The Edmonton Oilers aren't done making moves with the NHL trade deadline hitting this Friday at 3:00 PM. And general manager Stan Bowman appears ready to shake things up one more time, possibly twice.
Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now dropped some interesting intel on Tuesday. He suggested the Oilers could pull off as many as two more trades before the deadline passes.
"I do not believe the Oilers are done," Stauffer said. "I could possibly see as many as two more trades. It could be zero. But it could be two. You may see a guy get moved out, which creates the flexibility to bring in something else."
The challenge is that the Oilers are tight against the salary cap. That means for every dollar coming in, a dollar needs to go out. It's a "money-in, money-out" situation which makes things complicated but perhaps not impossible for Bowman to deal with.
If Edmonton wants to add a piece, they'll likely need to move someone off the roster first. The big question is who that might be.
Nicolas Roy is on the Oilers radar
One name generating serious buzz is Nicolas Roy from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old center has become a hot topic in Oilers discussions and it's easy to see why he'd be attractive to Bowman and head coach Kris Knoblauch.
The Oilers desperately need help down the middle after losing Mattias Janmark to season-ending surgery. Roy could be the perfect answer to that problem.
What makes Roy appealing? Pretty much everything. He's 6'4" and plays a solid two-way game. He is a Stanley Cup champion who knows what playoff hockey is all about. He shoots right, which the Oilers need. He's great on the penalty kill and wins faceoffs consistently. Plus, he can chip in offensively. So far he's put up 28 points in 61 games this season.
Veteran hockey writer Jim Matheson is definitely on board with the idea. He reported this week, "If Oilers are in on Nic Roy as Bob Stauffer says I'm for it. Cup winner, big body, right shot, and some offence."
If Oilers are in on Nic Roy as Bob Stauffer says I’m for it. Cup winner, big body, right shot, and some offence
— Jim Matheson (@jimmathesonnhl) March 3, 2026
Roy is not exactly a rental player and his $3 million contract runs through 2027. That's actually good news and bad news for Edmonton. The good news is they would have him for a couple playoff runs, not just this year. Bowman has shown he prefers players with term left on their deals, so Roy fits that philosophy perfectly.
The bad news? That extra contract time means Toronto will want more in return. Whether it's draft picks, prospects or current roster players, acquiring Roy will cost the Oilers some assets they might not want to give up.
Oilers need this
Edmonton sits third in the Pacific Division with 66 points. The offense is still firing on all cylinders and of course when you have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, that's usually not a problem. But there are concerns in other areas.
Since the Olympic break, the team's defensive structure hasn't been as tight as it needs to be. Depth scoring has been inconsistent. The bottom-six forwards haven't provided the reliable contributions that championship teams need.
Adding someone like Roy would give Knoblauch serious flexibility. He could shuffle his third and fourth lines, try different combinations and build a lineup that's ready for the grind of playoff hockey. Roy's versatility means he can play different roles depending on what the team needs on any given night.
Friday's deadline is just around the corner. Bowman has already been active this season but it sounds like he's not satisfied yet. He wants this team as prepared as possible for what everyone hopes will be a long playoff run.
The biggest mystery right now is which current Oilers might be heading out the door to make room. Fans will be glued to their phones and computers over the next three days, waiting to see what Bowman has up his sleeve.