OilersNation and Google News have reported:

Edmonton may have to wait until close to the trade deadline to pursue Alex DeBrincat, according to contributors to an OilersNation mailbag published on Thanksgiving Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The discussion focused on the cap constraints that would stand in the way of a trade now, while also considering the Edmonton Oilers’ early-season performance, several new players, injuries across the league and defenceman Evan Bouchard’s reputation.

Kevin, one of the readers who submitted a question, said Edmonton had been linked to DeBrincat and described the winger as a potentially strong scoring addition. He asked how a deal could work given the Oilers’ cap limitations. DeBrincat was pictured in source material passing the puck for the Detroit Red Wings against the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Oct. 6, 2026.

Jason Gregor said he did not expect Edmonton to add DeBrincat before the deadline, if it pursued him at all. “To do it now, means they’d have to move out almost $6m in AAV, so unlikely,” he said, adding that the deadline is when he expects the Oilers to be aggressive and that the club will have more games to judge what it needs.

Tyler Yaremchuk said the Oilers could accrue cap space if they get healthy, potentially bringing them close to being able to afford DeBrincat by the deadline. “I would love to add a piece like Debrincat, who is a pure goal scorer,” he said, while adding that waiting would give Edmonton time to see whether other significant needs emerge during the season.

The contributor known as Baggedmilk also viewed the possibility as a deadline deal. “The cap math doesn’t make sense unless a Jarry-level contract is moving out,” he said. He added that he enjoyed an early-season rumour even though he questioned why it was being discussed at that point.

The mailbag opened with a question from Yves about whether the Oilers were playing well as a team or whether Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Bouchard were simply performing at an exceptional level. The responses pointed to contributions from the stars alongside improved defensive play, scoring from other lines and strong goaltending.

Gregor said Edmonton had allowed one goal at five-on-five over its previous three games. “Not sure you can ask for them to play much better defensively,” he said. The fourth line had recorded two assists on the opening goal in San Jose, and the third line scored later. The stars were producing as expected, Gregor said, but he also credited the team’s defensive play.

Yaremchuk said the answer after the win over the San Jose Sharks was “a bit of both.” He said the stars had carried the team to a couple of victories against Vancouver and Anaheim, while the wins over Seattle and San Jose featured strong defensive efforts and goals from different parts of the lineup. Edmonton also received very good goaltending in those two wins, he said, describing the mix of star production, depth and goaltending as a well-rounded team.

Baggedmilk said the Oilers were playing well, with the past three games showing a different style from the team’s familiar approach. “More structure, less pond hockey,” he said. The top players were also in form, he added, while depth scoring had contributed as well.

Another reader, identified as an Oilers fan in Vancouver, asked for first impressions of defenceman Ryan Shea, defenceman Shakir Mukhamadullin, goaltender Devon Levi and forward Mathieu Joseph. Gregor said he liked Shea’s intelligence, defensive stick work and “sneaky offensive upside.” He said Joseph worked hard but could face a challenge staying in the lineup when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Dach and Savoie return. The source did not provide first names for Dach or Savoie.

Gregor said Mukhamadullin had played on his natural side for the first time and looked acceptable, but should use his large frame to greater effect. Yaremchuk said Mukhamadullin struggled on the left side and played better on the right, where the team should probably keep him. Baggedmilk called him a project and thought the left side might suit him better, although Edmonton has many players competing for that spot.

Yaremchuk described Shea as solid and said his poor games were not very noticeable. When playing well, Shea gives the Oilers another quality puck mover who can help them exit their own end, he said. Baggedmilk said Shea had made a good early impression but would need more time to settle in.

Levi, Yaremchuk said, had been excellent after appearing nervous in his debut, and Edmonton would not have its current record without him. He described Levi as a smaller goalie whose athleticism made him fun to watch. Baggedmilk said Levi was playing in a way that made him want to fall in love with the goaltender.

The contributors also differed somewhat on Joseph’s longer-term place in the lineup. Gregor said the returning players would make it difficult for Joseph to stay in the lineup. Yaremchuk called him a quality bottom-six player who brought energy and should remain a regular once the roster was healthy. Baggedmilk said Joseph worked hard, delivered body checks, passed better than expected and appeared to fit the bottom six.

Turner asked whether the number of injuries across the NHL since the start of the season could be linked to a shorter training camp and fewer games, or whether the perception reflected recency bias and heightened attention. The question also noted the earlier start and multiple ongoing storylines. Gregor did not see why a shorter camp would account for injuries, noting that top players in previous years would play three pre-season games and saying one fewer game was unlikely to be the cause. He added that fans may forget who was injured early in the prior season or during pre-season.

Yaremchuk said he did not have the injury figures but thought recency bias was the likely explanation. He also suggested teams could be more cautious about injuries because camp had been shorter and the regular season was two games longer. Baggedmilk offered a joking response: “I don’t know what we’ve done to anger the Gords, but I am looking for interns that could work as a sacrifice. Will keep you posted.”

The final question, from Gregg, asked what Bouchard needed to do to gain more respect from hockey fans and media outside Edmonton. Gregor disagreed with the premise that Bouchard was not receiving respect. He said Bouchard finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting the previous year, which he viewed as evidence that voters recognized his ability, even if some Oilers fans felt a finalist placing would have made that recognition clearer. Gregor also said some people focused more on Bouchard’s mistakes than his strong plays, including some fans in Edmonton, and noted that OilersNation readers had not all agreed about his talent the previous year.

Gregor said Bouchard had reduced his most glaring errors and had been Edmonton’s best player through five games. If he maintained that level, Gregor expected him to be in the Norris conversation again, while cautioning against discussing award standings before at least one-quarter of the season had been played, and preferably half, because results can change.

Yaremchuk said Bouchard should keep doing what he was doing. He said Bouchard had been on the ice for one five-on-five goal against that season, which he called impressive and hard to ignore. He added that he was unconcerned if people who did not watch the Oilers closely disrespected the defenceman.

Baggedmilk called Bouchard “the best defenceman in the NHL today, on October 11th as I’m filling this out.” He described Bouchard’s start as electric and hoped the player would sustain his hot streak. Mistakes were inevitable when a player had the puck so often, he said, but Bouchard could also produce brilliant stretches. Baggedmilk added that he thought many people who vote on or produce content about predictions did not watch many Oilers games.

The mailbag invited readers to send future questions by email to baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk. Its accompanying photographs identified an Oct. 10, 2026, scene at SAP Center in San Jose, California, where Edmonton centres Trent Frederic, No. 10, and Josh Samanski, No. 81, celebrated after the Oilers’ first-period goal against the Sharks. Other captions showed Vancouver forward Paul Cotter, No. 47, defending against Edmonton defenceman Ryan Shea, No. 6, at Rogers Arena on Oct. 1, and Calgary defenceman Simon Nemec, No. 71, chasing a loose puck with Edmonton forward Hyman, No. 18, at Rogers Place on Sept. 26. Both the latter captions identified Edmonton, Alberta, as the location. The Bouchard caption described his first-period goal against Vancouver at Rogers Place on Sept. 29. The photo credits were David Gonzales-Imagn Images, Bob Frid-Imagn Images, Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images and Perry Nelson-Imagn Images. The page also carried a “Presented by Stake” label.