Trade speculation around the Edmonton Oilers had cooled slightly in recent weeks, and much of that can be traced back to recent comments from the President and CEO of Hockey Operations, Jeff Jackson. In an interview with TSN’s Gino Reda, Jackson outlined the organization’s mindset as it navigates the season — one rooted in patience, internal belief, and long-term clarity rather than reactive decision-making.
Then, out of nowhere, the Oilers made a blockbuster deal. They traded Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak for Tristan Jarry and his full contract. The Oilers then acquired Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators. Jackson’s comments suggested a more calculated approach. Still, the Oilers made a big move in a deal some are calling a gamble.
Did the Oilers Just Rush Into a Trade?
Jackson was upfront about Edmonton’s current position: the team is not operating from desperation. Despite injuries and early-season inconsistencies, he stressed the group’s confidence was already in place.
“All the teams in the league are always looking to improve themselves at any point — we’re no different. But I really believe we have a strong group, we like our personnel. We’ve got a couple of injuries right now, but when those guys come back, we’re going to be super deep. We’re not going to act from a position of being desperate.”
Stan Bowman Oilers interview
Considering the reaction to the Jarry trade and the fact that the Oilers took on his full salary and moved two important pieces, was Jackson offering up lip service? Stastney is said to be a good skater and a younger version of Kulak, but the blue line is undoubtedly weaker today than it was yesterday. Meanwhile, Jarry is a more expensive starter and his injury history and lack of playoff experience has to be concerning. He’s a higher-end goaltender, but there is some risk here.
Jeff Jackson acknowledged that general manager Stan Bowman remained active in conversations across the league, but stressed that dialogue alone doesn’t mean a deal is close. Clearly, Jackson underplayed how far along the Oilers were.
“We’re going to sit tight, but Stan’s working the phones like all the other GMs, just seeing what’s out there.” Not so much. The loss of Kulak is a big deal, but the plan might be to go shopping for another defenseman before the NHL trade deadline.
The Oilers Took a Risk, Opting for Cost Certainty
The Oilers’ management seemed determined not to overspend to look like they’re making progress. Then they arguably did exactly that. They paid full price, and their goaltending tandem might be a lateral move. What they do get is cost certainty.
Jarry is locked in for two more seasons at a number Bowman believes the team can work with. “I think it’s important knowing he is signed and it’s a number that we’re going to fit well in our salary cap over the coming couple of seasons,” said Bowman.
A key moment in Jackson’s interview was when he talked about Connor McDavid‘s two-year contract extension and if it meant they needed to act faster. Jackson didn’t think the contract changed anything, saying the urgency was already there. That might have been the truest thing Jackson said in the interview.
“With Connor McDavid in your lineup, there’s always a sense of urgency,” Jackson said. “We’re in a period where we want to try and get over the hump that we couldn’t get over the last couple of years.”
He went on to make it clear that the Oilers’ internal expectations have not changed.
“Nothing’s changed there — we’re in a win-now mode, that’s our goal. Him signing a shorter-term deal doesn’t change that at all.”
Goaltending, Team Play, and Internal Evaluation
Even after the trade, Oilers fans are still talking a lot about the goaltending situation, and Jackson spoke about it directly, admitting mistakes happen across the league. He stressed the need for a more solid team setup in front of the goal. Interestingly, the Oilers weakened the play in front of their netminder to make this deal.
“If you look around the league, you’ll find soft goals let in by all the goalies. It happens. They can’t stop everything,” Jackson said. “The most important thing is when the team is playing well in front of our goalie… that’s where your goaltender looks a lot better.” Without Kulak, did the team take a step backward?
The Bigger Picture
Jackson’s interview made it seem like the Oilers weren’t freaking out or just sitting back. Clearly, the team was keeping their plans a secret.
Anything Edmonton does from here on in will be about developing the guys they have, adding an upgrade on defense if they don’t have it, and crossing their fingers that Jarry can stay healthy, play well, and perform in the playoffs, where Skinner struggled. One of the bigger parts of these trades that should get more attention over the next few weeks is the addition of Stastney. If he’s got arrows up and is trending in the right direction, it could be the steal of the transaction.
