With just a week to go before the NHL Trade Deadline, the Edmonton Oilers seem destined to make a move to bolster their lineup, in hopes of making another deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

As has been the conversation for the past several years, many expect the Oilers to add to their blue line. While the team has players like Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm, Edmonton needs more depth if it wants to finally get over the hump and lift Lord Stanley for the first time in 36 years.

According to a couple of the game’s top insiders, the Oilers are in on a couple of veterans, one with a notable winning pedigree.

When speaking on Prime Video on Thursday night, Frank Seravalli reported that Edmonton is interested in St. Louis Blues defenceman Justin Faulk and Toronto Maple Leafs defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

“Both bring a big skating element,” Seravalli said. “Key is that they play potentially on the right side. Faulk in particular stands out. He’s someone that could bring a totally different element to this Edmonton blue line. … I think of the impact that Oliver Ekholm had in 2023 with his acquisition, those are some names that stand out that could have a very similar impact on Edmonton’s back end”

“I do think that OEL thing with Edmonton is real,” Friedman said on Friday’s edition of 32 Thoughts. “I think they’ve found it a lot harder to move Mangiapane than they thought. I think they felt there would be opportunities out there. I heard that… there just haven’t been. That’s a complicating factor, but I do think the OEL stuff is very real.”

Seravalli also mentioned on Thursday that the Oilers were considering adding some secondary scoring up front, but have altered their game plan as they’ve realized defence is a higher priority.

“It’s an interesting change for Edmonton,” Seravalli said. “They were originally looking for a scoring winger with size. Now, as they bring Paul Coffey back, they’re trying to get Tristan Jarry adjusted and playing better hockey. They know that they need to defend better.”

Both Faulk and Ekman-Larsson certainly have an upside to their game that the Oilers could utilize. OEL is on a struggling Leafs team that might miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was a key depth piece on the Florida Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup two years ago, at the Oilers’ expense.

This season, the 34-year-old has scored eight goals and 27 assists for 35 points. He has a plus/minus of -4 while averaging 20:47 of ice time.

Faulk still has an exceptional amount of skill, despite getting up there in age. The 33-year-old could complement Bouchard on the right side, while being an option on the power play, if need be.

In 58 games this year, Faulk has scored 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points.

The Oilers (29-23-8) are second in the Pacific Division, four points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for first.

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