The Edmonton Oilers’ forward depth was seen as an area of strength heading into this season, but just three games in, it has already been tested.

While scoring hasn’t been an issue, with 17 goals, the second-most in the National Hockey League, their top nine is an area of concern due to injuries. As it stands, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Matthew Savoie, three key top-six players, are out of the lineup, as is third-line centre Jason Dickinson, though he returned to practice Monday.

Paired with the fact that Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are playing together, the Oilers have seen a second line of Max Jones, Colton Dach, and Kasperi Kapanen already this season.

They need some outside help, and during Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Oilers are looking to swap a depth defenceman for a forward in what would be a lateral move.

See, an area of strength, at least on paper, is the Oilers’ blue line. They........

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