As we say goodbye to July (and some of the most violent Edmonton thunderstorms in memory), it\u2019s fair to say Stan Bowman has delivered a satisfactory offseason. That\u2019s a tough task after an early playoff exit, but the general mood of fans is positive as they look forward to the coming season.<\/p>\n
There are things the general manager could do before training camp. The issue is at centre, and could be pivotal in the Oilers\u2019 efforts to win a sixth Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n
The issue<\/p>\n
Edmonton\u2019s roster screams for a right-handed centre capable of playing second- or third-line minutes. That\u2019s an extremely valuable player type, and teams are paying heavy prices in trades and free agency.<\/p>\n
Earlier this summer, Boone Jenner signed for $5.75 million for four years, Colton Sissons for $4.25 million for two years and Scott Laughton got $3.5 million for the next three seasons. Even when factoring in the increased cap number, these are high prices driven by the lack of available centres.<\/p>\n
The Oilers are loaded at centre. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the best 1-2 punch at the position in the league. It isn\u2019t close. The club also traded for checking centre Jason Dickinson at the deadline, and signed him over the summer ($4 million times five years). His shutdown and penalty-killing ability is top drawer. Young Josh Samanski played 24 games one year ago with Edmonton, and showed impressive two-way acumen.<\/p>\n
Added to the group is winger Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who can still make things happen at centre, but is fading. In his time in the middle during 2025-26 (all five-on-five minutes away from McDavid and Draisaitl), Edmonton delivered a 37 percent goal share in 375 minutes. Even the expected goal share, while more respectable (46 percent), suggests the club will need a stronger second-line centre when McDavid and Draisaitl are on the ice together.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s no small item. Mike Babcock has already mentioned the team will run, at times, its top two players together at five-on-five. If Babcock approaches last year\u2019s numbers (318 minutes, when Kris Knoblauch was head coach), Edmonton would be wise to add another centre with skill. A right-handed centre would be ideal, as there isn\u2019t one currently on the roster.<\/p>\n
What would that look like?<\/p>\n
Chris Johnston\u2019s free-agent list for The Athletic<\/a> is constantly updated; NHL teams have picked it clean. Just three names remain, and none of those are right-handed. Bowman will need to go the trade route. It may seem impossible, but teams sour on quality often. In March 2025, the Toronto Maple Leafs felt a need to offload Fraser Minten, who\u2019s now a valued member of the Boston Bruins.<\/p>\n The key often comes from targeting clubs with significant depth at the position. In this case, the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and (possibly) Tampa Bay Lightning.<\/p>\n The NHL solutions<\/p>\n Kirby Dach signed a one-year deal for $3.6 million with the Canadiens earlier this month, kicking a difficult situation to the summer of 2027. A talented player with size (6-foot-4, 221 pounds), speed (94th percentile, via NHL Edge<\/a>) and skill (No. 3 at the 2019 draft), injuries have dashed a promising career. His contract will take him to full free agency, but it\u2019s possible the Canadiens would be open to a trade before then.<\/p>\n Dach\u2019s five-on-five numbers from a year ago: 1.09 goals per 60; 1.77 points per 60, 50 percent goal share (48 percent expected) and 40 percent in the faceoff dot. He isn\u2019t a full-time centre, but if the Oilers plan to run McDavid-Draisaitl on the same line, Dach would be an option for strong-side faceoffs on the second line and has the potential to be an offensive difference-maker if he can stay healthy.<\/p>\n Noah Laba of the New York Rangers would be a perfect fit. He has size, speed, and enough skill to project as a middle-six (second- or third-line centre). He came out of nowhere to grab an NHL job last season, and it\u2019s unlikely the Rangers would let him go. Peter Baugh at The Athletic tracked him<\/a> early in the season as a surprising but significant piece of the New York retool. Laba didn\u2019t deliver the kind of offence that suggests a career on the second line, but players often blossom in their second or third NHL seasons. He\u2019s the outer marker target, probably beyond what the Oilers can acquire at this time.<\/p>\n Both NHL solutions would be expensive, and Bowman may not have an appetite to make a big deal before training camp. Both Dach (whose brother Colton plays for the Oilers) and Laba should be players of interest for Edmonton management should they come available.<\/p>\n The AHL solutions\u00a0<\/p>\n