The Edmonton Oilers have shared news about a last-minute deal involving a tall veteran player as they get ready for an afternoon game in San Jose.
Edmonton is one of the teams likely to make many changes before the trade deadline comes, and general manager Stan Bowman is already making moves.
In fresh news, the team made a lineup change this morning, but it wasn’t the big trade many fans were hoping for.
Oilers share lineup news before playing against Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks.
Connor McDavid’s team has officially brought back defenseman Alec Regula from his practice stint with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.
Regula returned to the main team just in time for tonight’s matchup against Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center.
The 25-year-old defenseman has had a tough season. In 29 games with the Oilers, he has three assists and a minus-16 rating.
At 6 feet 4 inches tall, Regula is a strong player, but he is still new to the NHL, having played way more games this year than in his whole career before.
Before this season, he only played 22 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2020 to 2023.
Regula sat out the entire 2024-25 season due to a serious knee injury after the Oilers picked him up from waivers from the Boston Bruins in late 2024.
His time in Bakersfield went well, as he scored one goal and made two assists in three games while playing a lot of minutes.
This call-up might suggest that something important is about to happen. With the trade deadline just a week away, the Oilers have been connected to players like Rasmus Ristolainen and Justin Faulk.
If a big trade is on the way, making room on the roster or moving around defensemen like Regula is usually the first indication of a bigger deal coming.
The #Oilers have recalled defenceman Alec Regula from his conditioning loan with the @Condors. pic.twitter.com/bcvQy77UM1
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 28, 2026
Since the time off for the Olympics, the Oilers have been busy with some paperwork, and they recently sent Matt Savoie and Calvin Pickard to Bakersfield for a while.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch has to make sure his third defensive pair is strong, and Regula coming back allows the coaches to check him out one more time before the deadline.
No matter if he plays in tonight’s game or just acts as a backup, the Oilers need to make decisions fast to complete their team for a championship run.
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