With the NHL trade deadline looming on March 6, the Edmonton Oilers are firmly in buyer mode-and not just window shopping. General Manager Stan Bowman has made it clear: the team is looking to add a legitimate top-nine forward. The only real question now is who that player will be.
Edmonton’s name has been tied to a wide range of targets, from depth pieces to potential game-changers. Among the more realistic options?
Bobby McMann and Nicolas Roy, both offering versatility and a bit of edge. Then there’s the group of pending UFAs like Boone Jenner, Charlie Coyle, and Mason Marchment-players who could bring playoff-style grit and experience without a long-term cap commitment.
And let’s not forget about the Vancouver duo, Brock Boeser and Conor Garland, who’ve been on the trade radar for some time now.
But here’s where things get interesting: could the Oilers go even bigger?
One name that’s been floating around the rumor mill-though not directly linked to Edmonton just yet-is Jordan Kyrou. The 27-year-old winger is in the third year of an eight-year, $65 million extension with the St.
Louis Blues. He’s posted 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 47 games this season, and while he hasn’t been red-hot, his raw talent and elite skating ability make him a tantalizing option for any team looking to add speed and scoring punch.
Kyrou’s name has been in trade conversations for a while now, and Blues GM Doug Armstrong seems open to exploring all options. While Edmonton hasn’t been publicly mentioned as a frontrunner, the fit makes a lot of sense.
The Oilers have been missing some of the pace and explosiveness they once had, especially after the departures of Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele, Dylan Holloway, and Connor Brown. Kyrou would instantly inject speed back into the lineup-he’s one of the best pure skaters in the league-and he’d complement the high-end skill of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl beautifully.
Of course, pulling off a deal of this magnitude wouldn’t be easy. The Oilers would likely need to start with a first-round pick and a top prospect-think someone like Isaac Howard or Matthew Savoie.
That might just get the conversation started. From there, St.
Louis could ask for additional pieces, whether that’s another pick or a second-tier prospect.
Then there’s the cap gymnastics. Edmonton would almost certainly need to move out salary to make the dollars work. That could mean including contracts like Andrew Mangiapane ($3.6 million), Trent Frederic ($3.85 million), or Adam Henrique ($3 million) in the deal, potentially with the help of a third team to retain salary.
Is it a long shot? Sure.
But it’s the kind of bold move that makes sense for where the Oilers are right now. With McDavid and Draisaitl still in their prime and the salary cap beginning to rise, this is the window to go all-in.
Championship windows don’t stay open forever, and Edmonton knows that better than most.
There’s also the matter of competition. Other teams-Montreal, Seattle, and Utah among them-are reportedly sniffing around Kyrou as well. And past tensions between the Oilers and some of those front offices, especially around offer sheets for Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, could complicate negotiations.
Still, if Bowman sees Kyrou as the missing piece, it’s a move worth pursuing. The Blues haven’t pulled the trigger on a Kyrou trade yet, despite years of rumors. But that doesn’t mean they won’t now-especially if the right offer comes along.
For Edmonton, this is about more than just adding a scorer. It’s about making a statement. The Oilers are in win-now mode, and if they can land a player like Kyrou, it could be the kind of swing that changes the course of the season-and maybe even the franchise’s future.