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NHL 2026 NHL Trade Deadline After a decade of dealing assets at the trade deadline, the Edmonton Oilers' prospect cupboard is almost empty. Andy Devlin / NHLI via Getty Images Former Edmonton Oilers winger Esa Tikkanen made his NHL debut in a playoff game on May 23, 1985. If he were in the team’s system today, chances are Tikkanen would be dealt by this year’s trade deadline. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman is in a tough spot. His roster has several areas of need, but there’s no cap room. Edmonton is one of many teams looking to offload a veteran contract (likely Andrew Mangiapane) in an effort to improve. The number of teams that have given up on making the postseason is smaller than usual at this year’s deadline. Because of this, the prices appear to be going higher. Advertisement A further issue unique to the Oilers: After a decade of dealing assets at the deadline, the team’s prospect cupboard is almost empty. Thus, the need for a modern Tikkanen. From a distance, it looks like Edmonton’s management has too much to overcome in making a move. Here’s a quick look at each hurdle. The verbal coming out of the rumor mill has the Oilers laser-focused on a defenceman who can move the puck. A right shot is preferred, but a lefty with extensive experience playing the other side would work. That’s a fairly lengthy list based on Chris Johnston’s latest deadline article at The Athletic. Names like Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues and Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Toronto Maple Leafs have been mentioned as possible targets. If that’s the area of pursuit, it’s a tell. Puck IQ tells us Faulk spends his five-on-five time equally among elite, mid- and lower-level competition. Ekman-Larsson has similar splits for the Maple Leafs this season. If Bowman is shopping those aisles, fans should expect (at times) second-pairing minutes from the new acquisition. In Edmonton, Darnell Nurse plays similar minutes. Evan Bouchard spends 35 percent of his five-on-five time versus elites, well clear of Nurse, Faulk and Ekman-Larrson. We can conclude the Oilers are shopping for a second- or third-pair option who can play right side. If Nurse-Walman begin the playoffs as the second pair, and injury or struggles arrive, the deadline target would be first man up based on the current depth chart. The standings tell the story. Even teams that should be dealing veteran talent (like Toronto) have not yet fully committed to the idea. Edmonton is one of many teams in need of two trades (offloading Mangiapane, acquiring help), and some teams are not in the mood to retain. The Oilers got no breaks from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Tristan Jarry trade recently, as an example. Advertisement Bowman is between a rock and a hard place when it comes to making cap room. It’s reasonable to wonder if acquiring Faulk or Ekman-Larsson is worth it. Edmonton is not aiming high at this deadline. Should a first-round selection be sacrificed? It’s a question worth asking. Early in February, I listed 10 assets Bowman might choose to send away in an effort to upgrade the NHL roster. Since then, the Olympic break ended, and Matt Savoie (the top option in the article) has taken a leap forward (1-4-5 in two games). That could make him a more valuable trade piece, but Savoie also represents the beginning of a youth movement for the team. If he’s dealt by March 6, the return would need to be substantial with a returning player under a contract that gives Edmonton control for next season. Faulk or Ekman-Larsson shouldn’t cost anything close to Savoie, but the increased competition for talent and the need to offload Mangiapane complicates things for Bowman. The first-round pick may well go in getting Mangiapane’s contract off the books. The Oilers did surrender current NHL defenceman Mike Kesselring at the 2023 deadline for cap purposes. Bowman should be given enormous credit for stockpiling useful talent in the AHL this season. The Bakersfield Condors have a large group of legit NHL prospects. One or more of them could come into play at this year’s deadline. Here’s a list of notables who could be on the move in the next few days. Bowman acquired Isaac Howard at great cost, and he is unlikely to be dealt. Others in the group are more vulnerable, as each is a small forward (Josh Samanski aside) or defenceman. A deal may get done with just picks and Mangiapane (or another veteran with a higher cap hit), but the “Kesselring” may come from this group. NHL teams scout the AHL heavily at this time of year, and several of these players have played well this season. Roby Jarventie is another who could be in play. Advertisement This is already a strange deadline for the Oilers. A goalie trade for Jarry hasn’t worked, and now, with several impressive stoppers on Johnston’s list, the club must look past those quality names and stay the course. It would be borderline impossible to change out goalies twice in one season. On defence, third pair LH side Spencer Stastny has already been added; the focus now appears to be on a second-pair defender. If the cost of offloading Mangiapane and acquiring a mid-level defenceman is a first-round pick and a young player with an NHL future, is it worth it? Bowman has done fine work with very little investment in the past. Acquiring Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen for pennies on the dollar gave the team an enormous lift. However, this is the trade deadline, and all defencemen have extra value at this time of year. After a decade of paying full price, the Oilers have exhausted all options. The money ran out, the draft picks were dealt, and the young college and Euro prospects may not be enough to get anything productive accomplished. This team needs a miracle. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Allan Mitchell is a contributor to The Athletic's Oilers coverage. Veteran radio broadcaster. His blog, Lowetide, has chronicled the team since 2005. Follow Allan on Twitter @Lowetide