Oilers insider reveals team's top position for trade target
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According to host and analyst Jason Gregor, the Edmonton Oilers will add a scoring winger to the lineup at this year's trade deadline, and it's most likely to happen.
Strong precedence for Oilers to add scoring depth to lineup
While Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are elite offensive players, the Oilers have sometimes struggled to generate consistent scoring beyond them, making the team too reliant on their top two stars.
Coach Kris Knoblauch has recently stated that he will use the 'Nuclear Option' to strengthen the team's offense, making the need for another scoring-winger all the greater, something GM Stan Bowman attempted last season.
"They tried to get Mikko Rantanen last year," Jason Gregor said on his podcast. "So you know Stan Bowman's looking to get a big-name winger...I know it's 125 players who currently are UFAs in the final year of a multi-year deal...and another 50 players who signed 1-year deals, so that's a lot of pending-UFAs; there's gonna be some guys available at the trade-deadline."
Adding scoring depth is always a good strategy, in particular going into the playoffs. The Oilers have faced challenges with depth scoring, even with players like Vasily Podkolzin and Matthew Savoie showing promise. Adding a proven scorer could provide the necessary secondary offense to balance the attack.
In addition, with the Nuclear Option in place, the Oilers' top-six forward group could benefit from an additional scorer, so as to balance the forward group, allowing other players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to contribute depth further down the lineup.
The Oilers' performance in the 2025 playoffs highlighted a need for more grit and staying power. Acquiring a winger who can contribute both scoring and a physical presence could help address this.
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