Story by
Oilers’ Kirby Dach Hope Hits Surprise Filip Hallander Twist
- Story by
- Oilers’ Kirby Dach Hope Hits Surprise Filip Hallander Twist
Oilers' Kirby Dach Trade Talks take surprising Filip Hallander twist Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 07: Filip Hallander #36 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates in his first NHL game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 07, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Getty
TORONTO, CANADA - SEPTEMBER 29: Kirby Dach #77 of the Montréal Canadiens skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on September 29, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) Getty
SUNRISE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: Filip Hallander #11 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battles against Uvis Balinskis #26 of the Florida Panthers during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena on October 23, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Getty
The Edmonton Oilers have traded defenseman Spencer Stastney to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Filip Hallander. If this is news to you, you likely work a normal job (or live under a rock).
Either way, this deal is a surprise for many people – journalists and fans alike.
Advertisement
"TRADE: The #Oilers have acquired forward Filip Hallander from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenceman Spencer Stastney," the team announced before their Wednesday night game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Reaction to Edmonton Oilers – Pittsburgh Penguins Swap
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 07: Filip Hallander #36 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates in his first NHL game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 07, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Looking at reactions to the Oilers trade, it's easy to see people expected something more substantial.
"Who the actual hell is this," reads one of the top comments on the team's announcement.
TSN's Ryan Rishaug wrote , "Depth move. Oilers had a lot of depth Dmen and some injuries up front."
Bob Stauffer also shared his take
Advertisement
on the deal, "The @EdmontonOilers add a depth forward in Hallander. He finished 2nd in SHL scoring with Timra in 2024-25 (26-27-53/51 GP). He can play multiple forward positions. Oilers save over 650K on the cap with the deal."
And that last sentence is the main takeaway: the Oilers shed some salary cap space with this transaction. That will open up more cap space for another deal.
How Does Filip Hallander Trade Impact a Potential Kirby Dach Trade?
GettyTORONTO, CANADA – SEPTEMBER 29: Kirby Dach #77 of the Montréal Canadiens skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on September 29, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
As for another trade, nothing about this Hallander trade eliminates the likelihood of a Kirby Dach transaction.
While the chatter around the Montreal Canadiens forward might quiet down over the next little while, the opportunity for acquisition is still there. In fact, because the team has more cap space available, another trade is more likely to happen now than not.
Who Is Filip Hallander?
GettySUNRISE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 23: Filip Hallander #11 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battles against Uvis Balinskis #26 of the Florida Panthers during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena on October 23, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Hallander is a 26-year-old forward who is listed as a center on his NHL profile page. He stands 6-foot-2, weighing 207 pounds.
Advertisement
In two games this season, Hallander already has three points while averaging 10:17 of ice time. In total, he has played 18 games in the NHL. In those games, he has two goals and five assists, while averaging 12:04 per game.
Hallander is only making $850k this year compared to Stastney's $1.525 million. PuckPedia reports that the Oilers will save $647,165 in actual dollars this year, due to the trade.
All things considered, this is a lateral move, as Hallander doesn't bring much to the table beyond being healthy.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
The post Oilers' Kirby Dach Hope Hits Surprise Filip Hallander Twist appeared first on HEAVY .
