The Edmonton Oilers may be looking at a simple hockey trade on paper, but it could say a lot about how they plan to handle their current forward injuries.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Edmonton has explored a “lateral trade - maybe a defenceman for a forward” while the absences up front are being sorted out. The idea, at least for now, sounds like a measured roster tweak rather than a major shakeup, especially with those injuries not expected to be long term.
The Fourth Period pointed to Ty Emberson, Spencer Stastney and Shakir Mukhamadullin as possible pieces Edmonton could move. On the other side of the equation, three right-shot centres stand out as potential targets: Mark Kastelic, Oskar Sundqvist and Kevin Stenlund. None has been publicly tied to the Oilers’ search, but each makes some sense as a fit.
Kastelic is the name that offers the most straightforward fourth-line profile. He brings size, penalty-killing value and a bit of offense, with 12 goals and 22 points last season.
He also won 60.8% of his faceoffs, which is exactly the kind of detail that matters for a depth centre. His $1.567 million cap hit is also manageable.
If Boston wanted to start the conversation, Emberson would be the cleanest place to begin. He’s an NHL-ready right-shot defenceman who could step into third-pair minutes, which gives him a different kind of value than a player still needing more runway.
That said, the Bruins have Kastelic signed through 2027-28, so they’d have little reason to move him unless the return made real sense. And for Edmonton, the question is whether improving the fourth-line centre spot is worth giving up Emberson’s defensive usefulness.
A straight swap is just a framework, not a price tag.
Sundqvist looks like the easiest lateral move to picture if Stastney is the outgoing piece. St.
Louis brought Sundqvist back in July on a one-year deal worth an $850,000 NHL salary after he put up 17 points in 52 games last season. He’s beginning the year in the AHL, while Stastney has yet to play a game for Edmonton, which creates a neat trade window between two players not currently in their clubs’ NHL lineups.
The Blues’ injuries on defence could make Stastney especially attractive because of his mobility and NHL experience. He could help right away and fight for regular minutes, while Edmonton would get a right-shot forward who can play center or wing without having to part with Emberson or Mukhamadullin.
For the Oilers, Sundqvist would be useful as short-term cover for the forward injuries and then slide into a checking role once everyone is healthy. It’s the kind of depth-for-depth move that fits the moment.
Stenlund is the strongest pure defensive centre of the group. He won a team-best 54.2% of his faceoffs last season, which makes him a clean answer for defensive-zone work.
Utah’s recent decision complicates things, though, because Stenlund re-signed on July 1 for one year at $2.75 million. Mukhamadullin would be the most intriguing return for Utah because of his size, mobility and development upside, but Edmonton would have to think hard before moving that kind of future value for an expiring checking centre.
Cap-wise, Mukhamadullin’s $1.75 million hit would help Edmonton fit Stenlund’s salary without asking Utah to retain money. The bigger issue is the cost in upside. Stenlund is still worth a look, but Sundqvist brings the lower-cost route, and Kastelic may offer the best blend of affordability and longer-term roster value.
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