For what feels like the first time in a long time, the Edmonton Oilers will enter a season with significant financial flexibility.

On Aug. 7, general manager Stan Bowman joined Oilers Now, where he made it clear that despite his offseason moves, he doesn’t expect the current roster to be the finished product.

Bowman stated that he was comfortable with their current goaltending and defence situations, noting that if the Oilers do add, it would likely be a top-six to top-nine forward.

If Edmonton does pursue that upgrade, recent trades provide a sense of what it would cost.

A high-end top-six forward in Jordan Kyrou fetched Connor McMichael, a prospect, and a first-round pick. On the other hand, an older top-nine forward, Blake Coleman, fetched Jake Middleton and second-, third-, and fourth-round picks.

The price depends on the player’s calibre and situation, but a meaningful upgrade will require valuable assets to go the other way.

Cap space may no longer be the obstacle, but that raises another question: Does Edmonton have the trade assets to take advantage of it?

What draft capital do the Edmonton Oilers have to offer in a trade?

In their pursuit of a Stanley Cup, the Oilers haven’t exactly been stockpiling their draft picks.

In the upcoming 2027 draft, they are already without their first-round (top-12 protected), third-round, and fourth-round picks due to prior trades to upgrade their roster.

While the Oilers do have their 2028 first-round pick, they have already moved their........

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