The Edmonton Oilers appear to have shifted their trade focus away from the forward position. Edmonton had been widely expected to target a new center or winger in the coming days. Due to the Olympic break, the NHL has issued a roster freeze, and teams cannot officially strike a deal until February 23. Despite this, clubs around the league are likely still negotiating potential trades during the lull.
It was recently revealed that the Oilers were interested in trades to bring in Bobby McMann of the Toronto Maple Leafs or Los Angeles Kings star Warren Foegele. Both deals involving the forwards hinge on Andrew Mangiapane being sent out of Edmonton. According to PuckPedia.com, the Oilers have less than $3 million in current cap space. Due to the financial restrictions, the team will likely have to offload a player to add to the roster. Mangiapane currently carries a $3.6 million AAV hit.
While targeting a new forward could still be in the cards, Edmonton now seems more likely to grab a defenseman. Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer recently claimed that the club will now focus on acquiring a blueliner in the coming days. “I would have said six weeks ago that we would be looking at a forward Top 9 addition,” stated Stauffer, as reported by the Edmonton Journal’s David Staples. “I now believe the target is another defenseman as well. So we’ll see what happens.”
As Staples points out, the development of Kasperi Kapanen and Josh Samanski has potentially helped Oilers execs focus more on acquiring a defenseman. Kapanen has recorded 12 points in 19 games, while Samanski has played well in his first five NHL games.
Edmonton Oilers Linked With Pricey Move for Oliver Ekman-Larsson
GettyOliver Ekman-Larsson would be a costly acquisition for the Oilers.
Stauffer’s comments came just a few days after NHL insider David Pagnotta linked the Oilers with another Maple Leafs star. According to Pagnotta, Oliver Ekman-Larsson could be available before the March 6 deadline. However, the insider claims that Toronto has slapped a significant price tag on their blueliner.
Sending Mangiapane to the Maple Leafs will likely not cut it. Instead, Pagnotta insists that Toronto would want an Edmonton prospect, potentially Isaac Howard, in return. The significant asking price comes down to Ekman-Larsson’s solid play in 2025-26 and the fact that he is under contract until the summer of 2028.
It remains to be seen if the Oilers are willing to part ways with the highly rated Howard for Ekman-Larsson. Nevertheless, it does seem fairly unlikely. If the price is too steep, Edmonton may instead move on to other targets. Winnipeg Jets enforcer Logan Stanley could become an option for the Oilers in the near future.
Oilers Better Off Targeting Help at the Blue Line
Edmonton’s shift to target a defenseman is likely seen as welcome news for Oilers fans. While the team is underperforming to their high standards, they have remained a strong offensive side. In fact, their 3.41 goals per game average is currently tied for fourth-best in the NHL. Edmonton also has the top-ranked power play unit in the entire league at a 31.4% success rate.
On the other side, the Oilers are still struggling without the puck. The club has allowed 3.29 goals per game so far during 2025-26. This particular figure ranks 25th in the NHL. Their penalty kill is the seventh-worst unit in the league as well. Bringing in a quality blueliner would be beneficial heading towards the playoffs.
Oilers Shift Trade Focus, may Find Partner with Maple Leafs