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Trent Frederic, Boston Bruins (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Bowman Fails Oilers in Disappointing Trade Deadline Showing

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Rupert McDonald | Last updated Mar 8, 2025 2:15 PM ET

The Edmonton Oilers are a team that is all out of sorts as of late, though they had a chance to work out some roster kinks and improve their group heading into the trade deadline. They were able to make a few additions in Trent Frederic, Max Jones, and Jake Walman, but wound up staying quiet on deadline day yesterday.

While the moves were solid and will improve the Oilers, they weren’t the home-run swings fans were hoping to see. Though they could snap out of their funk and go on another lengthy run this spring, the hockey they were playing as of late paired with their underwhelming additions suggests general manager Stan Bowman fumbled the bag big time here.

Oilers’ Roster Is Still Extremely Flawed

Even with the additions made, the Oilers still lack a scoring winger for Leon Draisaitl. Frederic is a player who has proven he has some offensive capabilities, though he’s seen more as a bottom-six option who provides plenty of energy and physicality. He’s also currently injured, with an unknown return date at this point.

Jones, meanwhile, has spent the vast majority of the 2024-25 season in the American Hockey League (AHL). It’s a rather troubling realization, given that the Boston Bruins have struggled this season. If he wasn’t able to garner much of a look with them, it remains to be seen how he’ll fare with the Oilers, despite an impressive debut on Thursday night.

As for the blue line, the Oilers were unable to find a right-shot defenceman they very much needed to play on the second pairing alongside Darnell Nurse. Walman is a solid option and will improve their back end, but he, like Nurse and Mattias Ekholm, plays on the left side. The Oilers also have another solid left-shot defenceman in Brett Kulak, although he has shown the ability to play on his off side when needed.

Though the Walman trade was a solid one on paper, it didn’t really fix the main issue the Oilers have on their back end. One can’t help if a defenceman like Brandon Carlo, who wound up going to the Toronto Maple Leafs, would have been a better option for this Oilers team.

The last and perhaps most glaring issue the Oilers failed to address is in between the pipes. Both Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have struggled more often than not in 2024-25, leading to questions – perhaps better phrased as doubts – as to whether they have what it takes to lead this team back to the Stanley Cup Final. They were able to do so a season ago, albeit with a roster many feel was stronger than what they currently have.

Oilers Missed Out on Big Guns

What made the deadline all the more frustrating was that several other contenders were able to make huge additions that seemingly set them ahead of the Oilers. The biggest worry of all for the Oilers was the fact that the Dallas Stars were able to go out and get Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes, giving an already loaded team one of the best wingers in the NHL.

The Colorado Avalanche also made a big splash, acquiring one of the best forwards available in Brock Nelson. The 33-year-old has scored north of 30 goals in three-straight seasons, and could really pop off on an Avs team that scores far more goals than the New York Islanders. And, while not as big of an addition, they were also able to pick up a solid veteran in Charlie Coyle, who has had solid offensive production throughout his 931-game career.

Another troubling move came near the end of the deadline when it was announced that the Florida Panthers, who defeated the Oilers in last year’s Stanley Cup Final, acquired Brad Marchand from the Boston Bruins. The Panthers already had a stacked roster, and will now have a forward group consisting of star talent such as Marchand, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, and Sam Bennett, amongst others.

Oilers Playing With Fire

Not going all in this season seems like a major misstep for the Oilers, who could wind up falling off a lot quicker than people envision. If they are to have an early playoff exit this year, that could result in Connor McDavid (who is eligible to sign an extension this offseason) rethinking his future. Keeping him happy is of the utmost importance, and this deadline was one that he may be questioning in his head.