Five buy-low candidates the Edmonton Oilers could pursue

Cossa would be familiar to the Edmonton market, as he played his junior career with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He was the top ranked goaltender in the 2021 NHL Draft, being selected 15th overall by the Red Wings. To date, he has only played in one NHL game, while spending most of the past three seasons in the AHL. 2025–26 was his best season yet, posting a 2.33 GAA and .915 SV%.

As alluded to in the X post above, the Red Wings have an abundance of goaltender prospects, headlined by Trey Augustine. Depending which direction that franchise decides to head, Cossa could very easily become blocked and available via trade. And at a favourable price point for someone who would be a top goalie prospect in most organizations around the league.

Cossa would be a nearly NHL-ready option for the Oilers’ crease, maybe taking a few games in the AHL to start next season before sliding into a backup or 1B role as he grows into the future starter.

Mason McTavish

Mason McTavish might be a hot commodity on the trade market this offseason. The former top prospect has struggled to find a groove with the Anaheim Ducks, in the way that a third overall pick would be expected to. Make no mistake, McTavish has still been a productive player, showing promise as a regular 40–50 point centre and locker room leader. But in a year that the team around him saw a huge rise up the standings, McTavish fell back in his development and did not take another step forward. In that, he may find himself on the outside of the next stage of the Ducks’ rebuild.

A bidding war could drive prices up. But after a down year, some potential suitors may be deterred and the starting offer would be lower than it might have been otherwise.

Although McTavish is primarily a centre, he does occasionally play on the wing. Which is where Edmonton would likely utilize him in the top-six. His $7M cap hit would command a bigger role than third line centre. But when the inevitable loading up of the top line happens, it gives Edmonton a bonafide second line centre to allow McDavid and Draisaitl to be on the same line without compromising the depth of the rest of the lineup.

Patrik Laine

It seems clear that the Montreal Canadiens will be moving on from winger Patrik Laine this offseason. The pending unrestricted free agent missed most of this past season due to injury. A common theme spanning the duration of his career thus far.

Aside from the injury troubles, Laine has proven he can be a prolific scorer in the NHL. In most of his seasons (ones that he played more than half of the games, at least), he has hit or been on pace for 35+ goals.

Given his current status and the fact that he has only played 77 total games (regular season and playoffs) in the past three seasons, Laine is likely to be available for cheap as a free agent signing. Low AAV and likely short-term as well. This would be a low-risk move with very little downside, were the Oilers to try and sign him.

Jake DeBrusk

This will not be the first time the Oilers could be linked to Jake DeBrusk. When the winger was a free agent in the 2024 offseason, Edmonton was reportedly interested. And he has been linked as a potential trade target in seasons prior to that as well. It almost seems inevitable that he will eventually join his hometown Edmonton Oilers, following in his dad’s, Louie, footsteps.

DeBrusk has been a remarkably consistent player over the years, almost always hovering around 20–25 goals and 40 points. But he has never quite found stability with the organizations he has played for. For years with the Boston Bruins, he was constantly in trade rumours and shuffled around the lineup. And now, after just two seasons in Vancouver, he is already on trade bait boards and seems to be on his way out.

Will this finally be the time DeBrusk joins the Oilers? It is probably as good a time as any, as the Canucks look to undergo a full rebuild and it may be possible to acquire him for less than a player of his calibre would otherwise go for.