For Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman, his work was all completed in the days leading up to the trade deadline, making two separate trades with the Chicago Blackhawks: one to acquire Connor Murphy, and another to nab Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach.

The reaction in Oil Country has been mixed, with fans liking the acquisition of Murphy for a 2028 second-round pick, but questioning if giving up a top-12 protected first-round pick and Andrew Mangiapane for Dickinson and Dach was worth it.

And with the dust settled on all the deadline deals, let’s see how the experts graded the Oilers trade deadline.

Daily Faceoff — Trade deadline winners

Hey, before you judge: look around the league. Landing Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy may not feel sexy, but the Oilers addressed their top roster needs in acquiring them: third-line center, right-shot defenseman and not one but two members of the NHL’s top-ranked penalty kill coming over to help an ailing penalty kill. It was no use chasing a goaltender if his name wasn’t Sergei Bobrovsky, so the Oilers fared well, especially when we consider how few playoff contenders really moved the needle with their trades this week. – Matt Larkin

The Athletic — B

Oilers general manager Stan Bowman faced a challenging trade deadline this week. The club needed a right-handed defenseman who could help on the penalty kill and punish opposition forwards; an upgrade for the third line, a trio that has performed poorly all year; and a rugged forward who could intimidate and disrupt opposition defenders with heavy hits. Bowman got all three and did it under the cap. The price was dear (two early draft picks), but all the “needs” boxes got a check. There were no home runs at the deadline for Edmonton, but the solutions are bona fide bets. — Allan Mitchell, a.k.a. Lowetide

The Athletic — Connor Murphy — A-

Find yourself something to love as much as Stan Bowman loves reacquiring his former players.
But while the Edmonton general manager’s lack of imagination became something of a punchline during his tenure in Chicago, it’s hard to argue with this move. Murphy is a perfect fit for the Oilers, who are desperately trying to make another run at the Stanley Cup Final during the brief show-me window Connor McDavid has given them… – Mark Lazerus
Wow, is the first time Bowman re-acquiring a former player actually makes sense for more than just nostalgia purposes?
On paper, Murphy looks like a solid fit for the Oilers. He doesn’t bring a ton of puck skills or offensive ability to Edmonton and, at 32, he probably isn’t going to reinvent his game. But he can be counted on to be a stabilizing force on the back end. And that is exactly what this team needs, considering how precarious its goaltending situation is. – Shayna Goldman

ESPN — Dickinson, Dach acquisitions — A-

From signing a two-year deal worth $3.6 million annually to being waived months later and being traded days after being waived. This chaotic description of Andrew Mangiapane’s 2025-26 campaign further reinforces why Oilers general manager Stan Bowman needed to find answers before the trade deadline….
That’s what made the need to find an alternative on a cheaper contract rather important. It appears that the Oilers have done that with Dickinson and Dach…
Dickinson gives the Oilers someone they can use as their third-line center behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He also provides the Oilers with one more forward who can be used down the middle or on the wing. It’s a group that also includes Trent Frederic, Adam Henrique and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. – ESPN

Bleacher Report — Dickinson, Dach acquisition — B+

The Oilers addressed their need for a reliable third-line center while removing a burdensome contract. They also acquired young winger Colton Dach in the deal, who is still trying to establish himself as an NHL forward. He saw mostly checking-line duty in Chicago.
Dickinson is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status in July. He is an underrated two-way center who is a strong penalty killer with a decent scoring touch. Chicago also agreed to retain half of his $4.3 million cap hit. Meanwhile, the Oilers cleared the remainder of Andrew Mangiapane’s contract from their books.
Mangiapane has another year left on his contract and has declined as a scoring winger. However, the real prize for Chicago was getting the Oilers’ first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. It is Top-12 protected, but if the Oilers remain a playoff team next season, that pick will belong to Chicago. – Lyle Richardson

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.