The Edmonton Oilers are looking to make one more addition to the team ahead of the trade deadline. GM Stan Bowman checked off one significant need on March 2 by acquiring Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks. The right-shot defenseman should help solidify Edmonton’s shaky defense moving forward.
Ahead of the deal, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman claimed that the Oilers were looking for a blueliner and another center. Friedman, however, believed that the club may only be able to complete one of the moves. This ultimately comes down to Edmonton’s precarious financial situation. According to PuckPedia.com, the team has the lowest current cap space in the league.
Nevertheless, the Oilers can fix the problem by offloading Andrew Mangiapane. The veteran forward currently carries an annual cap hit of $3.6 million. Mangiapane was previously placed on waivers and has officially cleared. Trading away the winger, however, is essential to Edmonton’s chase of a center in the trade market.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun revealed on March 3 that Toronto Maple Leafs center Nicolas Roy would be a great fit in Edmonton. “One name that’s been out there as a potential fit for the Oilers is that of Nick Roy,” claimed LeBrun. “I will just say that while I think that is accurate, it’s really more just the fact that Roy, of the Leafs, is exactly the type of player that would fit what the Oilers are looking for in the sense that there are other players like him, too, that are on the Oilers’ list, as far as I know.”
Nicolas Roy Could Help the Edmonton Oilers in More Than One Area
GettyNicolas Roy is one of several Maple Leafs players on the trade block.
Roy previously excelled with the Las Vegas Golden Knights before joining Toronto. During his time in the desert, Roy established himself as a solid two-way center in the NHL. He previously helped Vegas collect the Stanley Cup trophy in 2023 before posting a career-best 41 points a season later. At 6’4″, 200 pounds, the forward brings physicality and effectiveness to the penalty kill.
As LeBrun also points out, this combination makes Roy an attractive option for Edmonton. The Oilers are sometimes criticized for lacking toughness, particularly in the postseason. Edmonton has also struggled on the penalty kill throughout the 2025-26 campaign. Their 76.9% PK success rate currently ranks seventh-worst in the league.
The Maple Leafs previously acquired Roy in the trade involving Mitch Marner last summer. Although his goal tally is down quite a bit with Toronto, the forward has grabbed ample assists and been solid on the dot. Roy’s 52% faceoff success with the Leafs is the best figure of his career.
Edmonton Still has to Offload Unwanted Forward
Acquiring a center and a defenseman has been Edmonton’s best-case trade scenario in recent weeks. Potentially adding Roy and Murphy would be decent additions to the team. However, some may question if these two particular players will help boost the Oilers up the standings enough heading towards the playoffs.
Edmonton still has to offload Mangiapane, though. Roy currently earns $3 million annually, and the Oilers cannot acquire him without shedding cap space. Successfully waiving Mangiapane only frees up about $1.15 million in funds for the team.
Oilers Eyeing Trade for Versatile Maple Leafs Forward