With less than a month to go before the March trade deadline, the Edmonton Oilers are widely viewed as buyers. Sitting near the top of the Pacific Division, the expectation around the league is that Edmonton will look to add pieces for another deep playoff push.
But according to one NHL analyst, Oilers fans shouldn’t expect anything dramatic.
Analyst Sees Limited Moves for Oilers
The Oilers have already made two notable trades this season. On Dec. 12, Edmonton acquired defenseman Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick. Later that same day, they swung a much bigger deal. Landing goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick.
Since then, things have cooled off. Now, the Oilers head into the Olympic break on a three-game losing streak. While they still hold second place in the Pacific Division, the recent results have raised concerns. Edmonton was blown out 7-3 by Minnesota, followed that up with a 5-2 loss to the Leafs, and a 4-3 loss to Calgary.
The power play continues to be elite, operating at a league-best 31.4 percent. Outside of that, however, the warning signs are hard to ignore. Edmonton is allowing 3.29 goals per game, ranking 25th in the NHL, while the penalty kill has dipped to 76.9 percent, 26th in the league.
NHL analyst Harman Dayal believes those issues limit what the Oilers can realistically do at the deadline. “Edmonton’s roster has multiple flaws/question marks,” Dayal explained.
Edmonton’s defense has been inconsistent. It can be vulnerable, particularly with Darnell Nurse’s struggles. Goaltending remains a concern as well, with Tristan Jarry posting an .870 save percentage in 11 games as an Oiler. Though another goalie move is unlikely after the recent investment.
Dayal added, “It’s unlikely we’ll see a major defense shake-up,” given that Edmonton is locked into Nurse and already relies heavily on Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, and Jake Walman in its top four.
That leaves adding a top-nine forward as the most realistic deadline move. Last year’s Stanley Cup Final exposed Edmonton’s lack of forward depth compared to Florida, as the Oilers leaned heavily on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Edmonton has trade assets to work with, owning all future top picks except this year’s first-rounder (sent to San Jose) and keeping its second-round picks for the next three drafts. However, with just $2.89 million in cap space, any addition would likely require shedding salary, potentially moving a contract. “Which means they’ll need to shed a contract such as Andrew Mangiapane’s to afford taking on a significant salary,” Dayal explained.”
For now, expectations are being tempered. The Oilers may still add help, but don’t expect a blockbuster.
