Edmonton Oilers Rumors: 2 Centers Becoming Possible Trade Targets

The Edmonton Oilers could use another bottom-six center, but their limited cap space will make it hard for them to add before the start of the season. As a result, Kurt Leavins wrote that the Oilers could look to add a center during the upcoming season. He specifically listed Nic Dowd and Jake Evans as possible trade targets.

The Oilers would be wise to add a fourth-line center, and bringing in either Dowd or Evans during the season would make sense because of it. Dowd carries a $1.3 million cap hit until the completion over the next two seasons, while Evans has a $1.7 million cap hit for two more years.

Dowd has emerged as a strong bottom-six forward because of his excellent defensive play and physicality. In 65 games this past season with the Washington Capitals, the 33-year-old posted 13 goals to go along with 25 points.

Evans, on the other hand, appeared in 54 games with the Montreal Canadiens in 2022-23, where he had two goals to go along with 19 points. Like Dowd, he would serve as a decent bottom-six center and be a candidate for penalty-kill time if acquired.