What Would It Take for the Oilers to Land Roman Josi?

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The Edmonton Oilers went to Nashville for a blue-line upgrade when they acquired Mattias Ekholm in 2023. This hypothetical deal for Roman Josi follows a similar blueprint and asks Nashville to take back a defenceman signed through 2032–33.

Dave Pagnotta floated Josi’s name in a discussion about Nashville’s trade options on ON Everyday. Daily Faceoff Edmonton later raised the possibility of Josi joining the Oilers.

• Oilers receive Roman Josi ($9.059 million cap hit through 2027–28).
• Predators receive Jake Walman ($7 million through 2032–33), Josh Samanski, Beau Akey and Edmonton’s 2028 first-round pick.

Why the Oilers Would Make the Deal

Josi has 20 points through 17 games and, at 36, can still skate the puck out of trouble and create offence off the rush. With Evan Bouchard already running Edmonton’s top power-play unit, Josi could make his biggest impact at five-on-five. The Oilers could play them on separate pairs and stagger their shifts, giving Edmonton an elite puck mover on the ice for more of the game. Josi is under contract for two potential playoff runs, and moving Jake Walman in the deal would take five additional years off Edmonton’s books.

The short-term cap math is tougher. With Samanski and Akey off the NHL roster, swapping Walman for Josi would add $2.059 million in annual cap hit against roughly $1.02 million in current room. Edmonton would need Nashville to retain salary, another roster move, or enough cap space by the deadline. Trading the 2028 first before then would also make the 2027 first owed to Chicago unconditional.

Why Nashville Would Consider It

The first-round pick gives Nashville a chance to add a player who can help its next core. Akey is a right-shot defence prospect, and Samanski gives the Predators a young, inexpensive forward who has already played NHL games. Walman could take on top-four minutes immediately while the younger players develop. His seven-year deal is easier to justify if Nashville sees him holding that role for several seasons.

Nashville’s fourth straight win improved its record to 8-4-5, giving the Predators little reason to move their captain while they’re still in the playoff mix. If they fall out of contention, a first-round pick and two young players could make trading Josi easier to justify. Any deal would still need the approval of both Josi and Jake Walman, who would each have to waive their no-movement clauses.

What the Ekholm and Karlsson Trades Tell Us

In the 2023 Ekholm deal, Edmonton sent Tyson Barrie, prospect Reid Schaefer, a first and a fourth to Nashville for Ekholm and a sixth. Nashville retained four percent of Ekholm’s contract. The Josi proposal follows the same structure, but Walman’s seven remaining seasons make him a much bigger commitment than Barrie was.

The Erik Karlsson trade shows how complicated the cap side can get. Pittsburgh brought in a premier offensive defenceman by involving Montreal, sending a protected first and veteran contracts to San Jose, and getting the Sharks to retain $1.5 million annually. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said Pittsburgh needed to “improve our ability to move the puck from our own zone,” a case Edmonton could make for Josi, too.

If Nashville becomes a seller and views Walman as part of its defence beyond this season, the package is worth discussing. For Edmonton, I’d start with Walman, Akey and the first. Samanski is the piece I’d add if it gets the deal done.

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