Oilers Might Rely More On Trade Market

The Edmonton Oilers are going to be active this offseason. Defenseman Darnell Nurse is requesting a trade. The Pittsburgh Penguins are seen as a possible destination, but Edmonton will need to retain some salary.

Nurse carries a salary cap hit of $9.25 million, which is substantial. This financial factor is a significant element in evaluating his trade value and potential destinations. The current NHL market for defensemen is tight, and the league’s salary cap is rising. These conditions could enhance the trade value of Darnell Nurse despite his high cap hit.

There is currently a shortage of top-four defensemen available in the NHL free agent market. This scarcity increases the potential demand for players who can fill those roles on team rosters. Especially players like Nurse who can play a ton of minutes.

Oilers Looking to Retool Their Roster

One player the Oilers are keeping an eye on is Ilya Mikheyev. The speedy winger is set to explore free agency. In the 2025-26 NHL season, Ilya Mikheyev recorded a top skating speed of 23.54 miles per hour. A performance which places him in the 95th percentile among all players in the league.

While playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, Mikheyev achieved a career-high of 36 points in a single season. This total reflects his offensive contribution during that campaign. Mikheyev is recognized for his ability to contribute effectively to a team’s penalty kill. This skill adds to his overall value as a versatile forward.

The Oilers are expressing significant interest in acquiring Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault. This interest is linked to the Canadiens’ current depth at the goaltender position, which could make Montembeault available for trade.

The 29-year-old Montembeault posted a 10-8-4 record in 25 games with 23 starts last season. He finished with a 3.43 GAA and a .873 SV%. With one year left on his contract at $3.15 million, he’s lost the Montreal net to Jakub Dobes.

Edmonton might try to re-sign Connor Ingram, but it sounds like Ingram wants to explore the free agent market. The Oilers are left with only Tristan Jarry, and he hasn’t proven himself to be fully reliable.