As we say goodbye to July (and some of the most violent Edmonton thunderstorms in memory), it’s fair to say Stan Bowman has delivered a satisfactory offseason. That’s a tough task after an early playoff exit, but the general mood of fans is positive as they look forward to the coming season.

There are things the general manager could do before training camp. The issue is at centre, and could be pivotal in the Oilers’ efforts to win a sixth Stanley Cup.

The issue

Edmonton’s roster screams for a right-handed centre capable of playing second- or third-line minutes. That’s an extremely valuable player type, and teams are paying heavy prices in trades and free agency.

Earlier this summer, Boone Jenner signed for $5.75 million for four years, Colton Sissons for $4.25 million for two years and Scott Laughton got $3.5 million for the next three seasons. Even when factoring in the increased cap number, these are high prices driven by the lack of available centres.

The Oilers are loaded at centre. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the best 1-2 punch at the position in the league. It isn’t close. The club also traded for checking centre Jason Dickinson at the deadline, and signed him over the summer ($4 million times five years). His shutdown and penalty-killing ability is top drawer. Young Josh Samanski played 24 games one year ago with Edmonton, and showed impressive two-way acumen.

Added to the group is winger Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who can still make things happen at centre, but is fading. In his time in the middle during 2025-26 (all five-on-five minutes away from McDavid and Draisaitl), Edmonton delivered a 37 percent goal share in 375 minutes. Even the expected goal share, while more respectable (46 percent), suggests the club will need a stronger second-line centre when McDavid and Draisaitl are on the ice together.

That’s no small item. Mike Babcock has already mentioned the team will run, at times, its top two players together at five-on-five. If Babcock approaches last year’s numbers (318 minutes, when Kris Knoblauch was head coach), Edmonton would be wise to add another centre with skill. A right-handed centre would be ideal, as there isn’t one currently on the roster.

What would that look like?

Chris Johnston’s free-agent list for The Athletic is constantly updated; NHL teams have picked it clean. Just three names remain, and none of those are right-handed. Bowman will need to go the trade route. It may seem impossible, but teams sour on quality often. In March 2025, the Toronto Maple Leafs felt a need to offload Fraser Minten, who’s now a valued member of the Boston Bruins.

The key often comes from targeting clubs with significant depth at the position. In this case, the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and (possibly) Tampa Bay Lightning.

The NHL solutions

Kirby Dach signed a one-year deal for $3.6 million with the Canadiens earlier this month, kicking a difficult situation to the summer of 2027. A talented player with size (6-foot-4, 221 pounds), speed (94th percentile, via NHL Edge) and skill (No. 3 at the 2019 draft), injuries have dashed a promising career. His contract will take him to full free agency, but it’s possible the Canadiens would be open to a trade before then.

Dach’s five-on-five numbers from a year ago: 1.09 goals per 60; 1.77 points per 60, 50 percent goal share (48 percent expected) and 40 percent in the faceoff dot. He isn’t a full-time centre, but if the Oilers plan to run McDavid-Draisaitl on the same line, Dach would be an option for strong-side faceoffs on the second line and has the potential to be an offensive difference-maker if he can stay healthy.

Noah Laba of the New York Rangers would be a perfect fit. He has size, speed, and enough skill to project as a middle-six (second- or third-line centre). He came out of nowhere to grab an NHL job last season, and it’s unlikely the Rangers would let him go. Peter Baugh at The Athletic tracked him early in the season as a surprising but significant piece of the New York retool. Laba didn’t deliver the kind of offence that suggests a career on the second line, but players often blossom in their second or third NHL seasons. He’s the outer marker target, probably beyond what the Oilers can acquire at this time.

Both NHL solutions would be expensive, and Bowman may not have an appetite to make a big deal before training camp. Both Dach (whose brother Colton plays for the Oilers) and Laba should be players of interest for Edmonton management should they come available.

The AHL solutions 

I recently wrote about Matt Poitras of the Boston Bruins and Conor Geekie of the Tampa Bay Lightning as possible options for trade, and both men fit the current conversation (although Geekie shoots left). All of Dach, Poitras and Geekie have played a substantial number of games in the NHL over the past three seasons. Here are the NHL numbers from all three since 2023-24.

All numbers five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick

All three men have positives on the resume, all worth a long look for the Oilers. The need for a right shot in the middle elevates Dach and Poitras, and then it may come down to the asset cost.

Dach carries a significant cap hit that would limit Bowman’s room to wheel around the trade deadline. Poitras is a restricted free agent, and the club qualified him. As of today, no contract has been signed despite no real leverage on the part of the player. Fans should expect the signing to be announced soon, and Poitras should have a good chance at a roster spot this fall. The lack of a contract does linger in the air as August approaches.

Bottom line

The exit interviews with the players last spring, Bowman’s offseason comments and, more recently, Babcock’s verbal at the media availability announcing his hiring all spent time discussing McDavid and Draisaitl playing together at five-on-five. The Nugent-Hopkins era at centre, as a legit strategy, is waning.

Additionally, the Oilers don’t have a right-handed centre on the roster. Acquiring Poitras or Dach would give the team an option for strong-side faceoffs and add some torque to a second line that would likely include two of Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Vasily Podkolzin or Matt Savoie.

If either man is available this summer, Bowman would be wise to see if there’s a trade that makes sense for the Oilers. A season with Stanley Cup expectations should have as many holes filled as possible before training camp.