For as bad as things have gone for the Edmonton Oilers this season, it’s even worse for the Vancouver Canucks.
It’s starting to look like their second-round run two seasons ago was just a fluke. The Canucks missed the playoffs last season and are now one of the worst teams in the entire league this year as they sit in 30th place.
Rumours of an impending fire sale have gotten louder, especially with NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reporting that the team is open to moving veteran players with and without term. It’s looking more and more likely like the Canucks are headed toward a rebuild, and the Oilers could benefit from it.
The Oilers seem to be slowly turning the tide on their dreadful start, but there are still several areas of the roster that could be improved. With Vancouver in a tailspin, here are five players that Edmonton could potentially inquire about.
1. Kiefer Sherwood (LW)
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2025-26 stats: 12 G, 4 A, 16 PTS, 23 GP
Cap hit: $1.5 million (UFA-2026)
The easiest player to acquire off this struggling Canucks team could be pending-UFA forward Kiefer Sherwood.
He has been shot out of a cannon for Vancouver this season and leads all Canucks players in goals and is third in points behind just Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson. There is no question that Sherwood’s value is at an all-time high, and if the Canucks are unable to sign him, they’d be wise to move him before the trade deadline.
The Oilers’ offence has been fairly stale this season, so adding a hot Sherwood could help in that regard. They should also be attracted to his gritty style of play, as the 30-year-old is second in the entire league in hits this year with 98 through 23 games.
Sherwood’s offensive ability and tendency to hit everything that moves could help rejuvenate Edmonton’s forward group.
2. Conor Garland (RW)
Sergei Belski/Imagn Images
2025-26 stats: 5 G, 8 A, 13 PTS, 19 GP
Cap hit: $6 million (UFA-2032)
The Oilers have lacked an effective pest for some time.
Evander Kane did an okay job in that role, and they didn’t quite get it with Viktor Arvidsson last year, while Andrew Mangiapane has flown under the radar so far. Conor Garland looks as sure a bet as there is for a pest who can also hurt opponents on the scoresheet.
The 29-year-old has been a thorn in the Oilers’ side these past couple of seasons, which all culminated in a nasty exchange with Connor McDavid last season. He would certainly add an element that is lacking from this current Edmonton squad.
A big obstacle preventing this one is a pricey contract that will require a lot of maneuvering for the Oilers to fit.
3. Jake DeBrusk (LW)
Bob Frid/Imagn Images
2025-26 stats: 8 G, 4 A, 12 PTS, 23 GP
Cap hit: $5.5 million (UFA-2031)
Could Jake DeBruck return to his hometown Oilers in a deal?
There was heavy speculation around Edmonton and DeBrusk during his UFA year, before he ultimately decided to sign with the Canucks. The 29-year-old was born and raised in the Alberta capital, with his dad, Louie, being a former Oilers enforcer and longtime broadcaster with the club.
DeBrusk has been a consistent 20-plus goalscorer in the NHL for several seasons now and could help give the forward group some extra pop at the top. Again, the money and term on his current deal would make this a difficult trade to make.
4. Thatcher Demko (G)
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2025-26 stats: 5-4-0, .903 SV%, +6.3 GSAx
Cap hit: $8.5 million (UFA-2029)
You knew this one was coming. The Oilers need goaltending help, and if Thatcher Demko is out on the market, Edmonton should absolutely inquire.
When healthy, Demko is undoubtedly a top-five goalie in the NHL. He had a fantastic start this season, but has once again been bitten by the injury bug. He would immediately become the best goalie to play for the Oilers in over a decade and would seemingly be a long-term solution at the position.
The issue is that he can’t stay healthy. Demko has been limited to just 33 games over the last two seasons due to multiple injuries, forcing the Canucks to lean heavily on backup Kevin Lankinen and various AHL prospects.
Edmonton would love to have a healthy Demko playing for them, but those injury issues and large contract might give them pause on a potential deal.
5. Kevin Lankinen (G)
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2025-26 stats: 4-7-2, 880 SV%, +0.2 GSAx
Cap hit: $4.5 million (UFA-2030)
So, if not Demko, why not Lankinen?
With Demko missing tons of time lately, the Finnish goaltender has basically been the starting goalie in Vancouver for the last season and a half. He put up decent-enough numbers for the Canucks last season, which earned him a hefty contract extension, though things haven’t gone quite as well this season.
Would he be an upgrade on Calvin Pickard? Probably, but the big contract and mediocre numbers this season may scare off the Oilers for now.