The Edmonton Oilers spent the 2026 offseason aggressively reshaping their roster around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Through major trades, strategic free-agent additions, and hiring Mike Babcock behind the bench, general manager Stan Bowman built a deeper, more balanced contender.
Now, an unexpected organizational shift in Motown could provide Edmonton with an opportunity to acquire an elite 40-goal sniper and add to their ranks.
Alex DeBrincat is entering the final season of the four-year, $31.5 million contract he signed with Detroit in 2023. The deal carries an annual cap hit of $7.875 million.
After scoring 41 goals and collecting 85 points in 82 games during the 2025-26 season, DeBrincat appeared to be the obvious candidate for a long-term extension. Instead, the situation in Detroit has become much more complicated.
The Red Wings have undergone significant changes in recent months. Captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade, longtime general manager Steve Yzerman stepped aside to become a senior adviser, and Patrick Kane left the organization to return to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Sportsnet insider Ryan Dixon believes all of that uncertainty could have an impact on DeBrincat's future.
"DeBrincat is a local guy and, by all accounts, loves being a Michigan boy playing for the Red Wings. Still, there's all kinds of change swirling around Motown, from Dylan Larkin's trade request to Steve Yzerman leaving the GM chair to Patrick Kane, DeBrincat's linemate for much of this past season, departing for Chicago as a UFA," Dixon said.
Dixon also pointed out that DeBrincat has quietly put together two of the best seasons of his career. "He may love it in Detroit, but what if the team enters into a soft reset under a new GM?"
That question is precisely why the Oilers could become an interesting team to watch.
Edmonton would not necessarily have to wait until free agency in 2027. If Detroit's new front office decides to move toward a rebuild, DeBrincat could become one of the most attractive players available on the trade market.
The fit is obvious.
DeBrincat and McDavid already have a history together from their days with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. Playing alongside McDavid, DeBrincat recorded a 51-goal season and established himself as one of junior hockey's elite scorers.
The Oilers also have another important connection. Jeff Jackson, Edmonton's chief executive officer of hockey operations, previously served as DeBrincat's agent before joining the organization.
Adding a proven 40-goal scorer to a lineup that already features McDavid and Draisaitl would instantly transform one of the NHL's most dangerous offenses into an even bigger threat.
For now, DeBrincat remains a member of the Red Wings, and there is no indication that a move is imminent. Still, with so much uncertainty surrounding Detroit's future, the Oilers may have been handed a small but intriguing opening.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
