What Will the Oilers Do at the Deadline? Breaking Down Edmonton’s Top Trade Targets
As the NHL trade deadline looms on March 6, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a familiar spot: contenders with unfinished business. After back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final, the mission this year is clear-get over the hump and finally bring the Cup back to Edmonton.
The season didn’t start the way they’d hoped, but since late November, the Oilers have looked like the team everyone expected. Now, with a roster that’s clicking and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the charge, the question becomes: what’s the final piece to push this group over the top?
The Oilers have three key needs heading into the deadline:
- A top-six winger
- A third-line center
- A second-pairing defenseman
With limited assets and cap space, Edmonton may only have one big swing in them. But let’s dig into the players who could help check those boxes-and what it might take to land them.
Top-Six Winger: Blake Coleman Could Be the Right Fit… If the Flames Are Willing
Let’s start with the big fish: Artemi Panarin. No doubt, he’s the best top-six winger on the market.
The problem? His $11.64 million cap hit makes it almost impossible for the Oilers to make the numbers work-even with 50% retention.
That dream likely ends before it starts.
Other names like Kiefer Sherwood (now in San Jose) and Alex Tuch (likely staying in Buffalo) are off the board or out of reach. So where does that leave Edmonton?
Look no further than two familiar faces from within the Pacific Division: Jake DeBrusk in Vancouver and Blake Coleman in Calgary. Of the two, Coleman might be the more intriguing fit.
Now, let’s address the obvious-trades between the Oilers and Flames are about as rare as a warm winter day in Alberta. The last time these two teams linked up was the infamous Milan Lucic-James Neal swap back in 2019, and that was more about unloading bad contracts than building rosters.
This would be different. This would be a buyer-seller deal, and that means the price goes up-especially if the Oilers want Calgary to retain salary.
Coleman’s in year five of a six-year deal with a $4.9 million cap hit. At 50% retention, that number drops to a manageable $2.45 million.
Through 44 games this season, he’s put up 13 goals and eight assists-not quite the 30-goal pace he hit last year, but still productive in a middle-six role. Historically, he’s hovered around the 15-goal mark most seasons.
He brings grit, playoff experience, and versatility. He can slot into the top six or anchor a third line, kill penalties, and play with pace.
The challenge? Calgary may not be eager to help their provincial rivals get better-especially if it means eating salary.
But if Edmonton is willing to overpay, and the Flames are in full sell mode, it’s not out of the question.
Third-Line Center: Boone Jenner Might Be the Perfect Fit
If the Oilers decide to focus on center depth, the market offers more flexibility. Right-shot centers are always in demand, and while Toronto’s Nicolas Roy had been floated as a potential target earlier this season, the Leafs’ recent surge likely takes him off the table.
Other names like Ryan Strome, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Luke Schenn, and Ryan O’Reilly come with varying degrees of difficulty-mostly due to cap constraints. But Boone Jenner? Now that’s a name worth circling.
The Columbus captain is on an expiring deal with a $3.75 million cap hit. With 50% retention, that becomes a very manageable $1.875 million. For a player of Jenner’s caliber, that’s a bargain.
Jenner’s been a Blue Jacket his entire career and has quietly built a reputation as one of the league’s most dependable two-way centers. He’s a four-time 20-goal scorer, including three straight from 2021-2024. He’s strong in the faceoff circle (winning 53% this season and 54% over his career), and he’s not afraid to play with an edge.
In 35 games this year, he’s tallied eight goals and 25 points. Last season, he was limited to just 26 games but still managed 19 points. He’s a leader, a battler, and exactly the type of player who thrives in playoff hockey.
The only wrinkle? Columbus is still within striking distance of a wild card spot.
If they decide to sell, Jenner will be a hot commodity. But if he’s available, Edmonton should be first in line.
Second-Pairing Defenseman: Ristolainen Offers Depth, But at a Cost
Of the three needs, the blue line is probably the least urgent-but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored.
Right now, the Oilers are heavy on the left side with Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Jake Walman, and Spencer Stastney. On the right, it’s Evan Bouchard and a rotation of Alec Regula or Ty Emberson. That imbalance could become a problem in the playoffs.
After Rasmus Andersson was shipped to Vegas, the top right-shot defenseman on the market is Dougie Hamilton. But with a $9 million cap hit, he’s simply not an option.
Enter Rasmus Ristolainen.
The Flyers are reportedly open to moving the veteran blueliner, and they’re even willing to retain salary. With a $5.1 million cap hit, 50% retention brings that number down to $2.55 million-doable, but not without some maneuvering.
To make it work, the Oilers would likely need to move out Andrew Mangiapane and Emberson, send Isaac Howard or Calvin Pickard to the minors, and activate Adam Henrique. That’s a lot of moving parts. If the Flyers only retain 49%, the math still works-but the cost goes up significantly.
Ristolainen isn’t the offensive force he was during his 40-point seasons in Buffalo, but he’s become a reliable, physical presence who can log top-four minutes and kill penalties. Pairing him with Nurse could stabilize the second pairing and give Edmonton more options heading into the playoffs.
Still, with other priorities on the board, this may be a luxury move the Oilers can’t afford unless the price drops.
Final Thoughts: One Shot, Three Needs
The Oilers are in a fascinating spot. Their core is in its prime, the team is heating up at the right time, and the window to win is wide open. But with limited cap space and assets, they’ll have to pick their spot carefully.
Whether it’s a gritty winger like Coleman, a dependable center like Jenner, or a stabilizing defenseman like Ristolainen, Edmonton has options. The challenge will be balancing need, cost, and cap gymnastics.
One move could make all the difference. The question is: which one will they make?
The clock is ticking.