Oilers Offseason Trade Bait: Who’s Available & Who’s Untouchable?

The trade market is heating up in the NHL as the new league year is just over a week away. The Edmonton Oilers could be among the teams that are active in moving players this summer, but the question of who might be moving remains to be seen. Darnell Nurse has requested a trade, but beyond that, everything else is a question mark in terms of what kinds of moves could happen. I want to take a look at who should and shouldn’t be available in any trades the Oilers complete over the next while.

Obviously, pretty much any player in the league can be available via trade for the right price, but it’s unlikely certain players will be moved. In Edmonton’s case, they have some valuable stars, both young and old, while also having a few assets that could help them create space for future moves in free agency. Let’s look at who the untouchable and movable players are.

Note: This list is based on the team’s current roster. Pending free agents are included.

Untouchable

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Matt Savoie, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jason Dickinson, Vasily Podkolzin, Colton Dach, Evan Bouchard, Connor Murphy, Connor Ungar

This category is obvious for the most part. The re-signing of Dickinson and Murphy basically seals their places with the rest of the core guys for the next couple seasons. Savoie’s rookie season started slow, got really hot towards the middle and end, and then quieted down in the playoffs. Despite that, he has shown immense promise as a building block for this team.

The others that will stand out here are Podkolzin, Dach, and Ungar. Podkolzin had a career-high 19 goals and 37 points in 2025-26. He established himself as an important piece of the forward group, and that will definitely stay that way next season. Dach will be a restricted free agent this offseason, and I see no reason not to extend him. He has the potential to be a long-term power forward as his offence improves.

Finally, Ungar has proved to be a brick wall in the minor leagues and could be a future starter for the Oilers. For a team that has struggled mightily to find consistent goaltending, they can’t afford to move him anywhere right now.

Available in Certain Scenarios

Kasperi Kapanen, Isaac Howard, Josh Samanski, Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, Ty Emerson, Spencer Stastney

These are players that the team should keep (re-sign if required) and have been very good or will be good at some point. They are here, however, because if the right trade surfaces, sacrifices need to be made. We saw that very recently with the Brady Tkachuk trade and the Florida Panthers giving up three first-round picks.

Kapanen could be looking to test the free agent market, but he would be very valuable to the team after a great postseason. If he re-signs, he could still be an option in certain trades. Youngsters Howard and Samanski are also very promising, but they could also help bring in a big fish, and the Oilers could part with them for a known asset.

The four defencemen on this list have all had great stretches with Edmonton at different times. Walman was stellar in the 2026 Playoffs. Ekholm has slowed down, but still eats big minutes every night. Stastney was great during moments of the regular season, and Emberson is quietly steady. These are great things, but if the Oilers can make upgrades on the back end and bring in a solid defender or even a stud goalie, players like this may need to be available. It’d be tough to part with any of them, but it could be necessary.

Available

Jack Roslovic, Adam Henrique, Trent Frederic, Mattias Janmark, Max Jones, Curtis Lazar, Darnell Nurse, Tristan Jarry, Connor Ingram, Calvin Pickard, any remaining prospects and draft picks

This group is a mix of veterans under contract, pending free agents, and the remaining stock in the farm system. The situation is very similar for each of the veteran players. They have all had their moments or even long tenures with the team, but ultimately, if a trade comes up, these guys will be first available for opposing general managers.

The goaltending situation is a question mark heading into the summer as management looks at their options. For right now, no goalie is safe in Edmonton. Jarry will be the only netminder under contract on July 1, but after his tough season, you never know. Ingram would be the best of the three to return, but he would probably work best in a tandem, so the Oilers would need to make another move anyway.

I listed the prospects and draft capital because I believe it’s necessary for management to have that available. If they need to get a trade done that will help the team right now, no draft pick or young player should be more important. It’s now or never in building a winning team in Edmonton.