NHL Trade Rumors Oilers (Getty Images) The Edmonton Oilers have solved one offseason question by re-signing Colton Dach, but that move has created another. With Dach locked into a two-year, $2.4 million contract, Edmonton now has 15 NHL-ready forwards despite likely carrying only 13 on its opening-night roster for the 2026-27 season. That leaves general manager Stan Bowman and new head coach Mike Babcock facing an early roster decision. Rather than simply choosing who sits in the press box, the Oilers may have to move a familiar veteran to create roster flexibility while also strengthening their salary cap position before training camp begins.
Why are the Oilers reportedly considering a Mattias Janmark trade?
The numbers have forced Edmonton into a difficult conversation. Edmonton Journal reporter Jim Matheson outlined several possible outcomes for the crowded forward group, including the option of keeping Mathieu Joseph as the extra forward while assigning Dach to the AHL, where the 23-year-old can be sent down without clearing waivers.Matheson, however, believes that solution may not be the best fit for the team. Dach brings a physical element that Edmonton could use on its fourth line, making it harder to justify sending him to the minors despite his waiver exemption. As a result, Matheson wrote that “there’s a better chance” the Oilers decide to trade Mattias Janmark instead.Such a move would address more than one issue. Janmark is entering the final year of his three-year deal worth $4.3 million, carrying a manageable $1.4 million annual cap hit. According to PuckPedia, Edmonton still has just under $5 million in projected cap space with a full roster, but moving Janmark would provide additional financial breathing room during the season.The veteran’s value has also been affected by injuries. Janmark appeared in only 43 games during the 2025-26 campaign because of a lingering shoulder problem that eventually required surgery. He has not played since February 25, creating uncertainty about how teams around the league will value him on the trade market.
Could Edmonton use Janmark as part of a bigger trade package?
Even if Janmark alone does not command a major return, that may not be Edmonton’s primary objective. Clearing a roster spot and adding a mid-round draft pick would still benefit an organization whose prospect pipeline needs improvement. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler previously ranked the Oilers’ prospect pool 30th in the NHL, making future assets increasingly valuable.Another possibility is using Janmark as part of a larger package. Heavy.com’s Cole Shelton recently explored scenarios where Edmonton combines the veteran with other assets to pursue forward help. One name linked to that type of move is Carolina Hurricanes prospect Felix Unger Sörum. The 20-year-old made his NHL debut in April and could provide Edmonton with both long-term upside and short-term roster flexibility.While the forward group remains unsettled, Edmonton has largely completed its work elsewhere. Bowman reshaped the defense through multiple offseason moves and added goaltenders Frederik Andersen and Devon Levi alongside Tristan Jarry, giving the club three NHL-caliber netminders entering camp.That makes the forward logjam the final major issue. Trading Janmark would not be an easy decision given his role during Edmonton’s consecutive Stanley Cup Final runs. Between the 2024 and 2025 postseasons, he played 27 playoff games and contributed 12 points, proving to be a dependable depth player when the stakes were highest. Still, with roster spots limited and cap space at a premium, sentiment may have to give way to practicality.