The Oilers have a name on Mike Babcock's radar: Rangers forward Matt Rempe, who is believed to be available.
Edmonton doesn't need a rescue. The Oilers sit at 9-2-2 with a +13 goal differential, and they are 5-0-0 on the road as they head to Long Island tonight.
But the roster Babcock wants apparently has more size and edge in it. The idea is a big body who gives the team's best players some protection and makes opponents think twice.
Rempe checks that box on paper. He is listed at 6'9 and 260 pounds, and he has piled up 154 penalty minutes over 87 NHL games.
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | |
| 2026-27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 87 | 5 | 6 | 11 | +4 |
The production hasn't followed the size. Rempe has two games played this season with no points and 5 PIM, and his career line is 5 goals and 6 assists.
Usage seems to be the real issue in New York. Both Peter Laviolette, now coaching the Kings, and current Rangers coach Mike Sullivan have struggled to find the best way to deploy him.
Frank Seravalli reported through Sportsnet on Wednesday that Babcock admires Rempe and that he figures to be available, while neither coach has found the right role for him.
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Edmonton has real questions on the wing. The Oilers have already been dealing with Zach Hyman's injured reserve stint, which has forced some reshuffling up front.
Rempe's cheap deal and RFA status shape the trade math
The contract side makes the idea easy to explain. Rempe carries a $975,000 cap hit and is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season.
That gives Stan Bowman a low-cost look at a player whose role has never settled. If Rempe fits Babcock's lineup, Edmonton holds his rights. If not, the commitment is small.
New York has its own reasons to listen. The Rangers have lost three straight and are 1-5-1 on the road, and Drury's group sits at 7-6-1 overall.
Still, a fit in a fourth-line role is a different thing from a fit in Babcock's system. This coach has been quick to change roles, and Mike Babcock's latest meeting with Jake Walman shows how fast ice time can move in Edmonton.
My view: if Babcock is serious about adding physical presence, Rempe is the right kind of experiment. The price is modest, and the 154 penalty minutes show what he brings.
The Oilers get a close look Sunday, when they visit the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Whether that game moves the conversation forward is the next thing to watch.
Should the Oilers trade for Matt Rempe to add toughness around their stars?
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