The Edmonton Oilers are well into preseason and have enjoyed some impressive showings from all segments of the roster. Veterans, farmhands, NHL free agents and European additions have all made their mark. There are many options for coach Kris Knoblauch in most of the worry positions.

What if the real solutions aren’t on the current roster? Could the Oilers make a trade this week? Here’s a look.

Positions of concern

Goaltending: The position remains unchanged at the NHL level, and it’s possible the organization wants to add an AHL goalie as well. The current NHL depth chart (Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard) may not be trusted with another playoff run. Holding up the process is the lack of a clear upgrade anywhere. Oilers general manager Stan 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.

No. 3 right wing: Matt Savoie is currently being used in a two-way role inside the top nine forwards. He has shown the ability to fill the job description, and he delivered with the Bakersfield Condors a year ago. 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 (Connor Brown)? Savoie has the skill to play with one of the elite centres on this team.

No. 3 centre: Adam Henrique hasn’t delivered a strong preseason so far, and he didn’t have a quality season in 2024-25. That’s a worry since Knoblauch plans on running his top two pivots (Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl) on the No. 1 line. The Oilers have many centres, but Henrique would be the first choice for the key role based on past performance. It’s early, but the current performance is a worry. At 35, his level of play this fall (in a small sample) suggests he might be hitting a performance wall.

Possible targets

In goal, Mike DiPietro of the Boston Bruins is most often mentioned. He wouldn’t be a clear upgrade on the Skinner-Pickard tandem, and he hasn’t delivered a strong preseason so far (.844 save percentage at five-on-five through two games). The Utah Mammoth just successfully waived Connor Ingram. Many Oilers fans wanted to see the club pluck Ingram off waivers, but a more astute move might be trading for Ingram now that he’s cleared waivers and is in the minors. Finally, Marc-Andre Fleury is still on the radar for all Stanley Cup contenders, via Pierre LeBrun, and it would make a lot of sense for the Oilers. NHL history is rich with stories of retired goaltenders re-entering the battle and performing brilliantly.

On the wing, losing Brown was a cap issue, so a trade for a veteran solution is unlikely. The Oilers don’t have a large group of two-way wingers, so Savoie is getting a long look in the role. If he falters, David Tomasek might be a solution (he has played a depth role in international play) in the short term. If money and term were no issue, a player like Nils Hoglander of the Vancouver Canucks could be a solid fit. For the wing, a deadline rental seems the most likely solution.

At centre, NHL teams guard their depth closely, and there won’t be a suitable upgrade on waivers. Henrique will get much of the season to show he can still deliver, but a No. 3 centre role is a big ask at his age and with so many NHL games behind him. Evgeny Kuznetsov is rumoured to be returning to the NHL, but the Oilers are not linked to the player. Chances are that it’s Henrique to start the season.

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. A player like Hoglander would be a good fit, but finding a $3 million player to send back to Vancouver limits the conversation. Philip Tomasino of the Pittsburgh Penguins would be a strong option, and he has an affordable contract, but the organization may feel his skills don’t match the team’s needs.

Possible exits

The Oilers have a strong group of new roster players on display in the preseason this year. Many are from Europe, a couple from college, and it does look like the summer NHL free-agent signings will all fit a role. Bowman may be hesitant to reach into that group of players in an effort to improve the roster right now. There is some unexpected depth on display due to a spike in performance in some areas.

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. Both are right-handed defencemen, always an area general managers are looking to add in deals. Could one of them go before opening night? Would Regula’s waiver worry be enough to make it happen?

Any trade for a substantial goaltending upgrade would likely include Skinner. He has a great contract this season, has enormous playoff experience at a young age and should be an NHL starter through the end of the decade. Edmonton has traded goalies in the past during times of struggle (Devan Dubnyk, Cam Talbot), only to watch those same netminders have great success elsewhere.

Is there a pre-season trade? 

Dealing one of Emberson or Stecher would represent risk for the Oilers. Dealing Skinner means finding a $2.6 million (or less) replacement in real time.

Management and the coaching staff don’t know exactly what they have on this year’s roster. The club does know that goaltending remains an issue, moving McDavid and Draisaitl to the same line weakens centre on the second and third lines and that Savoie is a better fit for the Draisaitl (second line) than a checking unit.

Most often, nothing happens. However, the Oilers have needs in specific and important areas, and there are some attractive trade options Bowman could send out for immediate help in goal, centre and on the wing. And for fans of the team who have been following offseasons for many years, it’s notable that defence is an area of strength entering the 2025-26 season.

(Photo of Stuart Skinner: Perry Nelson / Imagn Images)