Oilers Now Focusing On One Need Heading to Trade Deadline

The Edmonton Oilers went out and addressed their blueline with a trade for Connor Murphy a few days back. Now it's time to focus on the top-nine, and their focus, according to TSN insider Pierre LeBrun, is a physical third-line center.

But first, he says, they need to separate themselves from Andrew Mangiapane and his $3.6M cap hit (currently residing in the AHL after he went unclaimed on waivers on the weekend).

They spent a lot of time Tuesday, I'm told, trying to find a landing spot for Mangiapane, and that extra year of $3.6M. Once they're able to do that, their No. 1 priority is to go get a third-line center who has some physicality and some ruggedness, the type of player that really fits in come playoff time.

That sure sounds like Toronto Maple Leafs' trade candidate Nic Roy. The 6'4" two-way center has already proven his playoff chops, notching 11 points in 22 games while delivering 48 hits for the Vegas Golden Knights in their 2023 run to the Stanley Cup.

Oilers eyeing big, physical third-line center

"The Oilers do covet the kind of attributes that Nic Roy has," said LeBrun. "Although I'm told that they have not yet made an offer to the Toronto Maple Leafs for him."

Another name that LeBrun connects to this Oilers' need, and this would be a much more notable addition, is center Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues. But with his $6.5M cap hit and two more years to run on it, Edmonton would have to do some serious cap gymnastics to find a way to fit him in. The Oil currently have zero cap space. And even unloading Mangiapane's contract wouldn't get them close to Schenn.

Other possibilities, we'd posit, might include Roy's UFA teammate on Toronto, Scott Laughton, and Charlie Coyle of the Columbus Blue Jackets (though his cap hit—$5.25M—presents the same problem as Schenn's).