The injury problems have really hit the Edmonton Oilers hard at a terrible time.
As reported by David Pagnotta, experienced player Mattias Janmark is set to have surgery on Wednesday, which means he will be out for the rest of the regular games.
This is a huge setback for head coach Kris Knoblauch, who has depended on the 33-year-old Swedish player as a key defender and a major part of the team’s penalty-killing unit.
Losing Janmark’s experience and solid performance in defensive plays creates a big gap in the Oilers’ defense.
As I mentioned earlier on the show, I heard that LetsGoOilers forward Mattias Janmark is getting surgery on Wednesday and will miss the rest of the regular season.
The Oilers are currently ranked 3rd in the Pacific Division with 66 points, but they are really being tested in terms of team depth. Janmark played a crucial role in helping the team transition from defense to offense, often taking tough defensive face-offs to help the top players have more opportunities.
Throughout his NHL career, Janmark has been recognized for his speed and dependability. This season, he contributed 12 points while having a decent +4 rating, but his worth to the team went beyond just scoring.
General manager Stan Bowman is now dealing with an urgent situation with the trade deadline coming up on March 6. The Oilers were already looking to improve their goaltending, but with Janmark needing surgery, they will probably focus on finding someone to fill his role on the penalty kill.
Will Stan Bowman consider using long-term injury reserve to find someone to replace Janmark for the Oilers?
With Janmark out for the rest of the 82-game season, the Oilers have a chance to move his $1.45 million salary to the Long-Term Injured Reserve. This gives Bowman some extra space to look for a tough winger who focuses on defense.
The Oilers will need someone who can come in right away and help make the fourth line more reliable, as it has had trouble lately.
As I mentioned on the show about 15 mins ago, I’m told #LetsGoOilers forward Mattias Janmark is having surgery on Wednesday and is out for the rest of the regular season. https://t.co/UFYJjTLdgK
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 2, 2026
The players in the locker room are definitely feeling the impact of this news. Janmark is a well-respected teammate and does important tasks that aren’t always noticed in highlights.
The game on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators will be the first challenge without number 13. Knoblauch will probably look to Derek Ryan or bring someone up from Bakersfield to help out for now.
The path to winning the Stanley Cup just became much tougher for the Oilers. With their best defensive player out, the team’s defense and the goalies, Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, will face even more pressure.
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