Oilers May Regret Trading Spencer Stastney

The Oilers’ penalty kill struggled in 2025-26, but Stastney was a noticeable bright spot. His steady game and clearing ability helped the team kill off a few extra penalties. The numbers show he is an impactful player when his team is shorthanded.

Stastney also paired well with Ty Emberson on the blue line. The duo posted an expected goals against per 60 minutes of just 2.15 in a shade over 226 minutes together. They play a similar defensive-minded style that complemented each other well.

Oilers Need Defensive Depth

Over the past couple of seasons, the Oilers have needed players like Stastney (and others waiting in the ranks) to play important minutes while starters heal from injuries. They have limped into the last two postseasons with several players missing time at the end of the campaign. In 2025-26, in particular, the team needed crucial wins to stay afloat in the playoff race.

The team still has other blueliners in the pipeline like Shakir Mukhamadullin, Alec Regula, and Josh Brown who can fill holes when needed; however, Stastney provided a little more assurance, and if he were slotted in, he would have less trouble getting up to speed and playing NHL-level hockey.

Edmonton Has Written This Story Before

The Oilers made a similar move when they placed defenceman Troy Stecher on waivers in November 2025. Stecher was also a veteran who couldn’t find space in Edmonton’s lineup, and when they needed to make room for the returning Zach Hyman, he was the sacrificial lamb.

This move didn’t look good when the calendar flipped to 2026, and the Oilers suffered injuries and struggles across the board on defence. They needed someone like Stecher to pitch in, but he had been claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who needed a helping hand on defence.

It worked out well for Stecher, who scored 14 points in 58 games in Toronto, tying his highest mark since 2022-23, and playing over 19 minutes per game. He was rewarded during the offseason with a two-year deal worth $1.35 million annually to remain with the Maple Leafs. Stecher and Stastney are different players, and it’s a new season, but I see a similar outcome unfolding.

It makes sense Edmonton wanted to add a forward with the plethora of injuries up front, and it will be exciting to see what Hollander can provide when he gets into the lineup. But it doesn’t make sense to move on from an impactful piece of the defence when it’s their defensive game that the team has been fighting to stabilize for years. We’ll see how it pans out. Of course, if Hollander turns out to be a star, losing Stetcher won’t matter.