Oilers’ GM Stan Bowman doesn’t expect team to make any more significant trades
One of the certified playoff contenders out west might be done making moves.
When speaking to the media on Thursday, Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman stated that he seems willing to stand pat, trying to put together any more deals heading into the trade deadline. He stated that the team the Oilers have now might be the one the team goes with for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, but he’s willing to keep his ears open in case something comes before Friday afternoon.
“I’d say we’re done,” Bowman told reporters. “Most likely, I think this is our team. We will look at other moves and there could be a depth move, but I don’t expect anything significant…I certainly like our team today a lot better than I did a week ago.”
“Most likely I think this is our team. We will look at other moves and there could be a depth move, but I don’t expect anything significant,” Bowman. #Oilers
The Oilers begin March as a team bouncing between the top three in the Pacific Division and one of the two Wild Card spots in the Western Conference. It’s certainly a far cry from October, when the team had another rough start, with some doubting the legitimacy of the two-time defending Western Conference champions.
It hasn’t been like Bowman’s phone has been turned off. He went out and acquired some depth on the blue line from his former team, the Chicago Blackhawks. Along with receiving defenseman Connor Murphy for a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. Then, on Wednesday, the Oilers received blueliner Jason Dickinson and forward Colton Dach from the Blackhawks, with forward Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 first-round pick heading back to the Windy City.
The added bodies on the back end certainly might help Edmonton be a little tougher in the playoffs, but the moves aren’t necessarily the “home run” swings that a Cup contender would make. Granted, Edmonton has to be smart with its money. According to PuckPedia, the Oilers have $475,000 in cap space.
The Oilers (30-24-8) are currently third in the Pacific, four points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for first place.
The NHL Trade Deadline is set for Friday, March 6, at 3 p.m. ET.