Oilers, Penguins Swap Spencer Stastney, Filip Hallander

The Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins have lined up for another trade. This time, the Oilers have traded defenseman Spencer Stastney to the Penguins for forward Filip Hallander. Both teams have announced the swap.

Edmonton acquired Stastney from the Nashville Predators last season for a 2027 third-round pick. Interestingly, the Oilers acquired him the same day they made an ill-fated trade with the Penguins, bringing netminder Tristan Jarry to Alberta.

Although he was acquired to replace Brett Kulak, who was traded from Edmonton to Pittsburgh the same day, Stastney was on the outside looking in to begin the 2026-27 campaign. Despite making the Oilers’ opening-night roster, Stastney has yet to play in a game this season.

That likely has to do with his performance last season. After being acquired by the Oilers, Stastney struggled greatly. He finished the season with one goal in 36 games with a -10 rating, averaging 16:02 of ice time per game. He’s not an offensive defenseman by any stretch, but he had already registered nine points with the Predators in six fewer appearances, averaging two fewer minutes per game.

Currently, defenseman Ryan Graves is the only injury the Penguins are dealing with on their blue line. Since Graves was unlikely to hold down a consistent spot anyway, it’s difficult to envision where Stastney fits into the lineup. He is left-handed, which could allow Pittsburgh to move Trevor van Riemsdyk to his forehand. Regardless, reclamation projects like Stastney have worked out well for the Penguins recently.

Meanwhile, the Oilers have acquired another intriguing forward prospect from the Penguins who has disappointed in his professional career (looking at you, Samuel Poulin). Despite a few quality years with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Hallander has failed to put it all together at the NHL level. Since the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign, Hallander has registered two goals and seven points in 18 games with Pittsburgh.

Still, it’s meaningful that Pittsburgh got anything for him. A few years ago, Hallander left the Penguins organization entirely, joining the SHL’s Timrå IK to continue his professional career. He was dominant in Sweden, scoring 40 goals and 89 points in 102 games with a +24 rating. That performance motivated Pittsburgh to entice him back to North America.