With so many different people talking about our Edmonton Oilers, it can be tricky to keep up. Each week, we here at The Oil Rig will compile the biggest and best news, updates, rumours, and discussions to keep up-to-date on all things Oilers.
This week, we’ve got an update on the trade rumours surrounding Jordan Binnington, a latecomer rumour involving Tristan Jarry, a report on the lack of consensus on the status of goaltending in the Oilers organization, and a blockbuster proposed trade between the Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Let’s get right into exploring these stories, but first, a few quick hit rumours and updates!
Quick hit Edmonton Oilers updates
Jordan Binnington has been one of the primary trade targets proposed to solve the Oilers’ goaltending woes. But those plans appear to have hit a roadblock, as Andy Strickland believes that Edmonton is on Binnington’s no-trade clause. He could still technically approve a trade himself, but if the Oilers are on that list for a reason, it is unlikely he would waive.
Ultimately, Frank Seravalli reports that General Manager Stan Bowman is making calls, though nothing has come to fruition yet.
Although the Oilers got Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back from injury last weekend, Kasperi Kapanen, Jack Roslovic, and Jake Walman remain out. Walman is close to returning; however, updates on Kapanen and Roslovic are limited. It is believed the two of them will be out until Christmas.
Oilers standing pat on goaltending?
This may not be the update Oilers fans wanted to hear. After so much controversy and discussion about the Edmonton Oilers’ goaltending situation over the past few years, very little has actually been done. Leading into this season, where the Oilers still have some of the league’s worst goaltending, are still the subject of countless articles and questions about the personnel in those positions, and we still have very little progress.
That much-desired progress may have to wait even longer. Earlier this week, Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukaskas discussed on 32 Thoughts that internally, the Oilers are not yet ready to move on from Stuart Skinner.
For better or worse, Bowman is ready to give the current tandem until at least the new year before being more inclined to make a trade. That’s not for lack of trying, though. The Oilers have been actively making calls to inquire about options. Such as the aforementioned Binnington, or Tristan Jarry as another option.
Ultimately, it does not seem like the team will be getting a much-needed revamp in the crease until the offseason, when the salary cap rises.
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But what if the Oilers could afford to make that move?
This situation is about as fluid as can be. There is no consensus on what the Edmonton Oilers are thinking, and every insider has come to a different conclusion. Despite the above suggesting that a mid-season move is not in the cards, on Friday evening, online discussion exploded with a few accounts suggesting that the Oilers are close to a deal to acquire Tristan Jarry.
After going through waivers and being a leading buyout candidate last offseason, could Jarry be the target the Oilers are hoping can save their goaltending?
Jarry had the worst season of his career in 2024–25, with an .892 save percentage and 3.12 goals against average. The Penguins’ goaltender has rebounded exceptionally well to start the 2025–26 season. Although he missed multiple weeks due to an injury, Jarry has a .913 SV% and a 2.61 GAA through his first 12 appearances. On Moneypuck, Jarry is 13th in the league in save percentage, while his .852 goals saved above expected per 60 is 10th among goalies with six games played.
The key to this trade working is the 50% retained. The Oilers cannot easily fit Jarry’s full $5.375M cap hit. But at 50% retained, approximately $2.68M, it opens up more options. The cap hits of players like Mattias Janmark and David Tomasek, or sending Brett Kulak to Pittsburgh in the deal, could make it work.
A blockbuster trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs?
In the realm of pure speculation, there always seems to be one wild proposal that gets some traction. This week, it would be a huge one-for-one deal between the Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. A trade that would send Darnell Nurse to Toronto in exchange for Morgan Rielly.
Is there any universe where this trade not only gets accepted but the players involved also agree to waive their no-movement clauses? Highly unlikely. Does that stop the speculation? Also highly unlikely.
There were reports earlier this season that Nurse was beginning to feel the noise surrounding his play. And with the Maple Leafs struggling to reestablish themselves after losing Mitch Marner in the offseason, there may be a willingness for Rielly to get a fresh start elsewhere as well.
As absurd as the proposal is, swapping Nurse for Rielly isn’t the worst idea ever proposed. Nurse’s play has continually dragged down the second pairing and become a massive hole that opponents can exploit in the playoffs. Rielly’s more offensive playstyle could fit with how the Oilers generate offence. Also, Nurse’s battle and physicality could be a welcome addition to a Maple Leafs dressing room that has faced criticism for a lack of toughness.
This deal would also provide some additional cap relief to the Oilers. Both players have contracts ending after the 2029–30 season. But Rielly’s $7.5M cap hit would give Edmonton an additional $1.75M per season to work with.
Ultimately, this is a purely speculative proposal that would never happen. But breaking it down, the trade may not be as bad as it seems on first glance for either side.
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