Panic isn't the right word for it. Not yet. But if you’ve been scrolling through the latest Edmonton Oilers news rumors lately, you know the vibe around Rogers Place is getting a little twitchy. We are sitting in mid-January 2026, and the team is 23-17-8. On paper? Second in the Pacific. In reality? They are a team that just gave up nine goals to Colorado a few weeks back and is currently sweating the health of their biggest stars while the trade deadline looms like a final exam nobody studied for.
Honestly, the biggest story right now isn't even about a trade. It’s about Leon Draisaitl. He’s taking a leave of absence. Family illness. The team has been tight-lipped, asking for privacy, which everyone respects, but from a hockey standpoint, it leaves a $14 million hole in the middle of the ice. Connor McDavid said it best: "Everyone in here is a brother, father, son... that stuff comes first." He's right. But with Leon out and the Olympic break coming up fast, the pressure on Stan Bowman to make a move has reached a fever pitch.
The Goalie Carousel: Is Tristan Jarry the Answer?
Let's talk about the crease. It’s been a rollercoaster. One night Stuart Skinner looks like a Vezina candidate, the next he’s fighting his angles. The big rumor that won't die involves Tristan Jarry. Yeah, the guy from the Penguins.
Reports from insiders like Elliotte Friedman have linked Jarry to Edmonton for weeks. He’s 30 now, making $5.375 million, and he’s been playing out of his mind in Pittsburgh. We’re talking a .913 save percentage on a team that isn't exactly a defensive juggernaut. The Oilers actually got a look at him recently—he's back from a lower-body injury and looked sharp.
✨ Don't miss: Liechtenstein National Football Team: Why Their Struggles are Different Than You Think
But here is the kicker: the Oilers might have found some weird leverage. Because of goalie injuries across the Eastern Conference, teams like the Rangers and Flyers have been calling about Calvin Pickard.
Think about that.
The Oilers might actually be able to package Pickard—who has been a rock-solid backup—with a struggling asset like Andrew Mangiapane to clear cap space. Mangiapane has been a healthy scratch lately. He’s got 11 points in 41 games. That’s not what you pay $3.6 million for. If they can move him and Pickard to a desperate team like Carolina or Philly, it opens the door to bring in a legitimate 1B starter or a big-bodied defenseman.
🔗 Read more: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
Edmonton Oilers News Rumors and the "Big Swing" on Defense
While everyone is obsessed with the net, the blue line is where the actual Cup will be won or lost. Darnell Nurse is playing massive minutes, but the depth is thin. Jamie Oleksiak’s name keeps popping up. The "Big Rig" is 33 now, playing for a Seattle Kraken team that might be looking to sell if they slip further in the standings.
Imagine Oleksiak on the second pair with Ty Emberson or Evan Bouchard. He brings that 6-foot-7 frame and playoff nastiness that the Oilers lacked in their previous deep runs. The suggested price? It’s steep. You’re looking at Mattias Janmark, a prospect like Beau Akey, and probably a first-round pick. Is it worth it for a rental? Maybe not. But if Seattle retains 50% of his $4.6 million cap hit, the math starts to look a lot better for Stan Bowman.
Then there is the Jesperi Kotkaniemi situation. This one is out of left field, but Nick Kypreos put him on the trade board recently. Carolina is apparently tired of waiting for the former third-overall pick to find his game. He’s only 25, but his $4.8 million cap hit is a lot for a guy with six points this season. The Oilers need depth at center, especially with David Tomasek and Noah Philp not quite filling the void. It’s a gamble. A huge one. But the Oilers love "reclamation projects."
💡 You might also like: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
What Most People Get Wrong About the Deadline
People assume the Oilers are just going to go out and buy the biggest name available. That’s not how this roster is built anymore. With McDavid and Draisaitl’s massive extensions kicking in, they are essentially playing salary cap Tetris.
The Vancouver Canucks are apparently trying to offload Evander Kane back to Edmonton. The Oilers reportedly said no. Why? Because the chemistry matters. They’ve moved on. They are looking for "glue guys" now. Guys like Drew O’Connor or Kiefer Sherwood from Vancouver. Sherwood is a hit machine on a $1.5 million expiring deal. He’s exactly the kind of playoff-style forward Kris Knoblauch wants for the bottom six.
Real Talk on the Standings
- Pacific Division: Vegas is leading with 58 points. Edmonton is right there with 54.
- The Goals Against: 158. That’s the problem. Only six teams in the entire league have given up more.
- The Power Play: Still lethal at 33.3%. It’s basically the only reason they aren't in a wild card spot.
The reality is that this team is top-heavy. McDavid is sitting at 83 points. Draisaitl has 67. Evan Bouchard has 46. After that? The drop-off is a cliff. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is having a "quiet" year with 37 points. They need secondary scoring, and they need it yesterday.
Actionable Steps for the Next Two Weeks
If you're following the Edmonton Oilers news rumors, don't expect a blockbuster tonight. The league is heading into the Olympic roster freeze on February 4th. That is the "soft deadline."
- Watch the Waiver Wire: The Oilers need league-minimum depth. If a veteran center gets waived, expect Bowman to be first in line.
- Monitor the Draisaitl Timeline: Everything depends on when Leon comes back. If he's out long-term, the Oilers might have to use LTIR (Long Term Injured Reserve) to bring in a rental center early.
- The Mangiapane Trade: If Andrew Mangiapane isn't traded by the time the team heads to the Olympic break, he's likely staying through the season as a "buy low" internal option.
- Goaltending Stability: If Tristan Jarry’s name keeps appearing in Sportnet’s "Saturday Headlines," it’s because the smoke is real. Watch his starts in Pittsburgh; if he gets "sheltered," a trade is imminent.
The Oilers are in a "win now" window that is starting to feel like "win or else." They have the best player in the world playing some of his best hockey—30 goals and 53 assists in 48 games—but he can't kill every penalty and stop every puck. The next few weeks will determine if this 2026 season is a championship run or another year of "what if." Keep your eyes on the cap space; that’s where the real story is written.