The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, with some teams making bold moves while others chose to stand pat. For the Edmonton Oilers, most of their work was completed well before the deadline, acquiring forwards Max Jones and Trent Frederic from the Bruins and shoring up their blue line with defenceman Jake Walman from the Sharks. With those additions, the Oilers aimed to address key areas of need, but questions remained about whether they had done enough to compete for the Stanley Cup?
A quiet deadline left many Oilers fans puzzled, as there were still noticeable gaps in the roster that could have been filled. However, the lack of movement was a calculated risk by management, signaling confidence in the current group. While the inactivity may frustrate some, there is a silver lining—at least Edmonton avoided making panic trades for players who might not have been the right fit. Here are a few names the Oilers were wise to steer clear of at the deadline.
G Petr Mrazek
Oilers fans were clamouring for the team to acquire a goaltender who could at least share the crease with Stuart Skinner, if not take over as the true number one. The concern was valid—Skinner has been inconsistent this season, and relying solely on him in the playoffs could be a risky gamble. As the trade deadline approached, numerous goaltenders were linked to Edmonton, with speculation running wild about potential moves. However, the Oilers ultimately placed their faith in Skinner, deciding against bringing in outside competition for the starting job.
While some fans are frustrated by the team's lack of action in the goalie market, they should be relieved that the Oilers didn’t trade for Petr Mrazek. Given general manager Stan Bowman’s ties to Mrazek, there was fear that Edmonton might pursue the veteran netminder in a last-minute deal.
Mrazek has been inconsistent and his injury history would have made him a risky acquisition. By avoiding a trade for Mrazek, the Oilers may have made the right deadline decision, keeping their assets intact while trusting Skinner to rise to the occasion.
RW Mikko Rantanen
The Oilers were rumored to be in the market for a top-six or top-nine forward at the trade deadline, but making a move was always going to be a challenge. With limited cap space and multiple players holding no-movement clauses, Edmonton had little flexibility to make a major splash. Still, the team explored its options, looking for a piece that could bolster their forward depth for a deep playoff run.
One of the most intriguing late-breaking rumors was Edmonton’s reported push for Mikko Rantanen. After the Hurricanes acquired Rantanen from the Avalanche earlier in the season, contract extension talks stalled, leading to his trade to the Dallas Stars. Rantanen quickly inked an eight-year, $12 million AAV deal with Dallas, making it clear that any team acquiring him had to be prepared for a massive long-term commitment.
While Rantanen would have been a game-changer for the Oilers, fitting that contract under the cap—especially with looming extensions for Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard—would have been nearly impossible. In the end, avoiding such a move might have been the best decision for Edmonton’s long-term success.
D Connor Murphy
One of the key areas the Oilers needed to address at the trade deadline was their defence. After acquiring Walman from the Sharks, Edmonton seemed content with their blue line and opted not to make any additional moves. While some fans were hoping for another reinforcement, the Oilers’ front office clearly felt Walman’s addition was enough to solidify their defensive core for the playoff push.
Earlier in the year, there were rumors that the Oilers had interest in trading for Blackhawks defenceman Connor Murphy. Given general manager Stan Bowman's ties to Murphy, speculation grew that Edmonton might make a move to reunite them. However, the Oilers ultimately avoided a panic trade for Murphy, a decision that should be welcomed by fans. While Murphy is a solid defenseman, he likely wouldn't have made a significant impact on the team’s Cup chances. Holding off on an unnecessary move ensures that Edmonton keeps its assets intact while focusing on players who can truly elevate their roster.
The Oilers remained relatively quiet at this year's trade deadline, opting not to make drastic moves to shake up the roster. While they didn’t fully address all of their lineup needs, they avoided making reactionary trades that could have hurt them in the long run. Instead, Edmonton stayed disciplined, trusting their core and the few key additions they made earlier in the season.
Fans in Edmonton might have hoped for bigger trades, but they should be relieved that the Oilers didn’t make impulsive deals for players who wouldn't provide immediate or long-term help. Sacrificing future assets for a quick fix could have been costly, especially with major contract extensions looming for key players like Connor and Bouchard. By standing firm, the Oilers are betting that their current group, along with their calculated acquisitions, will be enough to make a deep playoff run.
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