With goalie targets dropping like flies, the Edmonton Oilers might have no choice but to add a defenseman at the trade deadline.
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Earlier this week, we examined Brandon Carlo, who now seems to be staying in Boston through the end of the week. With Carlo off the market, today we'll take a look at another massive shutdown defender: Jamie Oleksiak of the Seattle Kraken.
The Player
The first thing you'll notice about Oleksiak is his size: listed at 6'7" and 252 pounds, he's one of the biggest players in the NHL.
Drafted by the Dallas Stars in the first round in 2011, Oleksiak has two main claims to fame: his younger sister is Olympic gold medallist swimmer Penny Oleksiak, and he was traded for the same draft pick twice when he went from Dallas to Pittsburgh and back to Dallas in the late 2010s.
Oleksiak is an original Seattle Kraken, a mainstay on their blueline since 2021-22. He's in the second-to-last year of a five-year contract worth $4.6 million against the cap.
The Good
At the risk of repeating myself, Oleksiak is huge. Despite that, he's not some immobile, stay-at-home, Hal Gill-esque player; he can move very well for his size and can be helpful in the transition game. He's never been a big point producer—he topped out at 25 points in 2022-23—but he's not a zero offensively.
Oleksiak would be a perfect fit in Edmonton. The lefty can play both sides of the ice, and profiles best as a shutdown 4D -- exactly what the Oilers need. The 32-year-old would be an ideal partner for Darnell Nurse on the second pair, while also being able to swap with Brett Kulak to create a dominant third pair next to Ty Emberson.
Oleksiak also comes with an extra year of team control at an affordable number. The Oilers could fit his $4.6 million cap hit without too much effort, and his addition would give them a very good top six on defense for another year.
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The Bad
Oleksiak won't be cheap. It's a seller's market out there: Ryan Lindgren went for a second and a fourth round pick, while even depth defender Brian Dumoulin went for a second rounder. The Kraken would be well within their rights to ask for Edmonton's 2026 first round pick, and if they don't meet that price, someone else will.
There's also the question of trading in-division. Calgary's reticence to trade in-province has cost the Oilers Chris Tanev and Rasmus Andersson -- Seattle's obviously not the same kind of rival, but asking prices always go up in negotiations between division rivals.
The Verdict
If Oleksiak is on the market, the Oilers should be first in line. He fits their needs perfectly, bringing size, shutdown defense, and sandpaper to a lineup that's missing all three.
If the only obstacle is acquisition cost, there's no reason for the Oilers not to pounce. They need to be all-in, and they can't afford not to make a big move. Their 2026 first-rounder should be the least of their concerns, let alone any other later picks it takes to sweeten the pot.
Such a perfect fit is rarely available at the trade deadline. The Oilers had better take advantage.
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