The Oilers have a clear target in this kind of hypothetical: a right-shot winger who can bring some jam, some finish and some real playoff weight to the top six. That’s where Tom Wilson enters the picture. If Edmonton could somehow turn Tristan Jarry into the kind of cap relief that helps make the math work, the fit gets a lot more interesting.
The proposed setup is simple on paper and complicated everywhere else. Edmonton would send Jarry to the New York Rangers for a 2027 fifth-round pick, then flip that flexibility into a separate deal with the Washington Capitals for Wilson. In that second trade, the Oilers would send Isaac Howard, Josh Samanski and a 2028 first-round pick to Washington.
The Rangers’ side of the equation is tied to their goaltending situation, which has gotten shaky after Igor Shesterkin’s season-ending injury and Joonas Korpisalo’s absence. On the October 15 edition of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman said Chris Drury is evaluating the market carefully. Friedman also said Rangers goaltending scout Scott Clemmensen was at the Buffalo Sabres-Montreal Canadiens game, possibly looking at Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Friedman compared Drury’s approach to a Santa Claus-style checklist, and the broader point is obvious: New York is doing its homework. Jarry hasn’t been specifically connected to the Rangers, but he would give them an experienced NHL option while they sort through the injury mess.
For Edmonton, the appeal is Wilson himself. He’s a physical, established right-shot winger who could slot next to Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.
He brings scoring, size and playoff experience, and that combination gives the Oilers a different look in the top six. Jarry’s $5.375 million cap hit would take some of the sting out of Wilson’s $6.54 million number, and including Howard and Samanski would help Edmonton balance the books further.
A new goaltender would still have to be found, but the broader idea is clear: use one asset to create the room to chase a major upgrade.
Washington is the hardest piece to crack. Wilson has already been at the center of trade chatter before, including a June 2023 discussion involving Jason York and the Ottawa Senators, but the Capitals made it clear they wanted to keep him and later signed him through 2031.
He matters to that organization. Still, if Washington were to slide out of playoff position, a package built around Howard, Samanski and a 2028 first-round pick could become at least worth a look.
Howard offers offensive upside, Samanski is another developing forward, and the pick adds more future value.
None of this is active reporting that these teams are talking. It’s a three-team thought exercise that depends on a lot lining up: the Rangers continuing to search for goaltending, Edmonton deciding it can move Jarry, and Washington becoming willing to consider Wilson at all. If those pieces somehow fall into place, the Oilers could turn one situation into a serious top-six swing.
In Other News...
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It also changes the way the front office has to look at next offseason. The market for top scoring forwards was already shaping up to be tight, and some of the names that might have fit the Rangers' wish list are no longer likely to be available after agreeing to long-term extensions. That leaves New York in a familiar spot, with a hot start improving the mood now, while also narrowing the pathways to adding more punch later. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Blue Line Problem Is Turning Into A Bigger Lineup Debate
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With the early sample now large enough to raise real questions, the conversation has shifted from simple pairing preference to lineup construction. There are ways to reshuffle the defense and try to find cleaner fits, but the bigger picture remains tangled because Scott Morrows clearest path into the lineup does not appear to be through a routine rotation. For now, the Rangers are left weighing whether a change on the back end needs to come from reworking combinations or waiting for a more significant opening. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Forward Shuffle Opens Door For Another Veteran Chance
The Rangers early-season injury fallout has already forced a steady series of roster adjustments, and the latest shuffle on the forward side gives another veteran a chance to step back into the lineup. With Igor Shesterkin out for the season and James Reimer brought in on a PTO to help stabilize the goaltending situation, New York has had to patch holes wherever it can while also leaning more heavily on Dylan Garand.
On the skaters side, the moves have opened the door for Taylor Raddysh to get another look after time in Hartford, while the team continues to juggle young depth around him. The Rangers also had to sort out additional roster spots by moving Cole Beaudoin back to Hartford and bringing up Justin Dowling, a set of transactions that reflects how quickly the depth chart is shifting as the club tries to stay afloat through an ugly stretch of injuries. [Read more 🡒]