The Edmonton Oilers made their first notable trade of the season earlier this week when they acquired defenseman Connor Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a second-round pick. It was no secret that the Oilers were in need of another solid right-shot defenseman, and they landed just that by acquiring Murphy.
However, with the Oilers having their struggles as of late and now being fourth in the Pacific Division, they should not be done making trades yet. They still have some trade needs that they should be looking to address between now and the 2026 NHL trade deadline. This is especially so when noting that the Oilers are in their win-now window and will be looking to redeem themselves after losing back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.
One specific player type that the Oilers should be looking to acquire is a third-line center. There is no question that they could use an upgrade at this spot in their lineup, and there are some interesting names in the rumor mill who could be good fits in Edmonton. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nicolas Roy is one name who stands out, as he would have the potential to be a strong pickup for the Oilers.
Due to this, we here at Heavy Sports have a trade pitch that would have the Maple Leafs send Roy to the Oilers in a trade deadline swap.
Oilers Get:
- Nicolas Roy
Maple Leafs Get:
- Andrew Mangiapane
- 2026 Second-Round Pick
- 2028 Third-Round Pick
Oilers Have Been Linked to Nicolas Roy Ahead of Deadline
With the Oilers in need of a third-line center, they have been connected to Roy leading up to the deadline. During a recent episode of TSN Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun specifically mentioned Roy as a potential target for the Oilers.
“One name that has been out there as a potential fit for the Oilers is that of Nick Roy. I will just say that while I think that is accurate, it’s really more just the fact that Roy, of the Leafs, is exactly the type of player that would fit what the Oilers are looking for in the sense that there are other players like him too that are on the Oilers’ list, as far as I know,” LeBrun said.
It is not surprising in the slightest that the Oilers have interest in Roy. He would have the potential to be a strong addition to their third line and penalty kill due to his solid two-way play and physicality. He would also have the potential to provide them with some much-needed secondary offensive production, as he has recorded 20 points in 58 games this season with Toronto. This is after he had 15 goals and 31 points in 71 games last season for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Oilers Desperately Need to Add a Forward
Whether it is Roy or someone else, there is no question that the Oilers need to add another impactful forward ahead of the deadline. They are simply not getting enough from their bottom six right now, and a player like Roy could help things on that front.
It will be interesting to see if the Oilers can end up swinging a deal for Roy from here. If the Oilers do land him, he would be more than a rental for him. This is because he is in the fourth season of his five-year, $15 million contract.
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