Which Forwards Are the Oilers Targeting on Teams Not Ready to Sell?

Which Forwards Are the Oilers Targeting on Teams Not Ready to Sell?

The Edmonton Oilers are playing a risky game right now, and this could either help them win the Stanley Cup or cause them to fail badly. With the trade deadline coming up on March 6, news says that General Manager Stan Bowman is looking for a strong forward to add to the team. However, there’s a catch: he’s focusing on teams that aren’t sure if they even want to make trades. That’s not being patient; that’s playing with fire.

According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Oilers are ready to be patient and see how things go, hoping that factors like pressure, losing streaks, or problems within teams will push those hesitant teams to make a deal. This is a risky plan, especially for a team with Connor McDavid playing at his best and no time to waste on seasons that don’t go well.

So, who might be on Bowman’s radar?

First up is Nashville. The Predators keep claiming they can compete, but the standings tell a different story. A player like Tommy Novak or Gustav Nyquist might become “available” if they face reality. Edmonton would appreciate adding that kind of scoring help, but Nashville won’t let them go easily.

Next is St. Louis, a team trying to balance rebuilding with trying to win. If the Blues start to struggle, players like Brandon Saad or Pavel Buchnevich might surprise everyone by being put on the market. Especially Buchnevich, who would really upset teams that are in the race for the Cup if he gets traded.

We shouldn’t overlook Minnesota, either. The Wild are dealing with salary cap issues and are not consistent. If they stumble, they might have to let go of a skilled player like Marcus Johansson, even if fans feel betrayed by the decision.

Here’s the difficult truth: the Oilers are hoping for other teams to become desperate because they know the trade market is limited—and spending too much would mean admitting past mistakes with their roster. But if they wait too long, the Oilers could end up with nothing while other teams improve.

If Bowman’s strategy doesn’t work out, fans of the Oilers won’t be upset with the market. They’ll be unhappy with the lack of action.