Once the Olympic break is over, NHL teams will look to quickly address needs before the trade deadline. The trade freeze lifts on Feb. 22, and the deadline is March 6. That’s less than two weeks for teams to tweak and load up for the long playoff run.

Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman has been active during the season. The team’s goaltending has a new look, and the defence has seen one change (Spencer Stastney in, Brett Kulak out), partly due to cap pressure.

The organization has several areas that could be upgraded, including a right-handed centre for the third line, a bigger winger who could run in the middle six, and a second-pair defenceman (also right-handed). The cap situation is dire, with veteran Adam Henrique close to activation and the club short of room to make it happen. A deal to send out money is imminent.

Even with those limitations, the major issue for Bowman is the assets to trade. The club doesn’t hold a 2026 first-round selection, and the 2027 first-rounder will have less value to general managers wanting to make a splash this summer. Bowman has been aggressively procuring talent since he arrived in Edmonton, but may have to surrender some of those new additions at this year’s deadline. Here are the top 10 assets for trade by the Oilers before March 6.

1. Matt Savoie

Edmonton’s third-line right winger has delivered a solid if unspectacular rookie season. He has nine goals and 18 points in 58 games, but has struggled five-on-five, scoring just 0.99 points per 60 with a 46 percent goal share. Savoie has played on lines with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, with disappointing results. He’s effective on the power play but has averaged only 32 seconds per game (impressive 7.88 points per 60). His penalty-killing work earned him 1:34 per game when short-handed. Coach Kris Knoblauch doesn’t dole out PK time to rookies often; that’s a big positive for Savoie.

The Oilers would no doubt rather keep him, but Savoie is one of several small forwards trying to make their way in Edmonton. If the ask for a substantial piece includes Savoie, Bowman may reluctantly deal him with the knowledge that other small forwards are available to replace him.

2. Ike Howard

Howard is dominating the AHL and building a strong resume for future NHL success. He hasn’t been able to score much in the NHL (1.1 points per 60 at five-on-five), partly due to very little playing time on the skill lines. His style lends itself to the Oilers’ offence because he’s a first-shot scorer (13 goals on 63 shots for a stunning 20.6 shooting percentage in the AHL) on a team that badly needs one.

Knoblauch sent him down twice, suggesting Howard isn’t as NHL-ready as Bowman hoped on the day Edmonton acquired him. Like Savoie, management probably prefers to keep Howard and what looks like a bright future. So far, he has been unable to materially help Edmonton this season. The numbers tell us Howard is the real deal. His breakout season could come on another NHL roster.

3. 2027 first-round selection

The pick should come in around 25-32 next season, and that has value. However, late firsts are no guarantee teams will get a useful NHL player, and the 2027 draft is over 16 months away. NHL general managers like to use the draft to excite the fan base, so a pick over one year away may not have exceptional value.

4. Quinn Hutson

The third winger who has NHL ability on the list also lands on the small side. Hutson has been a revelation with the Condors (24 goals and 44 points in 43 games) and has clear two-way ability. He turned heads during his NHL audition with the Oilers, and there’s a good chance he enjoys success with the team in the coming seasons. However, the emergence of Josh Samanski as an option for the middle-six at the NHL level may make Hutson expendable. The difference in size (Samanski is three inches taller and 25 pounds heavier)  and speed (Samanski is faster) may be the difference if it comes to dealing one of the Condors’ excellent rookie forwards.

5. 2026 second-round pick

The selection currently resides around No. 48, a good spot to pick in the annual NHL selection of amateurs. The value of the selection isn’t enough to pull a major contributor at the deadline, but it could be paired with a young prospect to satisfy a trade ask.

6. Maxim Berezkin

Berezkin is a big forward with good hands and a solid-to-excellent recent track record in the KHL. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound winger scored 24-32-56 in 87 games (including playoffs) during the 2024-25 season to announce his presence as a possible NHL option. He began this season slowly (2-10-12 through 35 games) but has recovered in recent days (4-7-11 in the last 18 games). He’s a skill winger who can separate opposition defencemen from the puck, a high-value skill in any league. Berezkin has expressed interest in signing with an NHL team. Edmonton’s lack of success with Russian players over the years may make him a trade option for Bowman.

7. Damien Carfagna

The Oilers have two legit NHL defence prospects in Bakersfield this season. Beau Akey is a right-handed defenceman and unlikely to be dealt (righty defencemen who can play in the NHL are unicorns). Carfagna is closer to the NHL (two years older) and has a quality resume that includes exceptional mobility and plus puck-moving skill. He’s smaller (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) but can play the modern game on defence with aplomb. In his last 25 Bakersfield games, he has scored five goals and eight points, with an even-strength goal share of 61 percent (20-13 goals). The Oilers won’t want to give him up, but are deep at left defence. Carfagna could be a plug-and-play for a rebuilding club as soon as next season.

8. 2026 third-round pick

Edmonton traded a third-round pick for Spencer Stastney earlier this year, and any draft pick inside the top 100 will start a conversation. A depth pick like this one might be used as a sweetener to offload a bloated contract from the NHL roster.

9. Roby Jarventie

Jarventie has overcome severe injury issues and posted a strong season for the Condors in the AHL. He has a chance to play for the Oilers this season, but could be a solid deadline trade piece. He’s bigger (6-foot-3, 209 pounds) and plays a rambunctious style. Jarventie is both a creative passer and shooter, and his Bakersfield numbers (42 games, 14-15-29 and a 56 percent even-strength goal share) suggest he can step right into the NHL.

10. Max Jones

Jones is 27, has plus speed (59th percentile, according to NHL Edge) and plenty of NHL experience. He’s one of several rugged wingers Bowman has acquired since coming to Edmonton. He saw some action with the Oilers this season, but the club also called up Connor Clattenburg (a similar player with far less experience) and has been playing Samuel Poulin (a bigger winger who takes fewer penalties) in a similar AHL role recently.

Jones can play. If the Oilers don’t require him at the NHL level, another team could reach out with an offer. The Oilers don’t have many expiring contracts to surrender, but Jones could be a fit for another team at the deadline.

Bottom line 

There are several underperforming veterans on the Oilers roster who are trade candidates. However, most have negative trade value and would require a sweetener to offload. The assets listed here represent real value and are expendable should Bowman decide he’s willing to move them.

Fans might see a deal that sends one of the young skill forwards (Savoie, Howard, Hutson, Berezkin, Jarventie) and a top-100 selection for a bigger winger who is under control.

Bowman should be credited with acquiring talent that can be used in trades over a short period of time. Of the seven names here, four were procured by Bowman, and two (Hutson, Carfagna) were college free-agent signings. If the Oilers acquire a quality addition at the deadline, those spring 2025 free-agent signings could well contribute to getting it done.