NHL Trade Watch: Oilers, Panthers, and Kraken All Working the Phones Ahead of Deadline
As the trade deadline creeps closer, the NHL rumor mill is heating up-and a few teams are making it clear they’re not standing pat. Whether it’s Edmonton looking to fine-tune their forward group, Florida trying to stay afloat in a tight playoff race, or Seattle weighing a bold move with a top prospect, there’s plenty of action brewing behind the scenes.
Oilers Eyeing a Top-Nine Forward-But Center or Wing?
The Edmonton Oilers came out of their recent pro scouting meetings with a clear takeaway: they want to bolster their forward depth, specifically in the top nine. The internal debate now is whether that addition should be a center or a winger. One of the key questions revolves around Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-should he continue playing on the wing, or slide into a third-line center role?
Here’s where things get interesting. League-wide, there are simply more wingers available than centers.
That supply-and-demand dynamic could end up steering Edmonton’s hand. If there’s a quality winger out there and the price is right, that might be the move-even if the original plan was to shore up the middle.
But don’t expect anything to happen overnight. With so many teams still in the playoff hunt and only a few clear sellers, the market is tight.
Some of the names Edmonton has circled aren’t even available yet. For now, it’s a waiting game.
Panthers Active on the Trade Front, But Cap Space Is a Real Challenge
Despite dealing with a string of injuries-including recent absences for Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk-the Florida Panthers are still very much in the playoff mix. And GM Bill Zito isn’t sitting back. According to league chatter, he’s actively working the phones, looking for any opportunity to upgrade his roster.
What’s notable here is that Zito isn’t necessarily targeting one specific position. This is more of a broad approach: what can he do to make this team better before the deadline hits?
But there’s a catch. Florida’s cap situation is tight-really tight.
The rash of injuries has eaten into their accrued cap space, and they need to keep room open for Barkov’s return if they want to stay compliant come playoff time. That means any move Zito makes will have to be calculated, cap-conscious, and likely dollar-in, dollar-out.
Still, the Panthers have a recent history of making savvy trades, and they’re clearly motivated to make another one. Keep an eye on them-they’re not done yet.
Seattle Looking for a Top-Six Winger-And Shane Wright Could Be in Play
The Seattle Kraken are in the market for a top-six winger, ideally someone who can slot into their first line and bring some scoring punch. That part’s not surprising.
What is surprising? The name being floated as a potential trade chip: Shane Wright.
Yes, the former top-five pick is drawing interest, and Kraken GM Jason Botterill is reportedly listening. But let’s be clear-he’s not shopping Wright.
This isn’t a fire sale. The asking price is high, as it should be for a player with Wright’s pedigree and potential.
Still, Seattle has built up a wealth of depth at center through the draft, and that surplus could give them the flexibility to make a move. If the right winger becomes available-and the return justifies it-Wright could be the piece that gets a deal done.
Final Word
We’re still a few weeks out from the trade deadline, but the groundwork is already being laid. The Oilers are looking to tweak, the Panthers are trying to navigate a tight cap while staying competitive, and the Kraken might be willing to make a bold move if the stars align.
There’s no blockbuster yet-but the table is being set. And when the market finally opens up, don’t be surprised if these three teams are among the first to make a splash.