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Insider Reveals What’s Next on the Oilers’ Wishlist
With goaltending checked off, the Oilers can now prioritize adding at this position in the coming months.
For years, the focus around the Edmonton Oilers was always on what they were going to do to upgrade in goal. Now that they’ve seemingly solved that problem by acquiring Tristan Jarry—albeit he’s currently injured—and a potential backup option in Connor Ingram, they can turn their attention to putting the finishing touches on the rest of their roster.
After spending so much time and energy addressing the crease, it should be refreshing for both the front office and the fanbase to begin scouring the market at other positions. According to insider David Pagnotta, general manager Stan Bowman has already identified what’s next on his radar: the blue line.
More specifically, Bowman is looking to acquire an impact veteran defenseman, ideally in the mold of the Mattias Ekholm trade that former GM Ken Holland pulled off back in 2023.
“That’s what I believe. Somebody kind of Ekholm Jr.-esque, in terms of capability. Somebody, just in terms of being a shut-down type of guy, defense-first type of guy that has a little bit of physicality. I think that’s what they want to do and also what they’ve been kind of looking for, for the most part… I think they’re going to look to see if they can bring in somebody with shutdown capabilities, in some capacity, either before the Olympic break or before the trade deadline,”
Ekholm’s arrival completely changed the complexion of the Oilers’ defense corps, better slotting everyone into appropriate roles and aiding Evan Bouchard’s development by providing such a steady, reliable presence alongside him.
Potential Trade Targets for the Oilers
Now that we know what Bowman is searching for next, it only makes sense to dive into some potential targets on defense.
Insiders Jeremy Rutherford and Chris Johnston recently connected the Oilers to Colton Parayko, a fascinating move, though likely more of a long shot for them to actually pull off.
A few other names to keep an eye on include Justin Faulk, Connor Murphy, Brandon Carlo, and perhaps even Mario Ferraro, all defensemen listed on Johnston’s latest trade board who could slot in as impactful top-four options in Edmonton.
Ultimately, it will come down to acquisition cost and what the Oilers are both willing and able to do, not to mention the health of Jake Walman, whom they brought in and extended to be a key member of the blue line.
Next: Latest NHL Trade Buzz: Oilers, Maple Leafs, Flames
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