Does Baseless Trade Rumor with Penguins Reveal Type of Deal Oilers Eyeing?

Trade chatter between the Edmonton Oilers and the Pittsburgh Penguins has officially moved from background noise to full-blown baseless pitches. There is no confirmation that the Oilers and Penguins are actually looking at a trade, so any “This is what I’m hearing” ideas thrown out there, like the one by OILERSLIVE, are often little more than engagement farming. Still, the suggested swap, which also includes a “happening soon” nod in the text, might represent the kind of trade Edmonton is open to.

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This particular deal featured goaltender Tristan Jarry and defenceman Parker Wotherspoon coming to the Oilers. In return, Pittsburgh would receive Stuart Skinner, Mattias Janmark, and draft picks.

Again, nothing is confirmed. Even the account owner admits he’s not an insider and is only repeating something from “A source I trust”. Our own sources, who are around the team and in the media, have heard a lot of speculation, but no such deal is in place. Still, the structure of the rumour aligns almost perfectly with previous reports that Edmonton was actively searching for both a goaltender and a defenceman. This kind of trade would represent a rare attempt by the Oilers to address two structural needs in a single trade sequence rather than piecemeal adjustments.

Why Jarry and Wotherspoon Fit Edmonton’s Reported Targets

Goalies have been a problem for Edmonton all season. Stuart Skinner has had some great games, but he’s not consistent, especially when the defense isn’t playing well. Jarry has a lot of experience, but not as much during the playoffs as Skinner; however, he’s playing well right now. He’s got a .912 save percentage and a 2.58 goals-against average, so he’s giving his team a chance to win most games, even though the Penguins are inconsistent.

Wotherspoon is a name that people aren’t talking about much, but he’s important. He plays reliable minutes, moves well for a big guy, and can help the team move the puck without making mistakes on defense. He plays over 20 minutes a night, which shows how much Pittsburgh trusts him. The Oilers’ defense has relied heavily on its top four players and is looking for solid support. Wotherspoon would bring stability without costing too much. This also lines up with reports that the Oilers want to improve their defensive depth and get ready for the playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Perspective: Managing Assets and Timelines

The Penguins probably see it the same way. They’re getting close to a change, trying to stay competitive while planning for the future. Trading Jarry now keeps his value up, especially since they have other goalie options. Skinner brings in youth, a cheap contract, and potential, while Janmark fills a hole in their forward lineup right away.

The draft picks make it look like Pittsburgh isn’t just trading players, but also trying to balance their assets for the short and long term, to a thin bottom-six forward group.

The Brett Kulak Cap Mechanism

Here’s the thing: if Edmonton wants to get Jarry, they’ll likely have to trade Brett Kulak separately just to make the money work. With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins coming back Saturday afternoon, Edmonton won’t have enough salary cap space for Jarry without dropping some salary.

Kulak’s contract makes the most sense to move. Sure, losing him would weaken the defense a bit, but he’s still a good player that teams would be interested in taking, which would help Edmonton free up cap space.

At this stage, the rumour remains unconfirmed—but the structural logic is difficult to ignore. Edmonton acquires a goalie and a defenceman, Pittsburgh gains youth, flexibility, and futures, and a separate Kulak trade balances the cap ledger. The fact that this rumour directly matches Edmonton’s previously reported shopping list is what gives it real traction.

If Kulak is moved first, it may no longer be speculation—it may be the opening act of a significant Oilers–Penguins transaction.

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