The Edmonton Oilers face a difficult trade deadline. The team is pushing for the Stanley Cup while also being badly in need of addressing shortcomings on the roster.

Draft picks are being shovelled out annually and the prospect pool is full of minnows.

The day is coming when the NHL support players will no longer be able to fill the roles required.

It would be absolute negligence by the organization to run out of role players and specialty types when the truly hard work of acquiring elite talent is accomplished.

General manager Ken Holland has added quality pieces while also paying a heavy price. Part of that price is little cap room, a shrinking list of viable trade assets and several overpaid veterans who are not helping the push for the Stanley Cup.

The issues are in feature roles, meaning small moves won’t suffice.

How does Holland find real solutions with so little to offer?

The answers may come via pro scouting director Brad Holland, along with his staff and an improved analytics department.

Oilers to-do list

The questions are on the No. 2 line, the No. 2 pairing and at center. If a strong goaltending option or a rugged bottom-six forward with speed became available, those areas might also get a boost.

If the No. 2 pairing doesn’t get addressed, or requires a defenceman being sent out, expect a depth (No. 7) defender to be added to the group.

Under Holland, Edmonton has pursued well-known NHL players.

How famous? The sky’s the limit. Since arriving in Edmonton, the elder Holland has acquired Zach Hyman, Mattias Ekholm, Evander Kane, Jack Campbell, Duncan Keith, Mike Green, Mike Smith, Tyson Barrie, James Neal and others.

Specific players for this year’s deadline?

Colleague Daniel Nugent-Bowman at The Athletic named several famous and qualified candidates in a recent article, and Holland’s own past suggests Patrick Kane (famous name and Holland collects current and former Detroit Red Wings) could be a primary target at the deadline.

That the Oilers should be all-in at this year’s deadline adds fuel to the idea that acquiring Kane, Chris Tanev or others of that ilk is a priority.

Now and for the future

Edmonton is running out of actual NHL players, and there is a clear hesitation in trusting minor-league prospects.

Exacerbating the situation is that with very few exceptions (Philip Broberg, Raphael Lavoie, Olivier Rodrigue) the prospects housed in the AHL (Bakersfield Condors) are not forcing management to consider a recall.

Based on reports, the Oilers won’t send a first-round selection away for a rental.

What if the Oilers cash the first- or second-round selection for a young player, under control, who can step in now?

Call it a chance to get the nuts and bolts of the 2015 draft day trade for Griffin Reinhart right this time. That deal, in essence, was supposed to hurry the development curve and arrive at an NHL-ready player. Reinhart fell short, and the organization paid a price.

A high pick traded for a good target could shore up an area of need at the young end of the roster.

Only Stuart Skinner, Evan Bouchard and Ryan McLeod are younger than Connor McDavid, who is 27.

Holloway, Broberg and Lavoie could be regulars next season but that isn’t a certainty.

Edmonton needs an additional forward and has little cap room. Acquiring another veteran forward (one who may have speed issues, already a roster concern) has its risks.

Perhaps a younger player, under control, would be an astute move. There are candidates.

Kaapo Kakko of the New York Rangers appeared on Chris Johnston’s trade deadline list at The Athletic recently. He was the No. 2 selection in the 2019 draft but has yet to deliver on his draft day promise.

The Oilers might want to inquire about Kakko as an option for the top-six role that needs filling in Edmonton.

Since coming back from injury in mid-January, Kakko is scoring 2.07 points per 60 at five-on-five and has a 67 percent goal share in the discipline. Those are solid numbers, and he just turned 23.

The Rangers would have no interest in Edmonton’s selection, and since the Oilers want to add a player, a three-way deal may be the solution.

Kakko is an example of the kind of trade the pro scouts can help with at the deadline. If a 2024 pick can be cashed for a plug-and-play option under control, that increases the young talent base at the NHL level right away.

Arthur Kaliyev and Philip Tomasino are other options that could be available. Both are young enough to help the Oilers for the rest of this decade.

The downbeat is experience and proven NHL scoring ability.

Pavel Buchnevich of the St. Louis Blues and Reilly Smith of the Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly available and have some term. Buchnevich is young enough to help for several years, but his next contract is likely to be too rich for Edmonton.

The Oilers would be giving up assets for a short-term option with a large cap hit.

A smaller price paid for Kakko, Kaliyev or Tomasino could benefit the roster while also allowing the new general manager a little room to wheel under the cap this summer.

Way under the radar

Nathan Bastian of the New Jersey Devils could hold appeal if the Oilers want to tweak the fourth line. Bastian is a big man (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) who can win board battles, play either wing and has played on both special teams. He would be a distant bell for Edmonton’s power play but might be a PK option.

Jeff Carter of the Penguins owns a no-movement clause, so the point may be moot. However, he’s a 70 percent winner on five-on-five faceoffs (64 percent overall) and dynamite on the penalty kill. Right-handed centres are valuable in the postseason and Carter has miles and miles of playoff experience.

Michael Carcone of the Arizona Coyotes is undersized and is running an unsustainable 21.4 shooting percentage so far this season. He represents the least expensive goal-scoring winger in the NHL this season ($775,000) and has an extra year on his contract.

He may not be the next Michael Bunting or Daniel Sprong, but there are reasons to like him. His 1.54 goals per 60 at five-on-five ranks him No. 5 among NHL shooters this season.

If the Oilers shoot the moon on Chris Tanev, Carcone might be a solid option for the scoring winger slot at the deadline.

Pro scouts, analytics and the Oilers

The Klim Kostin trade in October 2022 signalled an ability to make smaller, effective trades.

There are deals available to Holland and the Oilers at this year’s deadline that could benefit for years to come.

Brad Holland and his staff helped steer management to Kostin, Ekholm and Nick Bjugstad during the 2022-23 season.

The first-round pick will fetch one of the pieces the elder Holland is looking for, but the organization will need to be creative with the rest of the shopping list.

At least one player who is younger and could help for multiple years would be ideal.

Edmonton has been trading draft picks on the double since 2014. There are six men in the prospect pool from the most recent 14 rounds of NHL drafting.

This kind of trade would stop the bleeding before the situation becomes critical.

It’s time for the Oilers to get creative, and add younger NHL pieces at the deadline.

(Photo of Pavel Buchnevich and Connor McDavid: Jeff Curry / USA Today)