A prominent Oilers insider suggested that 26-year-old defenseman Spencer Stastney could be a candidate to move in exchange for a fourth-line forward. The view is that Stastney struggled at times last season and is a left-shot defender, a spot where Edmonton already has ample depth. A recent assessment noted that Emberson performed well last year and that Stastney’s grit and toughness would be useful traits for the team, potentially tipping the balance toward a forward-focused return.
Trading Stastney for a fourth-line forward would be a modest return, especially given that Edmonton acquired him in December from the Nashville Predators for a third-round pick in 2027. Still, with limited path to regular playing time on a crowded blue line, the Oilers might prioritize adding forward depth over keeping the defenseman. In Edmonton’s record with the team, Stastney recorded a goal over 36 regular-season games and established himself as a solid third-pairing option.
Stastney signed a one-year, $1.525 million contract with Edmonton this offseason and will become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
Another Oilers insider echoed the possibility of moving a defenseman for a depth forward. The pundit anticipated that Edmonton could be finished with major moves but could still complete a swap involving a defenseman in the $1.5 million range for a bottom-six forward. The idea is that such a move would free cap space and address a top-six need as the season progresses. The discussion centers on a competition for the third-pairing role between Ty Emberson and the newly acquired Shakir Mukhamadullin, with speculation that one of them could be moved to create room for a forward upgrade.
Edmonton’s management remains focused on adding a penalty-killing center to strengthen the roster. The goal is to find a credible, right-shot center who excels at faceoffs, has size and skating ability, and can handle challenging matchups. Finding such a player on the open market has proven difficult, which is why the Oilers might explore trading from their defensive depth to land the right forward upgrade.
As of now, Edmonton retains under $6 million in available cap space, leaving some room to maneuver as they seek a complementary top-six forward and a reliable penalty-killing center. The front office has already prioritized shoring up goaltending and defense, but the next move could hinge on balancing cap flexibility with the pursuit of a player who can contribute in key minutes down the lineup.
In sum, the Oilers could still pursue a strategic defense-for-forward swap to address deeper forward needs while preserving flexibility for mid-season adjustments. With Stastney in the conversation and competition looming between Emberson and Mukhamadullin for third-pair duties, Edmonton’s offseason plans may hinge on finding the right fit to complement their core and strengthen two critical areas: bottom-six scoring and responsible, penalty-killing center depth.
