The NHL trade deadline is nearly a week away, and the Edmonton Oilers are in a tough spot. While the team has had moments where they have showed their dominance this season, the last few games have exposed some areas of weakness. If the Oilers hope to make another deep playoff run and get back to the Stanley Cup Final, they simply cannot afford to do nothing at the trade deadline.
Stan Bowman and Oilers management have a responsibility to make a move. If they choose to nothing within the next week, it would be a colossal failure, signaling to the fans and players that they are content with their flawed team. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in their prime, standing still at the deadline is not an option. The window to win a Stanley Cup is open now, but it won’t stay that way forever.
A lack of action would be inexcusable. The Oilers’ issues have been evident for weeks, and failing to address them would show a lack of urgency from the front office. The team’s defensive structure has been shaky, and their depth scoring is inconsistent. Every serious contender in the league will be making moves to strengthen their team, if the Oilers don’t follow suit, they will fall behind. Simply hoping for struggling players to improve or injured players to return at full capacity is not a viable strategy when the competition is making moves in order to get better.
Stan Bowman was brought in to help Edmonton take the next step. If his strategy at the deadline is to simply hope for internal improvement, then he isn’t doing his job. The Oilers don’t just need some slight tweaks either they need some major improvement. Teams that stand pat at the deadline often regret it when the playoffs expose their flaws. If Bowman and his staff choose to do nothing, the Oilers risk wasting another year of McDavid and Draisaitl’s prime, and that is simply unacceptable for a team that should be in win-now mode.
Beyond the on-ice ramifications, inaction would send a terrible message to the players in the Oilers locker room. Players want to see management commit to winning. If Bowman chooses to sit this deadline out, it could damage the morale and shake confidence in the organization. The players on the team need to know that management is willing to do whatever it takes to give them the best chance to win. If they choose to do nothing, they would send the opposite message, that the organization is content to waste another year of their best players' careers.
The Oilers’ path is clear, they must make moves. Whether it's adding a veteran defenseman, a depth scorer, or another key piece, the management team needs to act. If they don’t, it will be remembered as a massive failure, and fans will rightfully question whether this management group is serious about contending. Doing nothing is not just a bad option, it’s the worst possible outcome, one that would set the franchise back and squander the best opportunity they have had in years to chase a championship.