The Edmonton Oilers will almost certainly make a trade to improve their roster at some point this season, but where will it be?
Popular belief is that the Oilers will make a trade to improve their defence as they don’t have a true top-four right-handed defender outside of Evan Bouchard. However, it appears the Oilers’ coaching staff has found a combination that works on the second pair with Brett Kulak playing his off-side next to Darnell Nurse.
That pairing has had excellent numbers together this season and it has helped Nurse play his best hockey in almost two seasons. Why mess with something that is working?
So, if a big ticket trade to help improve the defence isn’t in-store and the goaltending duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard is set in stone, there is only one place left to look: the forward group.
Here are seven potential targets that the Oilers could trade for to bolster the forward corp.
1. Alex Tuch (Buffalo Sabres)
Age: 28
Contract: $4.75 million (UFA-2026)
The Buffalo Sabres are in a tailspin and will almost certainly be sellers at the trade deadline.
Alex Tuch is an intriguing piece that could be on the move. The 28-year-old is having another great season and would be a perfect fit beside Leon Draisaitl. Adding him would also allow the Oilers to move Viktor Arvidsson down to the third line to supercharge the bottom six.
2. Brock Nelson (New York Islanders)
Age: 33
Contract: $6 million (UFA-2025)
Over the years, the Oilers have made a habit of acquiring grizzled veteran players ahead of the playoffs, and Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders fits that bill.
The 33-year-old is a bit expensive at his current cap hit but is on an expiring contract. Nelson has scored at least 30 goals in each of his last three seasons and is on pace to get close to that mark once again.
3. Mathieu Olivier (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Age: 27
Contract: $1.1 million (UFA-2025)
If Oilers GM Stan Bowman wants to add a bit of intensity into the lineup, with a dash of scoring, Mathieu Olivier could be an easy target.
Olivier has been a wrecking ball for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season, dropping the mitts a total of seven times this season, netting eight goals in the process. That would be fourth on the Oilers right now.
He’s got a cheap cap hit as well, making him easier to fit than most others on this list.
4. Yanni Gourde (Seattle Kraken)
Age: 33
Contract: $5.16 million (UFA-2025)
It’s been a struggle for Seattle Kraken veteran Yanni Gourde this season and his time in the Pacific Northwest may be coming to an end.
He remains just as stubborn and difficult a player to play against but the production has dried up with just five goals in 29 games. Gourde is still a useful player and could add an element to the Oilers forward group, but the Kraken would have to retain quite a bit of salary to make things work.
5. Kaapo Kakko (New York Rangers)
Age: 23
Contract: $2.4 million (RFA-2025)
Another thing the Oilers seem to be open to recently is giving another chance to players with a high draft pedigree.
They did it once with successful results acquiring Vasily Podkolzin over the offseason, and New York Rangers youngster Kappo Kakko fits the bill as well. He has just four goals and 14 points in 29 games this season and has become a regular healthy scratch.
Frustration is starting to boil over in New York, which could make him a primo buy-low candidate.
6. Ryan O’Reilly (Nashville Predators)
Age: 33
Contract: $4.5 million (UFA-2027)
The Nashville Predators are one of the most surprising teams for all the wrong reasons this year and there is reason to believe that a firesale could be imminent.
Ryan O’Reilly is certainly in the realm of possibility of being traded. The veteran would make for a perfect addition to Edmonton’s bottom six and allow them options with a struggling Adam Henrique.
The only issue is that the 33-year-old O’Reilly still has a bit of term left on his current deal which could make things complicated in the Alberta capital.
7. Taylor Hall (Chicago Blackhawks)
Age: 33
Contract: $6 million (UFA-2025)
Who doesn’t love a good reunion? Taylor Hall has had his fair share of ups and downs with the Chicago Blackhawks this season. At one point, he was a healthy scratch, but he has since turned things around and is back to being a regular contributor.
He would add an element of speed to this Oilers roster that is sorely needed and allow for head coach Kris Knoblauch to have another scoring option in his top six if he wants. The only issue complicating things is his high cap hit.