The Edmonton Oilers are facing a roster squeeze as key players near their return from injury, potentially leading to trades this week. According to insider Frank Seravalli, the Oilers are considering their options to remain compliant with the NHL's 23-man roster limit. With Alec Regula on injured reserve since Sunday, the expected returns of Zach Hyman, Jake Walman, and Mattias Janmark will force Edmonton to make some tough decisions.
Two players to watch closely are Ty Emberson and Mattias Janmark.
Ty Emberson: Emberson, 25, was acquired by the Oilers last year in the trade that sent Cody Ceci to San Jose. After playing 76 regular-season games and participating in the playoffs, he has since fallen down the depth chart. With Regula also competing for ice time, Emberson could be the odd man out, making a trade a likely possibility if the Oilers see value in him.
Mattias Janmark: Janmark, 32, is a trusted veteran, but his cap hit and roster spot could make him expendable. He also has a limited no-trade clause, though Edmonton would reportedly be open to moving him "in the right deal".
Ike Howard may be demoted to the AHL, as he is waiver exempt. This could potentially eliminate the immediate need to trade two players.
Other potential trade candidates mentioned by Allan Mitchell of The Athletic include goalie Stuart Skinner, winger Vasily Podkolzin, Matt Savoie, Beau Akey, and Maxin Berezkin. Skinner's $2.6 million AAV is attractive, especially considering his experience in deep playoff runs. Podkolzin has shown promise on Leon Draisaitl's line.
The Oilers have been active in making moves to extend contracts with key players, such as defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Jake Walman. According to Oilers insider Bob Stauffer, extensions for both Ekholm and Walman are all but confirmed. Both players are in the final years of their contracts and eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, 2026. The team has also extended Evan Bouchard to a four-year, $42 million contract and Trent Frederic to an eight-year, $30.5 million deal, and re-signed Noah Philip and Kasperi Kapanen to one-year extensions.
The Oilers are also "quasi lurking in the weeds" regarding Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings. Kempe is looking for a contract of at least $11 million per season.
With a crowded roster and the need to make strategic decisions, expect movement from the Oilers soon.
