With the NHL trade deadline approaching, the Edmonton Oilers may not be in a financial position to make a blockbuster trade but could still make moves to bolster their roster depth.
Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli suggested a modest trade involving the Oilers on Friday, linking Edmonton to Nashville Predators fourth-line center Michael McCarron.
Seravalli proposed a deal that would see Edmonton send a 2026 second-round pick to Nashville in exchange for McCarron, a 6-foot-6, 232-pound forward who could add physicality to the Oilers’ bottom six.
“The Oilers have been looking for a fourth-line center all season long, preferably one that would provide a little speed,” Seravalli wrote. “McCarron would bring an entirely different element. He’s 6-foot-6, he skates well for a big man, and he would add a dash of truculence to the Oilers’ lineup.”
McCarron, 29, has recorded two goals and five assists in 46 games this season but is known more for his defensive play and physical presence.
Seravalli pointed out that while McCarron’s offensive production isn’t eye-catching, he could be the type of depth player who becomes more valuable in the playoffs, and one of the few available for the Oilers considering their cap situation.
One major factor limiting Edmonton’s deadline moves is its murky salary cap.
"What happens if Evander Kane isn’t going to remain on LTIR for the remainder of the regular season? That means Edmonton will have very limited cap space to deal from, likely creating a dollar-in, dollar-out scenario that used to be GM Ken Holland’s tagline," Seravalli wrote. "It will be difficult to add a true game-changer in that case."
As Seravalli pointed out, the Oilers may not be able to spend aggressively, especially if Kane is brought back from long-term injured reserve.
“The more I talk to people around the league, it is not a certainty that Evander Kane doesn’t come back before the playoffs,” Seravalli said of Kane remaining on LTIR while appearing on Oilersnation Everyday. “ The Oilers truly do not have an idea or an answer yet, and may not get one until a week before the deadline as to whether or not they can spend that money. If they can’t spend that money, we are talking about dollar in, dollar out.”
With limited assets and financial constraints, McCarron could represent one of the few realistic targets as Edmonton looks to shore up its depth ahead of the playoffs.
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