Edmonton Oilers
Popular Social Account Predicts Oilers Reunite with Familiar Face on Defense
Could the Edmonton Oilers possibly bring back defenseman Adam Larsson?
We’re creeping closer towards the March 6th NHL trade deadline, and with the Olympic break and roster freeze looming, chatter around the league is louder than usual in mid-January.
As a result, it’s officially rumor and prediction season, with insiders, analysts, and fans all speculating on trades and landing spots they’d love to see go down in the coming weeks. Popular Instagram account PuckEmpire recently joined in on the fun, pairing 20 of the most likely trade candidates with potential new teams—including a reunion between the Edmonton Oilers and one a former defensemen of their own.
That familiar face? Adam Larsson of the Seattle Kraken, who spent five seasons in Edmonton after the infamous one-for-one swap that sent Taylor Hall back the other way to New Jersey.
Larsson was the only player connected to the Oilers in the post, while current Oiler Andrew Mangiapane was notably predicted to join the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 33-year-old Larsson is in year one of the four-year, $21 million extension he signed with the Kraken in 2024. He’s tallied 11 points (four goals, seven assists) across 46 games played this season.
Adam Larsson Returning to Edmonton is Unlikely
While Larsson would be a tremendous fit—potentially alongside Darnell Nurse on the Oilers’ second pairing—it’s very unlikely he’d be interested in returning to Edmonton.
By no means is that because he didn’t enjoy his time with the organization, but rather because of family-related personal reasons, as Jim Matheson revealed several years ago.
“The Oilers offered Larsson a five-year deal in the high 3s a season, along with a four-year contract for virtually the same $16 million he got in Seattle as a free-agent. But he has said he didn’t leave over money, at all. There were other much more important factors, family ones.”
Given that, it’s safe to assume Larsson wouldn’t waive his full no-movement clause to move his family back to Western Canada—especially with years remaining on his current deal.
Nonetheless, Larsson is exactly the type of defenseman the Oilers are seeking—an ‘Ekholm Jr.,’ as reports have suggested—making this prediction an intriguing idea and the sort of acquisition to watch for from GM Stan Bowman ahead of the deadline
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