The NHL summer offseason began with an unusually quiet free agency period. For clubs that had hoped to find significant reinforcements on July 1st, the market turned out to be almost empty.
It all started back in winter with the surprising trade that sent Mikko Rantanen first to Carolina, and then a couple of months later to Dallas, taking the first major piece off the board. Following that, the reigning champions, Florida, did swift business by signing key players like Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, and Aaron Ekblad in advance. To top it off, Mitch Marner was traded to Vegas even before the free agency window officially opened.
By the time free agency truly commenced, all the primary game-changing talents were already accounted for, and the few remaining reliable backup options also vanished quickly.
This situation has left several specific clubs in a bind. For teams that needed significant roster adjustments, whether by plan or necessity, the scarcity of free-agent options has left their lineups with unfilled gaps, with no simple solutions readily available.
With this in mind, let`s examine a few teams that may now be compelled to explore the trade market to acquire the kind of players they initially hoped to sign as free agents.Edmonton Oilers
Given Edmonton`s position on the final day of the playoffs, their offseason strategy seemed straightforward. After competing in the Stanley Cup Final against a Panthers team that appeared stronger in depth scoring and goaltending, the Oilers` main objectives seemed to be enhancing offensive options beyond their star players and making a decision regarding Stuart Skinner in net.
However, so far, the Oilers` offseason has seen them move backward. Corey Perry, who was among the top playoff scorers in 2025, departed for Los Angeles. Depth players Connor Brown and John Klingberg also left. Furthermore, a couple of summer trades further depleted the forward group by sending away Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson.
General Manager Stan Bowman did add one notable new player in Andrew Mangiapane, a former 35-goal scorer who had a long tenure on the other side of the “Battle of Alberta” before a brief period in Washington.
