Edmonton Oilers Can’t Compete in This Seller’s Market – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

The NHL offseason is off to a hectic start. There have been numerous big trades involving quality players. If teams wanted an immediate upgrade to their lineup, they needed to pay up to get it. This is a seller’s market, and enormous prices are being paid, which doesn’t bode well for the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers need a top-six forward and a goaltender, but if they want a good one, they might not be able to afford it. Multiple first-round picks, top-10 picks, and solid prospects were traded for impactful players. Edmonton doesn’t necessarily have an abundance of trade chips to utilize. The Oilers don’t have a first-round pick until 2028 and have only nine picks in the next two drafts.

This limited draft capital could be attributed to poor asset management. They traded a first-round pick when they acquired Jason Dickinson, because they had to dump Andrew Mangiapane’s contract. The Oilers signed Mangiapane in free agency, but that deal didn’t work out. Therefore, they traded a premium asset to get rid of him.

Then, they traded Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick for Tristan Jarry. That deal was a disaster from the get-go. They could have used Kulak as a trade chip to replenish their draft capital, rather than use him as an add-on. Plus, trading that second-round pick was unnecessary. Now they will need to waste more assets to get out of Jarry’s contract. The Oilers are in this predicament because of their own actions, and they need to find a way to move forward.

General manager Stan Bowman is in a tricky situation. After a disappointing season, the Oilers need to bounce back and improve the team by any means necessary. They took care of internal business by re-signing Connor Murphy and Dickinson. They filled two crucial holes in a right-shot, second-pair defenceman and third-line centre. Now, they turn their attention to acquiring an impactful forward to play with Leon Draisaitl. Given the current market, the Oilers have their work cut out for them.

Oilers Don’t Have the Assets

The Oilers don’t have the assets to win a bidding war for a top-six forward or a goaltender, given the prices some teams have paid. Let’s dive into the two major trades involving top-six forwards that occurred on Tuesday (June 23) and the lone goalie trade on draft day, and compare them to the Oilers’ situation.

First, the Ottawa Senators acquired William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen, and the rights to Brandon Svoboda from the San Jose Sharks for the ninth overall pick that was acquired in the Brady Tkachuk deal. Eklund was the centre piece of this deal, and the 23-year-old is entering his fourth full season in the NHL.

His career high is 17 goals and 58 points, and he’s beginning a new three-year contract with a $5.6 million contract. He’s young and cost-controlled, but the Oilers don’t have a top-10 pick they could have offered. He’s still proving himself, and the Oilers likely have their sights set on a more experienced top-six forward. Unfortunately, that will cost more, as evidenced by this next trade.

Jordan Kyrou would have been a fantastic addition for the Oilers. However, he was dealt from the St. Louis Blues to the Washington Capitals for Connor McMichael, the 16th overall pick, and forward prospect Milton Gastrin. Once again, the Oilers don’t have a first-round pick this year. They also don’t have a comparable to McMichael. McMichael is an established player, and he’s only 25 years old.

If the Oilers were a trade partner in this deal, Matt Savoie or Vasily Podkolzin would likely need to be part of it as a starting point. Savoie and Podkolzin are already top-six forwards for Edmonton. The Oilers need to add to their top-six forward group, not subtract from it.

Finally, the Detroit Red Wings traded goaltender Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd overall pick. Edmonton was linked to Cossa, and he could have been their future netminder, but they didn’t have a first-round pick to deal. They can’t compete with these prices, which is concerning.

Oilers Might Need a Backup Plan

The Oilers might need to change course and find a lesser option if these outrageous prices continue. Jake DeBrusk or Connor Zary could be solid middle-six options via trade. They could also target Mason Marchment in free agency. These aren’t blockbuster names, but this might be the reality for Oilers fans.

With the salary cap continuing to increase, money won’t be as big a factor. Every team will have cap space, but assets will be a premium. If teams have assets, they could acquire good players with higher cap hits without needing to shed salary or retain money. Therefore, this seller’s market should be the norm moving forward, and the Oilers must adapt and navigate this situation.

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