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NHL Trade Rumours: Oilers have ‘very concrete plan’ to add top-9 forward, says insider
Edmonton Oilers celebrate goal
Photo credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Michael Menzies
Jan 22, 2026, 15:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 22, 2026, 16:10 EST
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The Edmonton Oilers have a “very concrete plan” to target a top-nine forward ahead of the NHL Trade deadline, but no deal is imminent, according to TSN Insider Pierre LeBrun.  
LeBrun was on TSN’s Insider Trading Thursday, saying that out of the Oilers’ pro meetings last week, Edmonton decided on their path for how to approach the trade deadline on March 6th. 
But there’s an internal debate about whether that forward should be a centre or a winger. 
“What I’m told is they come out of those meetings with a very concrete plan in terms of going out and targeting a top-nine forward,” said LeBrun. 
“Now, where it gets interesting is, do they end up trading for a centre or a winger? And the reason that isn’t 100 per cent is because the internal debate is – is Ryan Nugent Hopkins better at centre for the Oilers, or on the wing?” 
Nugent-Hopkins’ versatility to play up and down the lineup is one of his strongest attributes, as he’s slotted in beside Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman on Edmonton’s top line, and is producing at nearly a point-per-game pace.
However, the Oilers’ lack of depth scoring from the bottom six has been concerning. Since Adam Henrique got injured, Jack Roslovic has been slotting at third-line centre more often. 
The attempts to have Trent Frederic and Andrew Mangiapane play higher in the lineup have not worked, leading to Mangiapane trade rumours and a harsher microscope on the depth pieces in the Oilers’ forward core. 
“He’s really good at both. And you know what? He’s playing with Connor McDavid. He’s been unreal, but when he’s a third-line centre behind McDavid and Draisaitl, who can beat that in the NHL?” said LeBrun. 
“The bottom line is this, there are more wingers that are going to be available in the market than there are going to be centres. That might be a self-fulfilling prophecy that perhaps the Oilers go out and trade for a winger. Because there are so many teams still in the race, so much parity, and so few sellers, I don’t think anything is imminent for Edmonton.”
Either way, LeBrun doesn’t believe a trade is imminent, nor did he link the Oilers to any specific player.
Plus, the Oilers are in an all-hands-on-deck situation with all 11 available forwards in the lineup until Leon Draisaitl and Kasperi Kapanen return. 
“I think they need the market to continue to play out, but that’s where they hope to upgrade, because they like their blue line. They’ve made their goalie trade. Top-nine forward is where GM Stan Bowman hopes to add before March 6.”

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