Things we think we know about the Oilers heading toward the trade deadline
The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching. So what does that mean for the confusing Edmonton Oilers? Mark Spector tries to solve the riddle.
admin
SUNRISE, Fla. — Time once again to play Things We (Think We) Know about the Edmonton Oilers. Series III, volume II.
Things We Know
You can’t get closer to winning it all — without winning it all — than the Oilers did last spring, losing 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final here in Florida. It may be too much to ask, but if every player was just five per cent better this season, it might be enough to actually win the Cup this spring.
It’s going in the other direction for the Oilers, however, with more players having step-back seasons than those who have found that five percent more.
Things We (Think We) Know
As a team, the Oilers are slower and older this season than they were a year ago. You can’t argue that.
The loss of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, balanced against the addition of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson — and we’ll even throw John Klingberg or Ty Emberson into the mix — is a net negative at this point.
Evan Bouchard isn’t playing at the same level as he did last season. He’s dropped off in every area by a good 20 per cent.
-
-
Watch Hockey Central Trade Deadline on Sportsnet
Sportsnet’s hockey news breakers, analysts and reporters will have coast-to-coast coverage of all the moves made ahead of this season’s NHL trade deadline. Full coverage on March 7 begins at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
Stuart Skinner isn’t as good this year as last. Same for Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman.
The only two impactful players who have raised their games are Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse.
Those numbers, parse them as you will, don’t add up to a team that that can repeat as Western Conference champions, unless some switches get flipped and two major acquisitions are made at the trade deadline.
Things We Know
Nick Kypreos’ latest Trade Board is out, and he’s got Jordan Binnington listed as available from St. Louis.
Oilers management does not want to squander assets on a goalie, and has never planned on adding to its goaltending since the season began.
Things We (Think We) Know
That may well be changing.
As Skinner continues to be not much better than average in goal, we sense a team that’s beginning to realize it isn’t built to win games 2-1, but can’t play an offensive style in front of goaltending who’s been allowing one questionable goal per game.
After an awful goal that turned the game in Tampa, head coach Kris Knoblauch and team leader Mattias Ekholm both vocalized unhappiness with their goalie. It is very rare that two people would speak out — especially these two — on the same night.
“I’m not saying it’s a terrible goal,” said Knoblauch. “It’s one you want him to make, more times than not.”
“I think Stu may want that back,” added Ekholm, one of the best teammates you’ll ever meet. When he goes as far as to critique a goal, it screams volumes.
The thing about a guy such as Binnington is, not only would he make the goaltending position better, but the transaction would blow wind into everyone’s sails. It would make your entire team better.
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6369330479112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6369330479112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6369330479112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); }
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-662515" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6369330479112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/6369330479112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/knoblauch-on-oilers-were-a-fragile-group-right-now/" }); });
If you could find a way to keep Skinner, and have him in tandem with Binnington, suddenly Edmonton’s goaltending is set for this year and two more, at under $10 million.
Personally, I would try to keep Skinner who, at 26 and in just his third year as a starter, is still in the inconsistent phase of his career — much like Bouchard. By the time Binnington is done, Skinner would be 29 and a known quantity.
Things We Know
Knoblauch has pushed the right buttons almost exclusively since taking over in November 2023. In fact, his team has lost four straight games for the first time, a testament to his ability to right the ship, often by moving the pieces around to find the right line combinations.
He almost never calls out a player publicly, letting his roster movements tell us what he thinks of his individual players.
Things We (Think We) Know
It’s time for Knoblauch to give this team some stability. Pick four lines and run them for a while, instead of burning out the blender game after game.
Hyman isn’t a better player away from McDavid. So leave him there.
Nugent-Hopkins isn’t a better centreman than a left winger. So pick a centre and leave him there.
And while we’re here, can GM Stan Bowman get Draisaitl someone to play with? That he is tied for the league lead in scoring — while anchored most nights with two wingers in Vasily Podkolzin and Arvidsson who have scored 13 goals in a combined 101 games this season — is miraculous.
And the next time Bouchard makes a five-bell giveaway on the game’s first shift, as he did Tuesday in Tampa, could someone sit him down until the 10-minute mark? Make him earn all that ice time, just a little bit, please.
/* if ( "1" == true && 'undefined' !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) { var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}}; adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( 'http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6369327138112&cmsid=384', so, permalink); } else { adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6369327138112&cmsid=384"; } */ adServerUrl = "http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6369327138112&cmsid=384"; var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes("cust_params"); var queryString=''; if(adServerUrl_result){ var gettheDUFI = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem("theRED_loc");
if(gettheDUFI){ queryString += "dufiid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; queryString += "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; var ppid = "ppid=" + gettheDUFI + '&'; }
var DUFI_IP = false; if (localStorage.getItem("consent") !== null && localStorage.getItem("consent-targeting") !== null) DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem("DUFI_IP");
if(DUFI_IP){ queryString += "dufiip=" + DUFI_IP + '&'; }
adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + 'cust_params=' + encodeURIComponent(queryString) ); }
$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );
$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-978685" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6369327138112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", adserverurl: adServerUrl, section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/6369327138112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/ekholm-on-oilers-rough-stretch-we-have-to-dig-one-out/" }); });
Things We Know
Evander Kane is now skating back in Edmonton, as he rehabs from two surgeries. Oilers management says they do not know if he’ll be able to play regular season games, but inside 10 days to the deadline, Edmonton requires clarity now.
Things We (Think We) Know
This is purely opinion, because it’s a state secret in Edmonton, but we’re betting Kane does not play a regular season game — and everyone involved is aware of this.
We just cannot believe the Oilers will throw their deadline plans into a flux on the off chance Kane is ready and wants to play four or five NHL games in April. Nor do we believe that Kane isn’t enough of a team player to play along with a scenario that will help the Oilers to be the best possible team they can be when he does rejoin them in the playoffs.
He’ll play ball and be there in the playoffs, and it must be said that peak Kane is exactly what this team needs — it’s soft on so many nights without him.
But Kane hasn’t played since last year’s Cup Final. He can’t be expected to jump on the moving train and be an impact playoff player.
For our money, anything Kane adds to the Oilers this spring should be thought of as pure gravy — and not be counted on.
