The idea of Alex DeBrincat landing with the Edmonton Oilers has floated around for a while, but it gained fresh traction this week when NHL scout Dennis King called the fit a perfect match on The Sheet with Jeff Marek.
From an Oilers standpoint, the logic is hard to ignore.
Edmonton has spent years searching for another proven finisher who can consistently cash in on the chances created by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. DeBrincat, a three-time 40-goal scorer still in his prime at 28, checks that box in a way few available wingers do.
King’s reasoning centered on more than pure production. He noted that DeBrincat is a Jeff Jackson client and that Oilers general manager Stan Bowman has shown an affinity for American players.
More importantly, Detroit appears to be sorting through major internal questions around Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson. Whispers suggest the Red Wings could shift toward building around Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond.
In that scenario, a pending unrestricted free agent seeking a big raise—reportedly in the $12 million to $14 million range—might not fit their long-term picture.
DeBrincat has not requested a trade, but the situation in Detroit is unsettled enough that his name is circulating.
The proposed return, at least in King’s tongue-in-cheek version, starts with Isaac Howard. The former first-round pick dominated at Michigan State, won the Hobey Baker Award, and has shown well in the AHL with Bakersfield.
He is still adjusting to an NHL bottom-six role, yet his college roots in Michigan give the connection a natural feel for Detroit. King joked that it would take Howard plus 800 first-round picks, which underscores the obvious reality that Edmonton would need to find real assets beyond one prospect to get a deal done.
On the ice, the fit feels clean. King sketched a picture of Zach Hyman handling the heavy lifting in the corners while DeBrincat either supports the dig or positions himself in the circles to finish plays McDavid creates.
That complementary style is exactly what Edmonton has lacked at times when secondary scoring dries up.
DeBrincat and McDavid also share junior history from their time with the Erie Otters, a small but useful familiarity that could speed up chemistry.
Cap space remains the practical hurdle. DeBrincat’s current $7.875 million hit already strains Edmonton’s room, and any extension would demand significant money moving the other way.
Still, for a team built to contend now, the chance to add a high-end goal scorer without waiting until free agency is the kind of opportunity that keeps the conversation alive.
King is not alone in the view—Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff has also singled out the Oilers as the ideal landing spot. Whether Detroit is willing to move him is another matter, but the on-paper match continues to look attractive from Edmonton’s side of the rink.
