With the 2026 Trade Deadline having come and gone, the Edmonton Oilers were able to bring in pieces that they hope can help lead them to another deep playoff run. After two separate trades with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Oilers landed Jason Dickinson, Colton Dach, and Connor Murphy, solving their defensive depth issue and bringing in a new defensive-minded third-line centre.
While they aren’t the most attractive acquisitions, they were exactly what the Oilers needed. Dach was added as a potential depth player down the stretch, and being a hometown player from just outside of Edmonton makes him an even more exciting addition.
Related: Trusted Pundits Suggest Oilers Could Move on From Darnell Nurse
In this edition of Oilers News and Rumours, we cover a slow deadline day for the Oilers, who made no moves, believing they had everything they needed leading up to it. As well, we touch on Dach’s play so far, and how he already has his first point as a member of the Oilers. Lastly, we take a look at some injury updates.
Oilers Make Zero Moves on Deadline Day
While teams were busy making trades, trying to improve their team on trade deadline day, the Oilers didn’t make one move, believing they had already done what was needed leading up to it. There was some speculation that the team was going to remain active and see if there was anything else they could do, but at the end of the day, they stayed put.
Some people were annoyed by that, considering most fans were hoping the team would make a last-minute splash to acquire someone like Bobby McMann to even further strengthen the forward depth, but at the end of the day, the Oilers didn’t need to make another move, and they decided not to make a move just for the sake of making a move.
Dach Notches First Point as an Oiler
Fans immediately assumed that Colton Dach wouldn’t be an impact player as soon as he joined the Oilers, and accepted the fact that he would likely be more of a project. His analytics aren’t the flashiest, but he has a physical element to his game and is quite smart defensively.
In their recent game against the Vegas Golden Knights, where they picked up a win, Dach picked up his first assist as a member of the Oilers when Trent Frederic scored. While his ice time has been limited, Dach has been an effective two-way player, and he seems like he could be a strong fourth-line contributor down the stretch and into the postseason.
Henrique, Ekholm Dealing With Injuries
Adam Henrique missed the Oilers’ game against the Golden Knights as he was dealing with an injury, and Josh Samanski took his place. Mattias Ekholm was also considered a game-time decision, but ended up playing.
It seems as though both of them are dealing with minor issues, but Ekholm is playing through it, while Henrique is taking time to rest his injury.
Knoblauch Under Fire Due to Ice Time Allocation
If you’re on social media, you will have seen fans pushing back heavily against head coach Kris Knoblauch because of how he has spread out his ice time or how he has utilized certain players. As well, he has been criticized for putting Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together at even strength, when stats suggest they are more effective when separated.
In an interview after the Oilers’ loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Jason Gregor asked Knoblauch about keeping McDavid and Draisaitl together, to which he simply replied that he “hoped it would get going.”
As well, fans are questioning Knoblauch’s usage of newcomers Dickinson and Dach, who haven’t gotten as much ice time as their teammates, even though they have been among the strongest two-way players on the Oilers since joining the team.
We’ll see how things play out as the regular season comes to a close and the playoffs approach, but hopefully, Knoblauch utilizes those who need to be utilized to win hockey games down the stretch.
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