Pressure is mounting in Edmonton, and everyone from the front office to the fans can feel it. The Edmonton Oilers have their sights set on shoring up the crease, but another name has surfaced with the potential to shake up their forward group. Will a young Boston winger spark the change that pushes the team to new heights, or will it just add to a growing list of questions this offseason?
What Would Fabian Lysell Bring to the Edmonton Oilers’ Offense?
The Oilers are busy hunting for solutions this offseason. While fixing the goaltending situation remains the top priority, general manager Stan Bowman is also keeping an eye out for ways to crank up his team’s offensive firepower.
One name floating around the rumor mill is Boston Bruins forward Fabian Lysell. Once viewed as a pure scoring threat by the Bruins, Lysell is now the subject of speculation about a move to the Oilers.
Lysell fits the mold for what Edmonton could use to keep pace with the Florida Panthers and other high-powered teams. The option makes sense to Bowman, especially with the season around the corner.
Earlier this week, Court Lalonde of the “Bruins Diehards Podcast” said that NHL analyst Dominic Tiano from Dom.Hockey.com shared on his Discord that Edmonton and Boston have been in trade talks for Lysell.
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal sees the logic here, at least from Boston’s point of view. As Staples puts it, “It’s logical that the Bruins would be thinking of trading off Lysell, even though he was their first-round pick in 2021, 21st overall.”
Add to that, Staples points out how Edmonton selected Xavier Bourgault just one spot behind Lysell in the same draft. Bourgault was traded after two low-key years in the AHL, showing how quickly things can change with young prospects.
Staples goes on: “Lysell has been a much more successful AHLer than Bourgault. He’s known for his speed and skill in passing.” Still, Lysell hasn’t cracked the main roster after three years, and his point production has taken a noticeable dive.
From 50 points in 56 games last season, Lysell’s numbers have slipped to just 34 points in 52 games this year. Staples adds that this comes as Lysell gets set for the final year of his entry-level deal.
Staples doesn’t pull punches: “It’s not a good signal if a prospect takes a step back as a player in the AHL. This doesn’t mean Lysell can’t become a competent NHL player or even a Top 6 option for some team.” Still, with the downturn in production, questions about his future role are only getting louder.
Why Might the Edmonton Oilers Target Lysell, and Who Could Move as Part of a Trade?
Here’s where things get tricky for Edmonton. Staples points out that the Oilers already have a bench full of players who play Lysell’s brand of hockey. The “Bruins Diehards Podcast” floated Matt Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin as chips in a possible deal for Lysell, but Staples disagrees, saying those moves don’t add up for Edmonton.
Matt Savoie is a year younger and had a stronger rookie AHL campaign than Lysell’s third season, while Podkolzin brings the size, speed, and grit the Oilers could really use. Plus, Podkolzin’s defensive skills put him in a unique category compared to Lysell.
Staples thinks that if these rumors turn into something real, defenders like Beau Akey or forward Quinn Hutson might draw Boston’s interest. There’s also talk that a larger package, possibly including Bruins prospect Michael DiPietro, could capture Edmonton’s attention. On the flip side, that might not be quite enough to entice Boston if they need to give up too much in return.
