{"id":476288,"date":"2026-02-28T02:46:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T02:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/476288\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T02:46:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T02:46:34","slug":"why-the-edmonton-oilers-are-targeting-maple-leafs-ekman-larsson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/476288\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the Edmonton Oilers Are Targeting Maple Leafs’ Ekman-Larsson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a>A mock-up of Oliver Ekman-Larsson in an Edmonton Oilers uniform. According to recent reports from NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Oilers are closely monitoring the Maple Leafs defenseman as a primary trade target to shore up their right-side defense, a move contingent on Edmonton first trading Andrew Mangiapane to clear salary cap space.<\/p>\n

The Edmonton Oilers are in win-now mode, and a new trade rumor has the hockey world buzzing. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli<\/a>, the Oilers are paying extremely close attention to Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/a> as the NHL trade deadline approaches.<\/p>\n

If you clicked here wondering how Edmonton plans to fix their blue line, this is your answer. The Oilers have been desperately hunting for a reliable presence to play on the right-side defense, and Ekman-Larsson fits the bill perfectly. But how does a cap-strapped team like Edmonton pull off a blockbuster deal with Toronto?<\/p>\n

The answer lies in Andrew Mangiapane<\/a>. The Oilers are pressed tight against the salary cap<\/a>, meaning a dollar-in, dollar-out scenario is their only realistic path forward. Moving Mangiapane is the first major domino that needs to fall. Let\u2019s break down the cap gymnastics, the asking price, and why an Ekman-Larsson trade could be the exact move that helps bring the Stanley Cup back to Oil Country.<\/p>\n

The Cap Gymnastics Behind Acquiring Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/p>\n

As someone who watches the NHL trade market closely, I can tell you that this potential deal is a masterclass in asset management. Right now, Andrew Mangiapane carries an average annual value (AAV) of $3.6 million through next season, and he holds a full no-trade clause. However, insider rumors suggest Mangiapane is highly motivated to waive that clause if it means going to a roster where he\u2019ll secure more consistent playing time.<\/p>\n

If Edmonton can successfully move Mangiapane, the financial floodgates open. Oliver Ekman-Larsson currently holds an AAV of $3 million<\/a> through the 2027-28 season, accompanied by a 16-team no-trade list. By shedding Mangiapane\u2019s $3.6 million, the Oilers would instantly have more than enough cap space to absorb Ekman-Larsson\u2019s contract without breaking a sweat.<\/p>\n

From my perspective, Ekman-Larsson offers exactly what Edmonton is missing on the right side. He brings a calm, veteran presence, excellent puck-moving abilities out of the defensive zone, and the kind of playoff composure you need when the games get tight. But while the money makes sense, the trade assets are where things get complicated. <\/p>\n

Edmonton\u2019s prospect pool and draft capital are undeniably thin right now. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in no rush to give away a core piece of their blue line for free, and they will likely demand a first-round pick or a top-tier prospect in return. The question for Oilers management is simple: Are you willing to mortgage the future when the cupboard is bare? If Ekman-Larsson is the final puzzle piece, the answer has to be yes.<\/p>\n

Find the Latest Edmonton Oilers News & Join Our Hockey Pool<\/p>\n

Looking for the most up-to-date Edmonton Oilers news<\/a>, trade deadline coverage, and insider scoops? We\u2019ve got you covered. Be sure to join our NHL Playoff Hockey Pool<\/a> for a chance to win massive cash prizes! Plus, if you\u2019re wondering how to watch the Oilers game on TV today<\/a>, you can find the full broadcast schedule directly on our website. Don\u2019t forget to add nhltraderumor.com<\/a> to your bookmarks and stay ahead of the game.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A mock-up of Oliver Ekman-Larsson in an Edmonton Oilers uniform. According to recent reports from NHL insider Frank…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":476289,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5125],"tags":[198,146,5300,5,23004,4,548,24196,24,782],"class_list":{"0":"post-476288","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-edmonton-oilers","8":"tag-edmonton","9":"tag-edmonton-oilers","10":"tag-edmontonoilers","11":"tag-hockey","12":"tag-leafs-trade-rumors","13":"tag-nhl","14":"tag-nhl-trade-deadline","15":"tag-oiler-rumors","16":"tag-oilers","17":"tag-oliver-ekman-larsson"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/116145973163925494","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=476288"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476288\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/476289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=476288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=476288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=476288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}