Oilers Analyst Reveals Possible Trade Options to Fix Three Roster Flaws

“The current NHL depth chart (at goal; Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard) may not be trusted with another playoff run,” Mitchell said. “Holding up the process is the lack of a clear upgrade anywhere. Bowman may be looking at the waiver wire currently, but that’s at most a lateral move, and there’s no guarantee a true upgrade can be gained in net.”

While Mitchell pointed to goaltending as the most pressing issue, he noted that Edmonton’s forward depth also poses concerns entering the season.

“Adam Henrique hasn’t delivered a strong preseason so far, and he didn’t have a quality season in 2024-25,” Mitchell said. “That’s a worry since Knoblauch plans on running his top two pivots (McDavid and Leon Draisaitl) on the No. 1 line. At 35, his level of play this fall suggests he might be hitting a performance wall.”

Henrique’s status places added pressure on rookie Matt Savoie, who has been tested in a top-nine role.

“Does Knoblauch want to run with a rookie in that role, or would he prefer someone closer to last year’s No. 3 right wing?” Mitchell said. “Savoie has the skill to play with one of the elite centres on this team.”

As for external solutions, Mitchell acknowledged that options are scarce across the league and on waivers.

“In goal, Mike DiPietro of the Boston Bruins is most often mentioned. He wouldn’t be a clear upgrade on the Skinner-Pickard tandem,” Mitchell said. “The Utah Mammoth just successfully waived Connor Ingram. A more astute move might be trading for Ingram now that he’s cleared waivers.”

Mitchell added that Marc-Andre Fleury could still be on the radar, following Pierre LeBrun's report.

“It would make a lot of sense for the Oilers,” Mitchell said. “NHL history is rich with stories of retired goaltenders re-entering the battle and performing brilliantly.”

The Oilers’ cap situation and a roster filled with no-movement clauses limit trade flexibility, but Mitchell emphasized that the front office does have assets to move.

"For the wing, a deadline rental seems the most likely solution," Mitchell wrote. "At centre, NHL teams guard their depth closely, and there won’t be a suitable upgrade on waivers.

"No-movement clauses make deals difficult for Bowman. He needs to send away expensive contracts in order to acquire established players, but nine players have a partial or full no-movement or no-trade deal. Alec Regula has shown well so far in camp and could push for a job this fall. That would mean one of Ty Emberson or Troy Stecher could be made available in a trade."

The Oilers have built a roster strong enough to keep their contending window open, reaching back-to-back Stanley Cup finals in the last two years but losing both to the Florida Panthers.

While the foundation remains in place, it's worth questioning whether Edmonton has enough to keep its contending window open for long or not.