Assessing the Edmonton Oilers reported trade targets

There has been plenty of smoke in recent days (and weeks) about the Edmonton Oilers reportedly engaging in trade talks.

There have been multiple reports about it with the main one coming during the first 'Saturday Headlines' segment of the 2026-27 season. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Oilers were wanting to pull off a 'lateral move'. In other words, what some describe a hockey trade. This is usually a term used when a team deals from a position of strength to acquire a player they need from a team that is also dealing from a position of strength.

It seems that the Oilers are keen to acquire a young, preferably right shooting, centre and are expected to be dangling one of their many young depth pieces on the blueline. Some of the names that the Oilers are reported to have pursued are; Shane Wright, Kirby Dach, and Matthew Poitras.
All three players have different situations coming from different teams, the Seattle Kraken, Montreal Canadiens, and Boston Bruins, respectively.

So, who should the Oilers pursue?

Shane Wright

Wright is a 22 year old centre who entered his draft season in 2022 as the presumptive first overall pick. He came up the ranks with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League with a lot of hype, being named an exceptional status player by Hockey Canada in 2019. Long story short, he fell down draft boards and was selected fourth overall by the Seattle Kraken and has struggled to meet the expectations he once had.

The Kraken took their time developing Wright, so much so that even now that he has made the NHL on a full-time basis, he has been used in a secondary role. He has played 172 NHL games so far, having scored 80 points (37 goals, 43 assists) and has averaged just 13:41 of time on ice per game. The main knock on Wright has been his lack of game breaking qualities, despite his on-ice intelligence being highly regarded.

Wright seemed to be on the brink of breaking out in 2024-25, his first full season in the NHL, when he scored 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points in 79 games. He followed that up last year dropping down to just 27 points in 74 games and has seen himself pop up in trade rumours more and more, having been linked to the Oilers by Friedman before the season began.

Despite his production, Wright has displayed positive impacts relative to his teammates in both expected goals and shot attempts. This gives some hope that in a more offensively inclined environment, he could produce at a higher rate. His price tag would be high, especially with him still being on his entry-level contract and may even be too high for the Oilers to meet but he would certainly be a welcomed addition to the Oilers

Kirby Dach

Like Wright, Dach was a highly regarded prospect, drafted third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2019 NHL Draft. He is now 25 years old and has struggled to stay healthy, last playing more than 60 games in an NHL season in 2021-22. He is an attractive player for the Oilers for a variety of reasons. He is a local product, being born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta and his younger brother Colton Dach, is currently an Oiler. Not to mention, current Oilers GM Stan Bowman drafted Dach when he was GM of the Blackhawks in 2019.

All of that aside, Dach is a very attractive option for the Oilers because of what he is capable of when he is healthy. Throughout his 309 game career, split between the Blackhawks and Canadiens, Dach has scored 51 goals and 86 assists for 137 points. It may not be all-star calibre numbers but Dach is a 0.44 point-per-game average which works out to average 36 points over an 82 game schedule. These are respectable numbers for a secondary scoring centre, like Dach.

There are many reasons for the Oilers to find Dach attractive, from the local and family connections, to the familiarity with their staff and the perceived potential, if he can be had for cheap, it could be a worthwhile investment. He is a highly skilled player who could thrive in a role where he can play behind the Oilers' stars and could help to drive offence by matching up against opposing team's secondary units.

However, there is a lot of risk in acquiring a player like Dach who has missed the amount of time he has in recent years. Aside from not hitting the 60 game mark since being acquired by the Canadiens in 2022, he has played just 154 out of a possible 328 games. Combined with the fact he is currently paid $3.6 million for the remainder of this year, the Oilers should not pursue Dach unless the cost is low.

Matthew Poitras

Last but not least, Poitras does not come with the draft hype and pedigree that Wright or Dach had but the 22 year old turned heads when he made the NHL just one year after being drafted in the second round by the Bruins at the 2022 NHL Draft. Despite this accomplishment, he has struggled to remain in an NHL role on a consistent basis.

Since making his debut in 2023-24 for the B's, he has only played 70 NHL games to date, having scored seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points throughout that time. He has also averaged 13:10 of time on ice. Last season, he played just three games for the Bruins and instead spent 69 games with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins where he scored 13 goals and 31 assists for 44 points.

Labelled as a smart and tactical playmaking centre, Poitras is similar to Wright in that his detractors criticize him for not being enough of a game breaker. This is a fair issue to raise but as a potential acquisition for the Oilers, he does not need to be an all-star or anything close. The potential and skill he has shown would be enough to potentially be a depth offensive play driver for the Oilers.

He is in a different situation from the other two, he is a much less established player which is a big risk for the Oilers to take on. However, given he has been mostly relegated to the minors or as a depth player, he should not command a high price for the Oilers and has alluring untapped potential.

Which player is best for the Oilers?

As previously mentioned, all three players come are unique in their own right. They have different risks and potential costs associated with them and the Oilers should be cautious and do their due diligence on all three.

Wright seems like a player who could breakout in the right role and could be the most attractive for the team to acquire. However, his cost should be the highest, which is why he has not gotten a lot of traction in recent reports.

Dach is a great story and a player that is easy to root for. He also has multiple personal connections to the city of Edmonton and the Oilers as a franchise, making him an attractive option from a narrative standpoint and with his high skill level, from a potential standpoint too. However, his injury history is vast and it is a legitimate concern going forward.

Poitras is just 22 and has shown some intriguing production at the NHL and AHL level. He also brings an alluring skillset. However, he may not have the baggage that Dach has but given he has struggled to crack an NHL roster, even a Bruins roster that is in the midst of a retool, is concerning. This should also make his cost of acquisition low.

Looking at all three options, all of them have the potential to pay off for the Oilers in a big way. But, depending on cost, Wright seems to be the most attractive option for the Oilers. Poitras is behind him at second with Dach following at third.