2 Depth Forwards Linked To Oilers

There is lots of speculation as to what the Edmonton Oilers are actually going to be able to acquire at the trade deadline this season to help push them to a Stanley Cup. Some think it's a top-six forward, while others believe it should be a bottom-six forward, top-four right-shot defenseman, or a backup goalie. Of course multiple can be true, but nothing other than signing Corey Perry has come about yet.

Kurt Leavins, a writer covering the Oilers, believes that the Oilers main focus is a third-fourth line, two-way center with some size. He sees two potential players that could be moved this season as targets, Nick Dowd and Colton Sissons.

The Washington Capitals may surprisingly be 22-18-7 and sit seven points out of a playoff spot with three games in hand, but they have scored the third fewest goals in the NHL this season and are a -31 goal differential. It is starting to catch up to them as the team is 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and will likely choose to sell again at the trade deadline. Dowd is a UFA in 2025, so it could work in favor of the Oilers acquiring someone with a little bit of term rather than using an asset on a rental. His cap hit is $1.3 million AAV, so it is very affordable.

As for Sissons, the Nashville Predators just dropped out of a playoff spot before the All-Star break and might have trouble actually getting in the playoffs this season. Moving Sissons wouldn't initiate any sort of rebuild, but they could take advantage of the value he has and make room for some other young players to get more of an opportunity and free up a spot for the offseason. He is a UFA in 2026, so an even better term than Dowd. Sissons has proven that he can step up when needed as he's mostly served as a second line player all season, logging 17:12 of ice time per game. He has 13 goals and 25 points in 51 games, so the 30-year-old would really add some depth scoring to the Oilers if acquired.

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