Oilers Add Spencer Stastney in a Busy Day of Bold Moves

Oilers Add Spencer Stastney in a Busy Day of Bold Moves

Oilers Add Spencer Stastney in a Busy Day of Bold Moves

So, here’s what’s been going on — it’s been a massive day for the Edmonton Oilers, and one of the quieter but very important moves involves defenceman Spencer Stastney coming over from the Nashville Predators. Even though the Jarry–Skinner blockbuster is stealing the headlines, this Stastney deal is actually a key part of how Edmonton is reshaping its blue line right now.

The Oilers picked up Stastney in exchange for their 2027 third-round draft pick, and the timing of this move makes perfect sense. With Brett Kulak being moved to Pittsburgh as part of the Jarry trade, a gap immediately opened up on the left side of the defensive group. On top of that, Jake Walman was just placed on long-term injured reserve, which added even more urgency. Stastney, at age 25, feels like a smart, stabilizing addition in the middle of all that roster shuffling.

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This season with Nashville, he’s posted one goal and nine points over 30 games, while averaging just under 15 minutes of ice time per night. Nothing flashy, but steady — the kind of minutes-eater a team desperately needs when its depth suddenly gets thinned out. And because Stastney was already handling regular NHL shifts, he can be slotted in without much of a learning curve. In Edmonton’s case, it’s likely he’ll be asked to shoulder something close to or just under the 17-plus minutes Kulak had been logging.

Stastney himself is a pretty interesting case. Drafted in the fifth round back in 2018, he worked his way up patiently through Nashville’s system, finally making his NHL debut in April of 2023. Since then, he’s carved out a reputation as a smart, mobile defender who doesn’t panic under pressure. Across his 81 career NHL games, he’s put up three goals and 18 points — again, not numbers that jump off the page, but they do speak to a player who can contribute quietly but effectively.

He’s also on an extremely team-friendly deal: the second season of a two-year, $1.65 million contract, coming in at an $825,000 cap hit. For a team like Edmonton, which is constantly juggling the cap while trying to stay in contender mode, that kind of contract flexibility isn’t just helpful — it’s essential.

In the middle of a season where the Oilers have been trying to tighten up defensively and regain consistency, bringing in a young, reliable defender like Stastney feels like the kind of move that might not dominate the headlines today but could matter a lot down the stretch. With the goaltending shakeup happening at the same time, Edmonton clearly isn’t waiting around. They’re reshaping the roster on the fly, and Stastney now becomes part of that new look as the push toward the playoffs continues.

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