Even though the 2026–2027 season is still in its early stages, the Edmonton Oilers have already been impacted by an injury bug that has rendered their starting lineup unrecognizable from what was anticipated at the beginning of the season.
With Jason Dickinson, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, and Matthew Savoie all missing time at the beginning of the new season, the Oilers’ forward squad has had the most significant injury issues. As a result, the team was expected to make a trade to fill out this group, and on Wednesday, they made that trade, albeit it was not a blockbuster transaction.
Filip Hallander is acquired by the Oilers from the Penguins.
While certain supporters’ aspirations were even higher, the club had always intended to maintain their trade tiny. The Oilers have been connected to Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens at the beginning of the year.
With the squad revealing that they had acquired 26-year-old Filip Hallander from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Spencer Stastney, that became official on Wednesday.
While Hallander doesn’t address a long-term need in Edmonton, he might be an instant asset for the club. On paper, it’s a move that makes sense for the Oilers since the team had plenty on the blue line but needed assistance up front. Hallander has only played in 18 games, scoring 2 goals and 7 points, in his four years in the NHL, but with his 6-foot-2, 207-pound physique, there may be a spot for him on this team until everyone is well.
Will Hallander Make an Immediate Impact on the Oilers?
Hallander has a goal and three points in two games for the Penguins this season, but given Pittsburgh’s surplus of forwards, they’ve always been excellent trade partners, with the club selling high on Hallander, who has yet to prove much in his career.
Nevertheless, following a strong beginning, there is optimism that he may play a bottom-six role in the NHL somewhere, and although that role may not be in Edmonton when Nugent-Hopkins, Hyman, and Savoie come back, the club needed to get aid up front for the time being as they aim for a fantastic start in 2026/27.
It’s unclear what will happen with Hallander once the team does get healthy, but after the greatest start of his NHL career to date, the team believes he can have an instant impact, and given that they didn’t give up much in Stastney, it’s a move that can help them now and one that’s considered a win-win for both Edmonton and Pittsburgh.
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Nathan Smith writes on the NHL and MLB for Heavy Sports. For digital platforms like PFSN, Athlon Sports, and FanSided, he has ten years of expertise covering sports in North America. Nathan Smith: More Information
