The Edmonton Oilers have already made their first major offseason move after parting ways with head coach Kris Knoblauch following a disappointing first-round playoff exit against the Anaheim Ducks. But the changes won’t stop there.
One NHL analyst believes Edmonton should take an even bigger swing this summer by trying to pair Leon Draisaitl with a proven 200-goal scorer.
Leon Draisaitl Could Gain New Elite Linemate on the Oilers
The player being linked to Edmonton is Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres. Tuch is finishing up his seven-year, $33.25 million contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Tuch put together another productive season in 2026 with 66 points in 79 games while surpassing the 200-goal mark for his NHL career. He’s also contributing in the postseason, recording seven points in 12 playoff games as Buffalo battles the Montreal Canadiens in a tightly contested second-round series primed for an all-or-nothing Game 7.
Trade speculation around Tuch was one of the biggest storylines leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. The Sabres ultimately decided to keep the veteran winger for their playoff push, but questions about his long-term future remain heading into the offseason.
NHL analyst Allan Mitchell believes Tuch would be an ideal fit in Edmonton’s top six. “The Oilers need a veteran goal scorer with size on the wing. Tuch scored 33 goals in 2025-26 and is the best of this type available. Tuch is 30 and should have several seasons of good production ahead of him. If Tuch plays on a line with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl as his center, a 40-goal season would be possible,” Mitchell wrote in a column for The Athletic.
Mitchell also noted that Edmonton would likely need to move a significant contract to make the numbers work, but argued Tuch would be worth the investment.
The idea of adding Tuch represents a true “big-game hunting” approach for the Oilers, but it would also require some serious salary-cap maneuvering on Stan Bowman’s part. With a weak 2026 free-agent class for elite wingers, Tuch is viewed as one of the top names potentially available, and he could easily command north of $10 million per season.
If Buffalo manages to eliminate Montreal and make a deep playoff run, the chances of Tuch reaching free agency could shrink dramatically. But if the Sabres fall short, the bidding war could quickly begin.
Edmonton is projected to have roughly $16.5 million in cap space, meaning Bowman would likely need to clear out a major salary before seriously pursuing Tuch. The most obvious options would involve moving Darnell Nurse and his $9.25 million cap hit or fully unloading Tristan Jarry’s $5.375 million contract (easier said than done).
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Without moving one of those deals, Edmonton would have little flexibility left to address its depth scoring or improve the blue line.
Still, Mitchell believes pairing Alex Tuch on a roster with Connor McDavid and Draisaitl could instantly make the Edmonton Oilers an offensive powerhouse again, if Stan Bowman is able to wheel and deal this summer.
