Oilers Trade Spencer Stastney to Penguins for Filip Hallander

The Edmonton Oilers have made a move to address their forward depth, trading defenseman Spencer Stastney to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Filip Hallander on October 7, 2026.

The deal is a fairly straightforward swap of NHL depth players, but it makes sense for Edmonton given the current makeup of its roster. The Oilers entered the season carrying plenty of options on defense while dealing with injuries among their forwards. Edmonton had been exploring a defenseman-for-forward trade, making this move a logical fit.

Stastney, 26, joined the Oilers last December after Edmonton acquired him from the Nashville Predators. He appeared in 30 games for Edmonton last season, recording one goal and eight assists. The Oilers also re-signed him to a one-year extension in July, but he now heads to Pittsburgh after less than a year with the organization.

For Edmonton, the biggest appeal is adding another forward to the mix. The Oilers have already had to deal with injuries affecting their forward group, and Hallander gives them another option as they try to keep their lineup deep throughout the season.

Hallander also comes into Edmonton with some recent NHL experience. The 24-year-old forward made an immediate impact for Pittsburgh to open the 2026-27 season, scoring a goal and adding two assists in the Penguins’ 7-0 season-opening win over Philadelphia.

The move could ultimately be more about roster balance than either player becoming a major contributor. Edmonton had eight waiver-eligible defensemen competing for spots, while the forward group needed reinforcements. Stastney became one of the more logical defensemen to move in order to improve the balance up front.

For Pittsburgh, Stastney adds another young defenseman who can compete for minutes and provide depth on the blue line. He has already shown that he can handle NHL minutes, and the Penguins are betting that his defensive game can translate into a useful role.

It is not the type of blockbuster trade that will dominate the NHL headlines, but it could prove useful for both teams. Edmonton gets another forward while clearing some congestion on defense, while Pittsburgh adds a 26-year-old defenseman with NHL experience.

For the Oilers, though, the message is pretty clear: they needed forward depth, and they were willing to use some of their defensive depth to get it. Whether Hallander can turn that opportunity into a permanent role in Edmonton will be one of the more interesting things to watch as the 2026-27 season continues.