For the Edmonton Oilers, every season with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl feels like a race against time. The championship window is wide open, but with it comes pressure to make the right moves at the right moments. According to Oilers insider David Staples, Edmonton may find itself in a very unique situation this year, one that could give them the same playoff advantage that helped recent Stanley Cup winners like Tampa Bay, Vegas, and Florida.
Staples spoke on the Cult of Hockey podcast and suggested that the Oilers’ roster makeup and the grind of a long season could open a door to some strategic flexibility at the trade deadline. His comments shine a light on a reality many fans already suspect: if Edmonton wants to win the Cup, they may need to play the same game other contenders have been playing, even if it pushes the limits of the NHL’s cap rules.
How Injuries Could Shape Edmonton’s Trade Deadline Strategy
The Oilers, Staples pointed out, are an older team. With age comes both experience and the likelihood of wear and tear as the season drags on. In his words, “These guys are going to get banged up. So they will probably be in a position where it makes sense that players are injured and need to rest before the playoffs.”
That scenario could leave Edmonton in a position to place key players on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), which temporarily frees up salary cap space. This is where the opportunity lies. With extra room, even if only on paper, general manager Ken Holland could swing bold moves at the deadline to add depth or star power for a deep playoff run.
Hotter than hell hockey talk on a cold summer day. https://t.co/WYTgVnWkhX
— David Staples (@dstaples) August 16, 2025
Staples made it clear that this isn’t about shady dealings or intentional cap manipulation. Instead, it’s the simple reality of hockey: injuries happen. And if they line up at the right time, Edmonton could have the same advantage other Cup contenders have enjoyed in recent years.
Take last season’s Florida Panthers, for example. Their playoff roster was stacked well beyond the regular-season salary cap thanks to players returning from LTIR just in time for the postseason. Vegas did it before them. Tampa Bay did it too. And all three teams went on to win the Stanley Cup under those circumstances.
Staples didn’t mince words: “If the Oilers, or any team, want to win the Cup this year, they’re going to have to, by luck or by time or whatever, have that same set of circumstances come about and circumvent the cap in the same way.”
The NHL has already signaled that after 2026, new rules will crack down on this playoff loophole. But for now, it’s still very much part of the game. And if Edmonton finds itself with injured stars who can return in April, it could be their ticket to finally breaking through.
