Edmonton Oilers
Does Suggested Oilers-Kraken Trade for Defenseman Make Sense?
One writer has pitched that the Oilers spend big to acquire defenseman Jamie Oleksiak.
The Edmonton Oilers are looking to improve several areas of their roster ahead of the March 6 NHL trade deadline, with their defense corps a priority.
Jake Walman‘s return should help solidify a strong top four, so Edmonton is likely targeting a more tertiary piece to bolster the blue line. As a result, names are starting to float around as targets, with the latest being Jamie Oleksiak of the Seattle Kraken.
Jesse Courville-Lynch recently pitched a trade that would see the Oilers land Oleksiak in exchange for Mattias Janmark, prospect Beau Akey, and a future first-round pick.
“Realistically, the Oilers acquire Oleksiak at 50% retained, dropping his cap hit to $2.3 million, in exchange for Mattias Janmark, Beau Akey, and a conditional 2027 first-round pick. This deal gives the Kraken a solid prospect in Akey, some draft capital, and a veteran forward. They could flip Janmark again for more draft capital, but as they try to make the money work, it’s possible they would be willing to take him on.”
The 33-year-old Oleksiak is a pending UFA in the fifth and final season of the five-year, $23 million extension he signed with the Kraken back in 2021. He’s recorded eight points (three goals, five assists) and is a plus-eight through 43 games this season.
Is Jamie Oleksiak Worth The Cost?
While Oleksiak is a solid defensive defenseman who’s built playoff hockey at 6-foot-7 and 252 pounds, a first-round pick plus feels like too steep a price—especially for a rental.
Edmonton is, of course, already without its first in 2026, so if they’re also going to surrender next year’s pick, it has to be for a true impact piece. If they’re just looking to upgrade their depth on defense, it would make more sense to spend less on recently rumored targets Luke Schenn or Logan Stanley.
Unless they’re landing a legitimate top-six forward, third-line center, or top-four defenseman—one capable of pushing Nurse or Walman further down the depth chart—the Oilers should hold off on moving another first-round pick.
It should also be noted that the Kraken currently hold down the third seed in the Pacific Division, meaning if the playoffs started today, they’d be off to Edmonton. If Seattle remains in a similar position closer to the deadline, it’s hard to imagine them parting with anything of value to a division rival without an overpay—further proving why Bowman should steer clear.
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