My colleague Tyler Yaremchuk wrote a column this week arguing the Edmonton Oilers must use their current cap space to acquire a top-six winger. 

I don’t feel that way, given some of the names suggested. 

If you’re calling Vancouver, you’re calling about Brock Boeser, not about Jake DeBrusk. If you’re calling Detroit, you’re asking about Alex DeBrincat. If you’ve got Danny Briere on the phone, you’re talking about Owen Tippett. 

Those are the types I’d consider spending assets on, but they wouldn’t be easy. The DeBrusks of the world, I’ll pass. 

The Oilers don’t need to make a move just to make a move. While accruing cap space is attractive, Yaremchuk is right that they won’t have the assets to weaponize some $20-25 million in theoretical space. 

I’m not convinced they don’t have the solution in the system already.

Give Isaac Howard a shot

For the last couple of years, there’s been an underlying notion that the Oilers don’t give runway to their young players to take spots on the roster. This led to a disgruntled Philip Broberg and a frustrated Dylan Holloway. This came up last year when Noah Philp was a healthy scratch after scoring and standing up for teammate Alec Regula.

At the 2024 NHL Draft, the organization decided to trade next year’s first pick so they could take Sam O’Reilly. Last summer, they flipped him for Isaac Howard.  

Howard performed well in the AHL with occasional flashes of brilliance offensively, but we aren’t sure what he is at the NHL level. 

However, it would be frustrating asset management if the Oilers traded Howard for less than a surefire stud. They must think highly of him if he’s worth a prospect who just a year before was seen as worth a Cup-contending team’s first-rounder.

I know Stan Bowman wasn’t the GM at that time, it was the Summer of Jeff (Jackson), but in the last three off-season cycles, Edmonton charted a course to get younger. Unless they’re sure, don’t steer........

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