Welcome back to our second segment of Meet the Buyers series. After our first stop highlighted the Carolina Hurricanes, we head northwest to check in on the
Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers have been heavily linked to the Maple Leafs as a prime trade partner, and while we aren’t expecting a deal to be announced as soon as the Olympic roster freeze concludes on February 23, don’t be surprised to see these two teams do business together ahead of the Mar.6 trade deadline.
There’s growing speculation brewing that Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving is going to wait until deadline day to see where the team sits in the standings before pulling the trigger on selling. Word is ownership is hoping the team can catch fire once the NHL’s season resumes, and push for a playoff spot, as that’s the number one goal for this season – get into the postseason any way possible.
As for the Oilers, they entered the Olympic break with a 28-22-8 record, sitting second in the Pacific Division, and four points up on the Los Angeles Kings, who sit just outside of the playoff picture. Edmonton went 5-5-0 into the break and need to find ways to upgrade their roster, something GM Stan Bowman has been working on all season long.
Bowman has already made his goaltending changes, bringing in both Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram, and now will turn his attention to a top-nine forward, and top-four defenceman. The Oilers only have $2.8 million in cap space and are limited in trade assets, so Bowman will need to lean on his creativity to secure some additions ahead of the deadline.
As far as trade candidates go out of Edmonton, Andrew Mangiapane is very likely being moved once the NHL season resumes. After signing a two-year deal last summer, it hasn’t worked out at all for Mangiapane in blue and orange, and he’s recorded just six goals, and 12 points in 49 games. At $3.6 million annually, his production isn’t cutting it, and with a full no-trade clause, Bowman has given Mangiapane’s agent permission to facilitate a deal with an interested team.
Mangiapane is signed through next season and isn’t a rental, however, don’t expect to see the Maple Leafs have any interest in the struggling winger. Considering the style of play, lack of versatility and physicality, Mangiapane couldn’t be further from a Craig Berube-type of winger.
Could Kasperi Kapanen reunite with the Maple Leafs? Edmonton is rumored to have trade interest in several Maple Leafs, including Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Simon Benoit and Brandon Carlo, and considering any transaction between these two teams will be a ‘dollar in/dollar out’ type of trade, Kapanen could be a throw-in to facilitate the deal.
With Calle Jarnkrok not likely to return next season, Kapanen could be an interesting audition candidate for the rest of this season, with the potential of an offseason low-cost extension if things worked out for the speedy winger in his second stop in Toronto. The Maple Leafs don’t have many right-handed options for their bottom six, and if Jarnkrok is on his way out, Kapanen could be a solid fourth-line option, capable of moving up to the third line if the production is there.
Maple Leafs should zone in on Oilers’ young talent
With the Oilers having strong interest in what the Maple Leafs have to offer, Treliving needs to hold a hard bargain and try to secure one of Matthew Savoie or Isaac Howard in trade talks. Savoie, 22, has been given a much longer audition this season than Howard, appearing in 58 games, scoring nine goals and 18 points, while averaging 13:50 of ice time. Savoie’s getting a look as a depth penalty killer, and while he’s on the smaller side at 5-foot-10 and 178 pounds, he possesses a top-six ceiling and could turn out to be a very effective two-way winger.
Howard, on the other hand, is just 21 years old, and in his first season with the Oilers organization, has split time between the big club, and the American Hockey League, where he’s playing now. Howard’s dressed 28 games with the Oilers, scoring twice, and recording five points. The Michigan State University product has lit up the AHL with 31 points in 24 games, and if either Ekman-Larsson or McMann are shipped to Edmonton, Treliving should be asking for the dynamic Howard in return. Ekman-Larsson is under contract for two more seasons and would immediately be a huge boost to the Oilers’ blueline, however, I don’t see the Oilers moving Howard for McMann, unless there was a long-term extension in place. Which is certainly not out of the question giving McMann’s speed, scoring, and physicality would be a perfect fit for the play0ff-bound Oilers.
Beau Akey is another trade candidate the Maple Leafs could be interested in. The former Barrie Colt was a second-round pick back in 2023, and as a right-handed defenceman with serious offensive upside, he’s the kind of prospect the Maple Leafs crave. Akey’s battled injuries so far throughout the early stages of his pro career, and in 31 games in the AHL this season, has posted 10 points. With the Oilers likely reluctant to move either Savoie or Howard, Akey could quickly become the centerpiece in any trade between these two teams.
It certainly feels like this could be the year for a big Oilers/Maple Leafs deadline deal, which is something nobody saw coming before the season started. Unfortunately, the Maple Leafs are in a dog fight after the Olympics to get into playoff position before the trade deadline, and if they’re not within what ownership feels like is striking distance, expect to see Treliving giving the green light to sell, and don’t be surprised to see the Oilers buying from the cross-Canada rivals.
PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE
Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—
on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!
