The Edmonton Oilers are entering the 2025-26 season with Stanley Cup aspirations, fueled by back-to-back trips to the Final. To maintain their contender status, General Manager Stan Bowman is expected to explore mid-season acquisitions to bolster the roster. Here are three potential moves the Oilers could make:
1. Goalie Shocker:
The Oilers' goaltending situation has been a persistent topic of discussion. Despite reaching Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the team's goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard posted a sub-.900 save percentage. Throughout the 2024-25 season and playoffs, Skinner's performance was inconsistent, leading to questions about his long-term viability as a starting goalie. While Pickard proved to be a capable backup, there's no clear-cut, reliable upgrade over Skinner readily available in the free agent or trade market.
Several goalies were mentioned as potential targets for the Oilers. John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks was linked to the Oilers. However, some observers believe that Gibson isn't an upgrade over Skinner. Another name that has surfaced is Ilya Sorokin from the New York Islanders. Acquiring Sorokin would likely require parting with top prospects, high draft picks, and potentially Skinner himself. Other options could include trading for a goalie like Thatcher Demko.
Given the uncertainty in the goalie market, the Oilers might stick with Skinner and Pickard, focusing their resources on strengthening other areas of the team. Alternatively, they could explore a trade for a goalie who could serve as a 1B to Skinner, potentially pushing him to perform better.
2. Top-Six Forward:
Despite boasting Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers could benefit from adding another top-six forward with a scoring touch. The team's lack of consistent finishing talent beyond its two superstars was exposed in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
Several players could fit the bill. Kyle Palmieri of the New York Islanders is a strong offensive forward who loves to shoot the puck. Bryan Rust of the Pittsburgh Penguins could be a key trade target. According to The Athletic's Josh Yohe, Rust's no-movement clause has expired, making a trade more feasible. Other potential targets include Andrew Mangiapane and Brock Boeser.
The Oilers' need for a top-six winger who can efficiently put pucks in the net could be addressed by promoting Jeff Skinner to Leon Draisaitl's wing. However, McDavid could still use another skilled linemate to boost the team's offensive output.
3. Shutdown Defenceman:
The Oilers have struggled to find a consistent partner for Darnell Nurse on the second pairing. A shutdown, physical, right-side defenseman to solidify the top four is arguably the team's greatest need. In the 2025 playoffs, Nurse played his best hockey with Troy Stecher.
Jamie Oleksiak from the Seattle Kraken is a potential target. While he's a lefty, he could play on the right side with Nurse and bring a solid toughness to the lineup. Connor Murphy of the Chicago Blackhawks is another right-handed option. Colton Parayko from St. Louis Blues is also a potential target.
The Oilers' defense pairings have been inconsistent, and finding the right partner for Nurse could significantly improve the team's overall defensive performance.
