Could the Oilers turn to the Canucks for a Bottom-Six Center?

If the Edmonton Oilers aren’t willing (or able) to go big and give up high-end assets for a player with real impact before the March 6 trade deadline, they will almost certainly look to increase depth, targeting a bottom-six forward and possibly a bottom-pairing defenseman as well.

Even if they land a bigger piece and give up a first-round pick in the process, there’s still a case for the need for smaller additions around the edges on top. These moves rarely make headlines, but in the playoffs the time can be quite valuable, and one possible idea that has been discussed recently is targeting Vancouver Canucks center Teddy Blueger.

Blueger could slot nicely into the Oilers’ bottom six, although Oilers Nation’s Tyler Yaremchuk is hesitant to give up more than a third-round pick for him.

said Yaremchuk:

“Teddy Blueger can’t give you minutes on the second line. If there’s an injury, if you’re in a pinch, if you’re doing the McDrai thing in a playoff game, you can’t rely on Teddy Blueger to play on your second line. He’s a bottom-six player. I don’t spend anything more than a third-rounder on guys in the bottom six. Second-rounder or higher, they have to have the ability to move around my lineup more than Blueger would.”

The 31-year-old Blueger is a UFA awaiting the second and final season of the two-year, $3.2 million extension signed with the Canucks in 2024. He was very good in limited action in 2025-26, with eight points (five goals, three assists) in 10 games.

Teddy Blueger fits the oil syringes at the right price

While Yaremchuk is correct in saying that Blueger is nothing more than a bottom-six forward, he has proven to be very effective in that role, and at the right price it is certainly worth GM Stan Bowman taking a look.

Blueger brings plenty of playoff experience from his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vegas Golden Knights, including winning the Stanley Cup in 2022-2023. His combination of defensive responsibility, toughness to play against and an underrated offensive skillset make him an ideal fourth-line player. At $1.8 million — possibly less with retention — it’s also a welcome, cap-friendly acquisition for Edmonton.

Fortunately for the Oilers, reports suggest the Canucks are, too looking for just a third-round pick in return, which Bowman can well offer (one in 2026, two in 2028). If that price holds up or even drops slightly, Blueger would be an ideal, low-risk addition with the potential to reward more than many might think if they rounded out Edmonton’s depth upfront.

Next: Oilers are once again linked to 20-plus goal scorers in the latest insider predictions