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'Bodies have to go': Elliotte Friedman Drops Big News About Upcoming Oilers Roster Changes


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Daniel Lucente
November 5, 2025  (3:37 PM)
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Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman listens to a reporter's question
Photo credit: TSN

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Oilers are no doubt going to make roster moves once all healthy players come back, and revealed who could go.

According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman, the Edmonton Oilers will be compelled to make several roster decisions in the near future as their injured players work their way back into the lineup.
"It dictates that you guys have bodies that you got to move. Whether they're going through the waivers, or they're going out the door, their bodies have to go."

- Elliotte Friedman
Alec Regula rejoined the lineup against Dallas, with Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen, and Mattias Janmark not far behind. Reinforcements on the horizon mean that the Oilers will have to create roster space via trade or waivers.
Friedman followed up by noting that one logical trade candidate is defenseman Troy Stecher, who ranks eighth on the Oilers' defensive depth chart and is looking for more regular minutes.
"He seems to be the guy in the number eight spot (on the Oilers d-man depth chart). And I just think he wants to play, right? Like Emberson at least plays more. And, you know, could they possibly get more for him (Emberson)? Absolutely. But he's also more valuable to them."

"I think with Stetcher, it was more along the lines of, he's not playing very much and he'd like to get going. And I think the Oilers know that. His spot on the roster is a bit more precarious. And his was the name I heard on the weekend because I heard they were trying to get him somewhere."

- Elliotte Friedman

Ty Emberson carries greater on-ice value, but his $1.3 million cap hit could make him another possible trade piece, as Frank Seravalli mentioned.

Trading Ty Emberson would help the Oilers' cap situation more than dealing away Troy Stecher

Trading Emberson would add roughly half a million dollars in extra cap space compared to Stecher's $787,500 salary.
The Oilers have a full 23-man roster at the moment, and things only get more complicated with the upcoming returns. Isaac Howard could head to the AHL once Hyman is back, and Stecher or Emberson can be moved out.
Curtis Lazar could also be reassigned to Bakersfield, with Kapanen close to returning to the lineup. Janmark, who carries a $1.45 million cap hit through next season, could also be traded or waived by Edmonton.
The arrival of Jack Roslovic adds another layer to the roster shuffle. His addition to the top power-play unit likely pushes David Tomasek to the AHL, as his two-way game doesn't align with a bottom-six role.
It's going to be busy weeks for general manager Stan Bowman as Edmonton manages a crowded roster and looming salary cap pressures while trying to keep its lineup balanced heading into a crucial stretch of the season.
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'Bodies have to go': Elliotte Friedman Drops Big News About Upcoming Oilers Roster Changes

Will the Oilers trade players once healthy bodies return?

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