The Edmonton Oilers are no strangers to goaltending drama, and once again, the spotlight is shifting from the crease to the skaters in front of it. Tristan Jarry, the latest netminder to take a turn in Edmonton’s rotating goalie carousel, has had a rough stretch heading into the All-Star break. But the real issue might not be who’s in net - it’s what’s happening in front of him.
Over the last five games before the break, Jarry struggled to find consistency, but it’s hard to pin the blame solely on him. Defensive breakdowns, missed assignments, and a lack of structure in the Oilers’ own zone have made life tough for any goalie wearing the orange and blue.
That’s why GM Stan Bowman is reportedly broadening his focus as the trade deadline approaches. Yes, he’s still in the market for a top-nine forward, but the bigger priority might be shoring up the blue line with a stabilizing force - someone in the mold of Mattias Ekholm, who was a game-changer when he arrived last season.
One name that’s surfaced as an ideal fit is Artem Zub of the Ottawa Senators. And it’s easy to see why.
Zub is a steady, right-shot defender who plays tough minutes, moves the puck well, and brings a calming presence to a defensive group. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t just eat minutes - he makes them count.
Through 56 games this season, Zub has tallied 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) and holds a +12 rating. He’s also in the third year of a four-year, $18.4 million extension signed in 2022, which gives him cost certainty - a big plus for any contender.
But here’s the problem: Edmonton likely doesn’t have the assets to make a deal like that happen.
According to reports, including one from a local Oilers insider, Bowman may be dreaming a little too big when it comes to Zub. Ottawa GM Steve Staios would understandably be reluctant to part with a core piece of one of the league’s better defensive units, especially when the return doesn’t move the needle.
Years of deadline deals that mortgaged the future have left Edmonton with a shallow prospect pool and limited cap flexibility. That’s the price of going all-in year after year - eventually, the bill comes due.
So if Zub is off the table, where does that leave Bowman?
There are other names floating around the rumor mill. Brandon Carlo and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have been linked to Edmonton, but neither would come cheap.
Carlo, a big-bodied, shutdown defender, would bring the kind of physicality and penalty-killing ability the Oilers need. Ekman-Larsson, meanwhile, has rediscovered some of his offensive touch this season, but his contract and defensive inconsistency make him a riskier proposition.
Then there are the more affordable, lower-impact options - players like Luke Schenn or Logan Stanley. Both are bottom-pairing defensemen who bring size and snarl, and they’d be easier to fit under the cap. But the question remains: do they actually move the needle?
If the Oilers are serious about tightening things up defensively - and if they want to give Jarry, or whoever’s in net, a real chance - it might take more than a depth addition. A sixth defenseman won’t fix the structural issues or suddenly transform this team into a defensive juggernaut. What they need is a player who can play top-four minutes, kill penalties, and help calm things down in their own zone when the pressure ramps up.
The challenge, of course, is whether Bowman can find a way to make that kind of move without further depleting an already thin cupboard. Other GMs know the Oilers are desperate, and they’re not going to give away quality defenders for pennies on the dollar. If Edmonton wants to make a real run, they may have to pay a premium - and that means parting with future assets they can’t easily replace.
With the March 6 trade deadline looming, the clock is ticking. The Oilers have shown flashes of being a legitimate contender, but the flaws are still there - and they’re not going away on their own. Whether Bowman can pull the trigger on a meaningful addition, or if he’s forced to settle for a band-aid fix, could be the difference between another postseason disappointment and a deep playoff push.