Insider talk suggests one thing, but the actual final decisions could catch everyone off guard.
The Edmonton Oilers might have signed defenseman Connor Murphy earlier this week, but don’t assume they’re done making changes.
Bob Stauffer mentioned that the Oilers are on the lookout for a right-handed center to fill the third center position, and they are prepared to trade away their first-round pick in 2027 to make that happen. The player they are interested in is thought to be on a team from the Eastern Conference (not Toronto) and has a salary that falls between $2.5 to $3.5 million. That’s a significant amount.
Stauffer also suggested that Edmonton might try to make as many as two more moves before the deadline on Friday, likely requiring them to trade a player to free up more salary cap space. The Oilers have already had to move Andrew Mangiapane and Alec Regula down to the minors, put Mattias Janmark on long-term injured reserve, and have Chicago keep half of Murphy’s $4.4 million salary to finalize their last trade.
They are really close to the salary cap, which means if they want to bring in another player, they need to make some big adjustments.
While Stauffer thinks the Oilers aren’t going after a player from Toronto, there are still rumors about Nicolas Roy… so could Edmonton be tricking everyone and looking to trade with the Maple Leafs?
Darren Dreger from TSN said that people in Toronto believe Roy will be traded before the deadline. The player, who has won a Stanley Cup before, has a $3 million salary that lasts until 2026-27 and provides great defensive skills and top-notch faceoff skills, which are just what teams in contention want in a lower-line player.
Trade Talk: Oilers Land Murphy, Myers’ Decision, Big Names in Play, Hiller Fired in LA. https://t.co/WNoyShZzPd
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 3, 2026
Pierre LeBrun, also from TSN, talked about possibly trying to get Roy during last night’s Insider Trading, but the Oilers would have to move on from Andrew Mangiapane and his contract first.
We know he got through the waivers not long ago, and on Tuesday, they worked hard to find a team that could take on that extra year for $3.6 million. After they manage to do this, the main goal is to find a strong third-line center who plays tough and fits well during the playoffs.
Nicolas Roy’s name has been mentioned; he is the player from the Toronto Maple Leafs who was traded in the Mitch Marner deal.
INSIDER TRADING…
– Blues/Sabres engaged in Robert Thomas talks; price doesn’t make sense for Habs
– Oilers seeking 3rd line centre
– ‘Buyers market’ forcing teams to stay patient
– Interest in Conor Garland
– Asking price for Rasmus RistolainenWATCH: https://t.co/yabzZbmp1o pic.twitter.com/sMhvFU4BWv
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) March 3, 2026
The Oilers really like the qualities that Nick Roy has. However, I’ve heard they haven’t made any trade proposals to the Maple Leafs yet. Still, he is the type of player they are interested in at the moment.
Could Edmonton actually be the right choice, even if Stauffer thinks differently?
Since a first-round draft pick is said to be available and the management is eager to take risks, the Oilers seem ready to make a big impact before the deadline arrives.
Leave a Reply