Connor McDavid has given his seal of approval to the Oilers’ pre-deadline acquisitions expressing optimism that the three new additions from Chicago can help restore the defensive identity that has eluded the team this season.
The Oilers made a flurry of moves ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline acquiring defenceman Connor Murphy for a 2028 second-round pick, then landing forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 first-round pick.
Chicago retained 50% of Murphy’s and Dickinson’s salaries in the deals. All three players made their Oilers debuts Thursday night against Carolina.
GM Stan Bowman’s approach did attempt to address some of the team’s weaknesses in defence and penalty kill that have ranked among the league’s worst despite the Oilers leading the NHL with 3.76 goals per game over their last 46 contests.
Captain Connor McDavid was overall optimistic about the new acquisitions. “Yeah, very happy with the moves,” McDavid said last week. “I think all the guys we brought in, all three of them from Chicago, are good adds.”
Connor McDavid had high praise for Jason Dickinson
The Oilers captain was particularly complimentary of Dickinson, a player he’s battled against throughout his career.
“Definitely a guy I played a lot against over the years and a guy that’s always tough to play against,” McDavid explained. “He defends well. He’s a big body that skates well.”
When asked what made Dickinson such a difficult opponent, McDavid pointed out his range and positioning. “He skates well and he’s rangy and he’s kind of just always there. That’s obviously annoying to play against.”
Oilers getting back to defensive roots
McDavid didn’t shy away from addressing the team’s defensive woes and acknowledged that the Oilers have fallen short of their own standards this season.
“It’s something that we’ve taken a lot of pride in over the years and for whatever reason lately it hasn’t been going great,” McDavid admitted. “For whatever reason. So, something we can get back to.”
The additions of Murphy, a physical stay-at-home defenceman and Dickinson, known for his two-way play, do speak of an attempt to shore up the defensive side of the puck.
“Obviously Murphy’s size and defence hard, and you know, same with Dickinson,” McDavid said. Of the younger Dach, he noted: “Obviously young guy that plays physical, plays with an edge and still trying to find his way in this league. He’s got lots of potential.”
McDavid sees the next stretch of games as the perfect opportunity to measure where his team stands.
“Great opportunity for our group to play against the league’s best,” he said. “We feel like we’re one of those teams. We haven’t showed it necessarily all year, but great chance to play against them and see where we’re at.”
When asked about the competitive scenario heading into the playoffs, McDavid acknowledged the wide-open race. “Besides, I guess, the three teams in the Central, it seems like a lot of teams right there. We obviously have a chance to put together some good hockey and go on a run and put ourselves in a good spot going into the playoffs.”
McDavid on the Andrew Mangiapane trade
McDavid also reflected on the emotional toll of trade deadline moves, noting the bittersweet nature of roster changes.
“It’s always the flip side of it, the human side of it, understanding that it’s a nervous time for a lot of guys,” he said. “Yes, it’s great to see guys come in. Obviously sad to see [Andrew] Mangiapane go, but there’s the human side of it both ways. This is a big change for all three guys, moving families and stuff like that.”
Still, the excitement of adding pieces for a playoff push overshadows the shakeup. “Every time you’re adding a piece, setting yourself up to go on a run, it’s exciting.”
With three new pieces in the lineup and a gauntlet of tough games ahead, the Oilers will soon find out if Bowman’s deadline moves are enough to transform their season and recapture the defensive edge they desperately need.
