Edmonton Oilers explore Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade with Leafs amid blue line glut
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Daniel Lucente
Feb 27, 2026 (12:05)
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Edmonton Journal columnist David Staples wrote on X that the Oilers are eyeing Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and the "d-man glut" could decide the price.
Staples' angle lines up with what insiders keep hinting at: lots of teams think they need a defense upgrade, but there are also a lot of names floating around.
That's the key word here, leverage. When the market is crowded, the buyer can wait, and the seller has to sweat.
Edmonton, though, doesn't feel like a team that can sleepwalk to April. The Oilers are 29-23-8, and the push is real after the break.
If you're looking for the "why Ekman-Larsson" argument, start with puck-moving that doesn't die under pressure. Edmonton's breakout game needs one more clean outlet on the blue line.
Ekman-Larsson, now 34, was drafted 2009, Round 1, No. 6 by Phoenix, and he's not a pure passenger season. He has 8-27-35 in 59 games in 2025-26.
The contract is the part that actually makes the rumor believable: $3.5M cap hit, signed in Toronto on July 1, 2024, running through 2027-28.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson puts the Edmonton Oilers on a clock
Oilers fans are excited by the fit, but you can feel the skepticism too, nobody wants another deadline move that looks smart on paper and soft on the ice.
In a "glut" market, Edmonton should push for a deal that doesn't cost a premium pick plus a real roster piece.
The hockey fit is simple: give the Oilers a second wave on the man advantage, and a defender who can slide pucks to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in stride, not from a standstill.
Toronto's side is just as simple: the Leafs are 27-23-9, and if they decide they're selling, a veteran cap hit becomes a tool to reshape the room.
This is a patience test now. If the defense market stays crowded, Edmonton can wait for the ask to drop, then strike when the math finally works.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 27|125 ANSWERS Edmonton Oilers explore Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade with Leafs amid blue line glut Should the Edmonton Oilers trade for Oliver Ekman-Larsson? | ||
| Yes | 76 | 60.8 % |
| No | 49 | 39.2 % |
| List of polls | ||