After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups and making the finals in three consecutive seasons, Aleksander Barkov’s injury appears to be too much for them to overcome. Two days before March 6th’s trade deadline, the Panthers have a 30-28-3 record for 63 points. Right now, they’re 10 points out of a playoff spot with plenty of teams to jump over.

With Barkov’s status for a potential playoff return still up in the air, it may be a wise idea for the Panthers to treat the 2025-26 season as a punt year, as they’ve played a lot of hockey the last three seasons.

In Daily Faceoff’s latest trade board, they ranked five Panthers who could be on the move ahead of the deadline, all but one happen to be a pending unrestricted free agent. Let’s identify the Edmonton Oilers’ needs and what the Panthers have to offer.

Identifying the Oilers’ needs

Before the Oilers acquired Connor Murphy on Monday, their biggest need was a defenceman who could play on the second pairing’s right side. That move fixed that need, but now they need a third-line centre or a top-six winger (which would push Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the third-line centre).

One could argue that the Oilers could use a netminder, as Tristan Jarry has an .863 save percentage since the trade, and Connor Ingram has an .894 save percentage since he was called up. That said, with the addition of a strong defensive defenceman in Murphy, hopefully the Oilers will limit the high-danger chances and make it easier for the netminders.

Funnily enough, the Panthers’ top asset coming into the deadline is Sergei Bobrovsky.

Sergei Bobrovsky

The goaltender who has won the last two Stanley Cups is in the final season of his gargantuan seven-year, $70 million deal that carries a cap hit of $10 million. Bobrovsky’s contract also carried a 16-team no trade list.

He hasn’t had a great season, as he has an .873 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average over 43 games this season, but is coming off a season with a .906 save percentage and he had a .915 save percentage in 2023-24.

All that matters for the Oilers at this point is the playoffs (and getting enough points to actually get there). Since entering the crease in Game 3 of the first round against the Boston Bruins in 2023, Bobrovsky has a .912 save percentage over 66 games played. That includes a .919 save percentage in six games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals, although he was outdueled in the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals by Stuart Skinner.

What makes a potential trade difficult for the Oilers, on top of it being with their bitter rivals who have defeated them in the last two Finals, is Bobrovsky’s cap hit. Even with 50% retention, Bobrovsky’s cap hit comes in at $5 million, with the Oilers only having $200,000 in cap space until Andrew Mangiapane is traded. Realistically, the only way this kind of trade would work is if Jarry goes the other way.

It’s been said that the Oilers have made their bed with their goaltending decisions, and now they’ll need to lie in it. Even though Bobrovsky is considered a name to keep an eye on by Daily Faceoff, it likely won’t be the Oilers getting it done.

Evan Rodrigues

The Panthers’ second-best asset is Evan Rodrigues, who is also considered a name to keep an eye on by Daily Faceoff. Rodrigues differs from Bobrovsky (and the other three players on this list) as he is under contract for the 2026-27 season as well.

Since 2021-22, Rodrigues has become a consistent middle-six forward who is capable of playing both centre and wing. He scored 19 goals and 43 points in 82 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2021-22, but has scored 12 or more goals and 30 or more points in the last three seasons coming into 2025-26.

Through 60 games this season, the Toronto native has 11 goals and 28 points, on pace for 15 goals and 38 points. He’s played more centre this season and has won 338 of 716 draws (47.2 percent), but also kills penalties.

Earning $3 million, moving Mangiapane and an additional send down would be able to make the cap work, and Rodrigues is a good fit.

Luke Kunin

Luke Kunin seemed like a target for the Oilers before the 2024-25 trade deadline, as he had 11 goals and 18 points in 63 games with the San Jose Sharks. Instead, the Oilers traded for Jake Walman, and the right-shot centre went to the Columbus Blue Jackets where he was held pointless in 12 games.

Signing with the Panthers this offseason, Kunin has two goals and four points in 44 games, with 23 points. Kunin was recently placed on waivers but cleared. He has a cap hit of $775,000, but there are better options if the Oilers wish to add a depth right-shot centre.

Daily Faceoff considers Kunin as a trade chip if the Panthers pivot to sell.

Tomáš Nosek

Another player who is listed as a player the Panthers could trade if they decide to sell is Tomáš Nosek.

The left winger made his season debut against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and was held pointless, but is coming off a season where he had a goal and nine points in 59 games with the Panthers in 2024-25, as well as three assists in 16 playoff games. Earlier in his career, Nosek scored eight goals in three consecutive seasons and had six seasons ranging from 15-18 points.

Coming off a knee injury, there is certainly concern if the Oilers were to trade for him. Like Kunin, Nosek carries a cap hit of $775,000.

A.J. Greer

Are the Oilers going to trade for A.J. Greer after his post-Stanley Cup victory comments? Probably not. That said, the left-winger has a scoring touch, potting a career-best 11 goals and 22 points in 61 games this season. He also offers toughness, something the Oilers could use more of.

Greer is a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent who earns a cap hit of $850,000. It would be pretty funny if the Oilers acquired him.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF TRADE DEADLINE SPECIAL

The 2026 Trade Deadline Special is going LIVE March 6th. Join the Daily Faceoff crew on Friday, March 6th from 9 AM-1:30 PM MT for wall-to-wall coverage of every single move as it happens. Get instant reaction, expert analysis, and exclusive insights from special guests throughout the day. Tune in LIVE on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and don’t miss a second of deadline day chaos.