As Connor McDavid heads into the final year of his contract, the Edmonton Oilers are quietly preparing contingencies — and one of the earliest moves could involve Boston winger Fabian Lysell. Recent trade chatter suggests a modest, preliminary swap that might expand into a much larger negotiation depending on how McDavid’s contract talks unfortunately
Why Fabian Lysell is surfacing in Connor McDavid-linked trade talk
Lysell, a former first-round pick who spent most of last season in Providence, has been linked to the Oilers in multiple rumor cycles. Hockey insiders flagged Lysell as a possible piece in a small-package exchange between Boston and Edmonton — a deal that teams sometimes use as a framework for bigger moves down the road. For Edmonton, adding a younger winger with speed and upside would be a low-risk, potentially high-reward hedge if McDavid’s future became uncertain.
What Fabian Lysell would bring and why Boston might consider it
At 22, Lysell carries a mixed résumé: flashes of offensive potential in the AHL and a handful of NHL appearances, but not a locked-in role in Boston’s top six. The Providence profile and recent AHL numbers show a player who can produce but still needs consistent scoring at the next level — exactly the kind of asset a team might be willing to part with in a strategic swap. For the Bruins, packaging Lysell could free cap or roster space while banking on other prospects to emerge.
What this means for Connor McDavid and the broader market
Major-market clubs are reportedly watching McDavid’s situation closely; any sign he won’t re-sign would accelerate Edmonton’s urgency to assemble trade assets. That’s why today’s “small” talks matter: they can set a precedent and identify players who fit into larger multi-asset negotiations. If talks escalate, expect more names and heavier draft/goalie assets to enter the conversation.