Insider: Predators’ Center Checks All the Boxes as an Oilers Trade Target

While the Edmonton Oilers would love to acquire a top-nine forward—and potentially an impact defenseman—ahead of the March 6 NHL trade deadline, that’s far easier said than done given their current circumstances.

Extremely limited cap space, no first-round pick in 2026, and a lack of high-end assets overall create plenty of obstacles in the way of GM Stan Bowman’s pursuit. Because of that, the list of realistic trade targets for the Oilers isn’t all that long; however, reporter Allan Mitchell believes a former Conn Smythe Trophy winner could still be a plausible option.

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Nashville Predators center Ryan O’Reilly has surfaced in and out of trade rumors over the past two years, and Mitchell thinks he could be the perfect fit for Edmonton.

Mitchell wrote:

“Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators is a $4.5 million cap hit who covers all the bases required for Edmonton at the third-line centre position. Puck IQ tracks him facing elite competition in 45 percent of his overall minutes (a very difficult assignment) and helping Nashville play at a competitive level in those minutes. Of all the names on the trade board, O’Reilly might be the best combination of perfect fit, affordable cap hit and achievable acquisition cost for Bowman.

There’s no Zub trade. There’s no Wallstedt deal. But O’Reilly is a possibility, and it makes sense on many levels,”

The 35-year-old O’Reilly is in the midst of a fantastic season, having racked up 56 points (20 goals, 36 assists) across 57 games played so far. He’s in year three of the four-year, $18 million deal signed to join the Predators as a UFA back in 2023.

Edmonton Should Be All Over Ryan O’Reilly

It’s hard to disagree with Mitchell’s view on O’Reilly’s fit with the Oilers—he might be the best available player to fill exactly what they need.

Edmonton’s team defense had been under fire in the lead-up to the Olympic break, with Tristan Jarry and Leon Draisaitl among those calling it out. The Oilers have overhauled their goaltending and have a relatively solid defensive corps on paper, so how else can they address these issues?

One of the most defensively responsible forwards in the league would certainly help. Add in his offensive abilities, Stanley Cup experience, versatility to play anywhere in the lineup, penalty-killing prowess, and elite faceoff skills, and O’Reilly checks every box.

There’s no question about whether he’s a fit for Edmonton; all that it boils down to is putting together an offer GM Barry Trotz can’t refuse. It won’t come cheap, but Bowman is equipped enough to get it done, especially if he finds a suitor for Andrew Mangiapane’s $3.6 million cap hit. If a first-round pick and a top prospect on top of that are the cost, so be it—because O’Reilly is exactly the type of impact player who could push the Oilers closer to being legitimate Stanley Cup contenders this year and next.

Next: Insider Reveals the Cost for Oilers to Acquire Oliver Ekman-Larsson