesn’t feel confident in him stepping into a playoff game, then finding someone to bump him down the depth chart makes sense.
Names like Tyler Tucker, Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn, Jamie Oleksiak, and Connor Murphy could be on Bowman’s radar. But unless the price is right, the Oilers are better off saving their assets for more pressing needs. Blue line depth matters - it’s just not the fire to put out first.
Second-Most Important: A Scoring Winger
This one’s a little more complicated. On paper, adding a top-six winger seems like a no-brainer.
But the Oilers aren’t exactly hurting for offense at the top of the lineup. The chemistry between Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is elite.
That line isn’t going anywhere. And the second line, featuring Leon Draisaitl with Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen, has found its rhythm as well.
Jack Roslovic can rotate in and still keep the line humming.
So while Edmonton’s wingers might not be household names across the league, they’re getting the job done. The challenge here is cost - both in terms of trade capital and salary cap gymnastics. Players like Artemi Panarin, Jared McCann, Brayden Schenn, Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou, and Jake DeBrusk could all be available, but fitting any of them under the cap would require some serious maneuvering.
That means moving contracts like Andrew Mangiapane or Adam Henrique - both of whom have no-movement clauses. Not impossible, but definitely not simple.
If the right deal presents itself and Bowman can make the money work, a scoring winger could be the cherry on top. But given the cap constraints and the relative strength of the top six, it’s not the most pressing issue.
Most Important: Third-Line Center
This is the big one. If the Oilers make only one move before the deadline, it has to be for a third-line center. The bottom six has been a weak spot all season, and it’s a problem that becomes magnified in the playoffs when depth scoring and defensive responsibility are at a premium.
Adam Henrique was brought in to solidify that role, but he’s struggled mightily - just two goals and 10 points in 43 games - and now he’s sidelined until after the Olympic break. That’s not going to cut it.
Roslovic has stepped in admirably, but he’s better suited on the wing. He’s got offensive upside, but not the defensive consistency you want anchoring your third line come playoff time.
So who could fill that void? Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, and Ryan O’Reilly are all viable options.
Jenner and Coyle are pending UFAs with manageable cap hits ($3.75 million and $5.25 million, respectively), while O’Reilly carries a $4.5 million cap hit with one year left. All three bring experience, leadership, and the kind of two-way game that wins playoff series.
To make it happen, the Oilers would likely need to move Mangiapane and either trade or waive backup goalie Calvin Pickard, freeing up around $4.6 million in cap space. If Henrique can be convinced to waive his no-movement clause, that opens up even more flexibility - and potentially allows for a second addition.
Final Word
The Oilers are in a window. Not a window that’s cracked open - a window that’s wide, wide open.
McDavid and Draisaitl are in their primes, the goaltending is finally in place, and the team has already proven it can get to the Final. Now it’s about finding that final piece - or two - to push them over the top.
Depth defense? Nice to have.
Scoring winger? Could be a game-changer.
But third-line center? That’s the move that could make or break this postseason run.
Stan Bowman has his work cut out for him. But if he plays his cards right, the Oilers might just have what it takes to finish the job this time.