Five Edmonton Oilers Players Who Could Be Traded Early or Late in 2025-26 as Team Eyes Stanley Cup or Cap Relief
The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2025–26 NHL season carrying the dual burden of championship aspirations and serious cap considerations. After reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2023–24 and coming close again in 2024–25, the team is on the precipice of glory—but still searching for the right blend of depth, flexibility, and long-term sustainability. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl both signed to long-term deals that command top-dollar cap hits, the Oilers’ front office will have no choice but to be aggressive in managing assets throughout the season.
Trades have become an essential component of Edmonton’s recent strategy, whether it’s dumping cap space, rebalancing the roster, or simply responding to playoff needs. And with a potentially wide-open Western Conference, the Oilers could act early—or wait until the final weeks of the trade deadline—to make moves that push them over the top. Here are five players from the current roster who may not finish the 2025–26 season in an Edmonton uniform, due to a combination of contract status, performance, depth chart congestion, or long-term planning.
Of all the trade candidates on the Edmonton roster, Cody Ceci has long been one of the most speculated-about names. After being signed as a stabilizing top-four defenseman several years ago, Ceci has often seen his minutes fluctuate and his impact debated. While he’s generally been solid in a stay-at-home role, the Oilers’ defensive corps is increasingly leaning toward mobility and puck movement—areas where Ceci doesn’t shine.
As of the 2025–26 season, Ceci is in the final year of his contract, which carries a cap hit of $3.25 million. That alone makes him a prime candidate to be moved, especially if the Oilers are looking to free up cap space to acquire a top-six winger or add insurance in goal. Teams that are lacking in veteran defensemen, especially those on the playoff bubble, could see Ceci as a stabilizing presence down the stretch. He may not be moved early unless an injury crisis strikes elsewhere, but as the trade deadline nears and contenders get desperate for defensive depth, his market could heat up fast.
In many ways, Ceci’s situation echoes that of other veterans who end up being part of “hockey trades”—not strictly salary dumps but rather exchanges that reflect mutual needs. Edmonton could potentially swap him for a forward who brings speed and scoring from the middle-six, which has often been a pain point for this club in the playoffs.
Few players in Edmonton have had a more rollercoaster tenure than goaltender Jack Campbell. Signed in 2022 to be the franchise’s starting netminder, Campbell never found consistency and ultimately lost the job to Stuart Skinner. Though the Oilers have remained patient—and Campbell has shown flashes of recovery—he remains one of the most expensive backup goaltenders in the league, with a cap hit of $5 million per season through 2026–27.
If Campbell starts the season strong, Edmonton may look to capitalize on his momentum and move him to a team in need of goaltending depth, particularly one that has suffered an injury or is looking for playoff insurance. On the other hand, if he struggles again, the front office may explore a buyout or sweeten a trade with draft picks or prospects just to get the money off the books.
The key question is whether any team will be willing to absorb his cap hit without significant retention. If Edmonton is desperate to move him, they could retain up to 50%, which would still save valuable space. Alternatively, they may look to offload him in a three-team deal, where a broker helps reduce the hit further. Campbell’s presence on this list is more about his contract and the team’s long-term structure than his actual talent—but both are intertwined, and unless he has a career resurgence, the writing seems to be on the wall.
Foegele has quietly become one of Edmonton’s more consistent two-way forwards over the past couple of seasons. He plays a north-south game, kills penalties, and occasionally chips in with timely goals. But heading into 2025–26, he also finds himself in an increasingly crowded forward group, especially if younger wingers like Dylan Holloway or Xavier Bourgault take a leap.
What makes Foegele a potential trade chip isn’t a lack of value—it’s his contract status and the fact that he’ll be a pending unrestricted free agent. If the Oilers don’t believe they’ll re-sign him, or if he becomes part of a surplus at wing, they could look to move him for picks or a depth defenseman around the deadline. There’s also a chance he gets moved early in the season if a young player earns a top-nine role in training camp and makes someone like Foegele redundant.
He could fetch a decent mid-round pick or become part of a package for a bigger name. Either way, Foegele’s game is respected around the league, and a team looking to add size and speed for a playoff push would see him as a valuable asset. In the end, his fate will be tied to the team’s confidence in its younger forwards stepping up—and whether they feel they can survive without his gritty utility play.
Like Ceci, Brett Kulak has been a regular on the Oilers’ blue line over the last few seasons. Signed to a modest deal that runs through 2026–27, Kulak provides mobility and strong zone exits on the third pair. He’s never flashy, but he’s reliable and brings the kind of defensive depth that teams covet during a long playoff run.
However, the emergence of younger defensemen like Philip Broberg and Vincent Desharnais—as well as the Oilers’ need to remain under the cap—could make Kulak expendable. While Edmonton isn’t desperate to move him, he could be part of a broader reshaping of the defensive unit, especially if the front office sees an opportunity to upgrade to a more physical or offensive-minded blueliner.
Kulak’s trade value would depend heavily on timing. Early in the season, if a contending team suffers injuries on the blue line, he could be a target. Closer to the deadline, he becomes even more attractive due to his relatively low cap hit and playoff experience. If Broberg earns a full-time top-four role and Desharnais continues his progression, Kulak may become the odd man out—not through any fault of his own, but due to roster dynamics.
Ryan McLeod is perhaps the most intriguing name on this list—not because he’s underperforming, but because he represents a tough long-term decision for Edmonton. A young, speedy, and defensively responsible center, McLeod has carved out a niche as a reliable third-liner with upside. But with restricted free agency looming after the season and arbitration rights on the horizon, the Oilers may find themselves priced out if he has a breakout year.
The question facing the front office is whether to commit to McLeod long-term or use him as a trade chip to address more pressing needs, such as defensive help or forward scoring depth. He could be part of a hockey trade where Edmonton exchanges youth for experience, especially if they feel their Stanley Cup window is now and cannot afford developmental patience.
Alternatively, McLeod could be retained through the season and moved in the offseason if negotiations prove too difficult. But if the right offer comes during the season—particularly one involving a cost-controlled player under team control for several more years—Edmonton may be tempted to pull the trigger. His departure would sting, but the salary cap era often demands tough sacrifices, and McLeod’s rising profile may be his ticket out.
The 2025–26 season may be Edmonton’s most pivotal year yet in the Connor McDavid era. With massive cap hits on the books, championship urgency at an all-time high, and several key players in walk years, the pressure is on to maximize every inch of roster flexibility. The Oilers have proven they can go deep into the playoffs—but they’ve also learned that every lineup spot matters when trying to capture a Cup. Whether it’s clearing cap space, addressing weaknesses, or getting ahead of contract decisions, trades will almost certainly be part of the strategy. And for these five players, that could mean saying goodbye to Edmonton before the journey ends.
