The Edmonton Oilers could have a key advantage in one of their top summer targets. Edmonton is currently trying to find a way to finish the 2025-26 season strong and make another run at the Stanley Cup. Defense, however, has been an ongoing issue with the club for quite a while. In fact, they have allowed at least four goals in eight of their last 13 games.
Goaltending is clearly a problem in Edmonton. The team’s combined .875 SV% currently ranks third-worst in the entire league. Despite this, the players in front of the goalies also have to share some of the blame. Team execs clearly are aware of this. Oilers GM Stan Bowman attempted to fix the issue by bringing in defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks ahead of the trade deadline.
Despite the move, Edmonton will likely continue addressing its defense in the summer. One specific blueliner expected to be linked with a move to Alberta is Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Toronto Maple Leafs star was previously on the trade block and even connected to the Oilers. He, however, ultimately remained with his current club for the time being.
After a move failed to materialize, Ekman-Larsson admitted that he was “happy to still be” in Toronto. Although he will finish out the current campaign with the Leafs, the veteran could still be traded in the offseason. According to The Sporting News, Edmonton is one of the top potential landing spots for the blueliner. The Oilers could even hold an advantage in the Ekman-Larsson sweepstakes.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson Would be a Solid Fit with the Edmonton Oilers
GettyOliver Ekman-Larsson could be a costly acquisition for the Oilers.
On top of Edmonton, the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings were also named as Ekman-Larsson suitors in the aforementioned article. Both of these teams would seemingly make sense in the situation. Neither club is particularly stellar defensively, and both have money to spend once the season is over.
Nevertheless, Boston may not be a great match for the veteran. It was previously revealed that Bruins GM Don Sweeney prefers to target players under the age of 30. He wants to acquire players who align with current stars such as David Pastrnak (29) and Charlie McAvoy (28). Ekman-Larsson will be 35 by the time the 2026-27 season starts.
Detroit, on the other hand, recently acquired star veteran Justin Faulk to help out its blue line. The defenseman has fit in quite well with the Red Wings so far, but it remains to be seen if GM Steve Yzerman wants to add yet another aging veteran to his team.
Oilers Could Free Up Funds to Help Facilitate Trade
The upcoming offseason will be a crucial time for the Oilers. The current group is clearly in need of at least a minor overhaul. According to PuckPedia.com, Edmonton has about $16 million in projected cap space for the 2026-27 campaign. Bowman has to be careful with the funds because he is losing several players to free agency this season. As a result, there will be plenty of roster holes to fill.
Potentially offloading Darnell Nurse and his $9.25 million AAV contract could be a point of focus for the Oilers. If so, Edmonton will have significantly more money to work with. Ekman-Larsson has two more years remaining on his fairly manageable $3.5 million AAV deal in Toronto.
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