Oilers Insider Warns Of Regret Over Franchise Blueline Trade
Staples argues the Oilers are set to feel real blowback from the February 2023 deal, not because Ekholm hasn't lived up to his end, but because the prospect Edmonton gave up, Reid Schaefer, has finally started to look like the player Nashville hoped for.
A Trade That's Aged Perfectly For Edmonton, Until Now
The Oilers sent defenseman Tyson Barrie, prospect Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 fourth-rounder to Nashville for Ekholm and a 2024 sixth-round pick.
Ekholm has become a fixture on Edmonton's top pairing alongside Evan Bouchard, and helped the Oilers reach back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, while Barrie retired after just 41 more games.
He's recorded 30 goals, 133 total points, and a very impressive +115 plus/minus rating across 247 games and four seasons with the Oilers.
One thing Mattias Ekholm doesn't get enough credit for is how he can absolutely wire the puck.
— Daily Faceoff Edmonton (@dfoedmonton) July 18, 2026
📹: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/w31BaMlqxI
Schaefer's path was rockier.
He struggled to make an offensive impact in his first AHL season with Milwaukee, posting just 21 points in 63 games, then suffered a shoulder injury at Nashville's 2024 training camp that cost him most of that year.
Why The Concern Is Building Now
Staples' warning is on Schaefer's trajectory finally turning upward as a 22-year-old power forward, meaning Edmonton could soon be facing him as a legit problem in conference matchups rather than a footnote in the trade.
Staples was careful to note this isn't a criticism of the original deal itself, calling it a move virtually no Oilers fan or analyst would have passed on given what Ekholm has provided.
Where does Mattias Ekholm rank amongst the greatest Oilers defencemen in franchise history?! pic.twitter.com/lXm5iEjXb4
— Daily Faceoff Edmonton (@dfoedmonton) August 26, 2026
The concern is purely about what comes next.
If Schaefer continues developing into the power forward Nashville's franchise once envisioned, a trade that's looked entirely one-sided in Edmonton's favor for two and a half years could start to feel a lot closer than it does today.
However, Schaefer has appeared in just 47 NHL games, recording six goals and eight points, so for now, this is still clearly a win for the Oilers.
