The Edmonton Oilers’ trade deadline plans have taken a turn-and it’s not hard to understand why. After weeks of eyeing upgrades to their top-nine forward group, recent defensive lapses leading into the Olympic break have forced GM Stan Bowman to shift his focus.
The mission now? Reinforce a blue line that’s shown some cracks at the wrong time of year.
Word around the league is that the Oilers would love to land a defenseman in the mold of Mattias Ekholm-someone steady, experienced, and capable of logging tough minutes in high-leverage situations. But with limited cap space and a relatively thin pool of trade assets, that kind of splash is easier dreamed than done. So Bowman may have to pivot to a more modest, but still meaningful, addition.
Enter Simon Benoit.
The 27-year-old Maple Leafs defenseman has been floating around the trade rumor mill for a while now, and there’s growing belief he could be a logical fit in Edmonton. Benoit isn’t flashy-he’s not going to quarterback your power play or rack up points from the back end. But what he does bring is exactly what the Oilers could use down the stretch: size, physicality, and a defense-first mindset.
At 6-foot-3 and north of 200 pounds, Benoit plays a rugged, no-nonsense game. He’s not afraid to throw his weight around-128 hits in 49 games this season says plenty about his style-and he knows his role. He’s the kind of player who steps into a locker room, keeps things steady, and earns the trust of coaches with consistent, hard-nosed play.
One of the most appealing aspects of Benoit’s profile? He’s not a rental.
He’s in the second year of a three-year deal he signed with Toronto back in 2024, carrying a very manageable $1.35 million cap hit. That extra year of term fits nicely with Bowman’s stated preference for acquiring players who can contribute beyond just a few spring months.
It’s a move that helps now, but doesn’t leave the cupboard bare later.
Financially, the Oilers have roughly $2.8 million in cap space to work with, so a player like Benoit fits the budget without forcing Bowman to get overly creative. And while there’s been some buzz about Edmonton’s interest in other Leafs depth pieces-like Bobby McMann-the chatter seems to be focused most heavily on Benoit, largely because he checks multiple boxes: he’s affordable, he fills a clear need, and he’s available.
There’s also a potential special teams boost here. Edmonton’s penalty kill has been a sore spot this season, currently sitting 26th in the league. Benoit’s physical edge and defensive instincts could give that unit a shot in the arm, especially as the games get tighter and nastier heading into April.
Of course, Oilers fans are always going to dream big. And rightly so-this team has the talent to make a serious run, and a bold move on the blue line could put them over the top.
But if the high-end targets prove too costly or elusive, Benoit represents a smart, low-risk fallback. He’s not going to steal headlines, but he might help win a few playoff games-and that’s the kind of addition that matters most this time of year.