With the NHL trade deadline looming on March 6, the Edmonton Oilers are staring down two clear objectives: add a top-nine forward who can make an impact and find a way to move Andrew Mangiapane’s $3.6 million cap hit. Whether those goals are achieved in a single blockbuster or through separate moves, GM Stan Bowman has work to do.
There’s been no shortage of names floated around Edmonton in recent weeks, but one new wrinkle entered the conversation on Monday - and it came from an unexpected angle. Patrik Laine, a name not previously linked to the Oilers, surfaced as a potential trade target in Nick Kypreos’ latest trade board. And while it’s far from a confirmed pursuit, there’s enough smoke here to warrant a closer look.
Kypreos speculated about a potential fit between Edmonton and Montreal, with both Laine and Mangiapane reportedly available. The Canadiens, according to the report, are open to retaining up to 50% of Laine’s remaining salary - a significant factor considering they haven’t used any salary retention slots and Laine’s deal expires at season’s end. That kind of flexibility opens the door for a creative, cap-friendly deal.
Laine, 27, is in the final year of a four-year, $34.8 million extension he signed with Columbus in 2022. This season, though, has been a rough one.
He’s been limited to just five games, with only a single assist to show for it. Injuries have again derailed his campaign - a recurring theme over the past few years.
On the flip side, Mangiapane, 29, signed a two-year, $7.2 million deal with Edmonton this past offseason but hasn’t found his footing. With just 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 47 games, he’s struggled to carve out a consistent role in the Oilers’ lineup. Moving his cap hit could offer Bowman the flexibility needed to make a more meaningful addition.
So, does Laine make any real sense for Edmonton?
On paper, he checks one of the boxes: a top-nine forward with scoring upside. And if Montreal is willing to eat half his salary, the financials could work. But when you dig a little deeper, the fit becomes a lot murkier.
Laine, at this stage of his career, is primarily a power-play weapon - a sniper who thrives with time and space. That’s not exactly what the Oilers need.
Their top power-play unit, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, is already the best in the league, humming along at a league-leading 31.2%. There’s not much room - or need - for another trigger man when those two are on the ice for the bulk of every man advantage.
Sure, Laine could bolster the second unit, but let’s be honest: when McDavid and Draisaitl are out there, the second unit barely sees the ice. Edmonton’s power play is less about depth and more about dominance - and Laine doesn’t move the needle there.
Then there’s the health factor. Laine’s injury history is well documented, and this season has been no different.
With only five games played, it’s hard to know what version of Laine a team would be getting. Is he still the dynamic scorer who once lit up the league in Winnipeg?
Or is he now a reclamation project with more questions than answers?
For a team like Edmonton - a contender with real Stanley Cup aspirations - this doesn’t feel like the time to roll the dice on a player with that much uncertainty. They need plug-and-play reliability. Someone who can step in, contribute immediately, and complement the elite talent already in place.
Laine still has the raw talent that made him the No. 2 overall pick in 2016. And for a team looking to raise its ceiling or take a low-risk flyer on a pending UFA, there’s a case to be made.
But Edmonton isn’t that team. The Oilers don’t need to gamble on upside - they’re already built to win now.
So while the salaries might align and the trade math could check out, the stylistic fit just isn’t there. Bowman’s focus should remain on finding a forward who can bring energy, versatility, and consistency - not another power-play specialist with a cloudy injury history.
The Oilers know what they need. And unless Laine’s game takes a dramatic turn, it’s hard to see him being the answer in Edmonton.