So far, unsurprisingly, the off-season has been a rollercoaster for fans of the Edmonton Oilers.

Many panicked due to a lack of movement on July 1, while others sat back and watched as other teams overpaid for underwhelming talent. The Oilers didn’t add much, but were still involved in conversations with notable, impactful players. Additionally, the players who did sign here are rumoured to have been offered more but opted to join the Oilers.

Here are nine thoughts on the off-season so far and other topics surrounding the Oilers.

1. There’s no need to worry that Connor McDavid didn’t sign his new contract on July 1. Rarely does a star player of McDavid’s calibre sign his next deal on the opening day of free agency. Look at Leon Draisaitl, who didn’t sign his extension until September last off-season. All reports indicate that McDavid will sign, but it might only be for four years. During an interview with Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now, Stan Bowman said that in his conversations with McDavid, they don’t discuss the contract. They talk about the team and how they plan to build a winner. He added that they are in regular contact with McDavid’s agent, Judd Moldover, and don’t expect the process to take too long. With McDavid so involved in building the team, you’d be led to believe his future is rooted in Edmonton. Now, we wait for the contract to be signed.

2. Many Oilers fans are unhappy with the players the team lost on July 1. It’s been a regular topic of conversation in the Oilersnation Everyday YouTube chat since the start of the month, and understandably so. They lost several fan favourites and didn’t get much in return. Ultimately, the decision was between keeping Corey Perry, Connor Brown and Evander Kane or losing Evan Bouchard. Is anyone really choosing to lose Bouchard for those three replacement-level players? Some will say “yes,” but that was never Bowman’s answer. The forward group doesn’t look ideal right now, but consider the players who joined the team throughout last season: Trent Frederic, John Klingberg, Jake Walman and Kasperi Kapanen weren’t on the opening-night roster. You don’t need to win on July 1. Edmonton was a finalist this time last year, and it didn’t work out.

3. Sounds like the Oilers were closer than many might think on Brock Boeser. David Pagnotta stated on Inside Sports with Brenden Escott that Boeser was seeking $50 million, and Vancouver was able to secure that amount in the 11th hour. Boeser ultimately signed a $50.75 million contract over seven years to stay with the Canucks. Pagnotta didn’t mention what the Oilers offered, but said they were right there. Instead, Edmonton signed Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year contract with a $3.6 million AAV. Pagnotta said Mangiapane left money on the table (upwards of $5 million per year) to play in Edmonton. He speculated that the San Jose Sharks may have made that larger offer, as they needed to hit the cap floor.

4. As for the goaltending: Who knows what’s going to happen? Maybe the Oilers missed their opportunity by not acquiring John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks at the draft. The assumption is that Edmonton wanted Anaheim to retain money, and they wouldn’t. Much to the delight of many, a goaltending coach change seems inevitable, which could benefit Stuart Skinner. It was a rollercoaster ride for Skinner in the playoffs, but when he was great, he was unbeatable. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen in the Stanley Cup Final. The team also didn’t play to its full potential, but let’s not enter the post-season again with so much uncertainty between the pipes.

5. Many were hoping for an upgrade on the blueline this summer. That hasn’t happened yet. The Athletic ranked them as the No. 1 defence in the NHL, stating the group is a strong mix of offensive mobility and defensive suppression. It’s unlikely the team makes any significant move this summer and will instead look to add closer to the trade deadline. Maybe they’ll bring back Klingberg.

6. Curtis Lazar is an underrated signing by the Oilers. In interviews, he sounds extremely excited to return to Edmonton after playing his junior hockey with the Oil Kings. He has played close to 600 NHL games (with stops in Ottawa, Calgary, Buffalo, Boston, Vancouver, and New Jersey) and is still only 30. He suffered a knee injury last season that required surgery. Reports from New Jersey suggest that he struggled to even get out of bed or downstairs. A full off-season to train and recover should help Lazar get back to his best. He hasn’t become the impactful scorer he was projected to be, but instead carved out a role as a hard-working, do-whatever-it-takes player. He’ll battle Noah Philp for the fourth-line centre role, but that doesn’t mean only one makes the team. Max Jones is the odd man out in my view, which would keep both Lazar and Philp on the roster.

7. The Oilers targeted players who can contribute beyond five-on-five play next season. Trent Frederic has mentioned in interviews that he wants to kill penalties, as he did in Boston. Andrew Mangiapane and Curtis Lazar also noted their ability to play on special teams. Even Matt Savoie and Noah Philp spent considerable time on the penalty kill in Bakersfield last season. Kris Knoblauch doesn’t want stragglers like Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson anymore. He wants players who can contribute in multiple areas.

8. Klim Kostin shouldn’t return to the Oilers. He scored 11 goals and 21 points in his lone season in Edmonton, bringing a ton of personality that made him a fan favourite. However, since leaving for Detroit two years ago, the former first-round pick has just nine goals and 21 points. Of course, he’s known more for toughness and physicality—at six-foot-four and 231 pounds, he provides that element. But who would he replace in the Oilers’ lineup? Fans understandably want more grit, but Kostin isn’t the answer. Vasily Podkolzin is twice the player. At best, they could offer him a PTO and bring him to camp, but they shouldn’t go any further.

9. It also sounds like the Oilers were in on Isaac Howard. Frank Seravalli mentioned on The Kevin Karius Show that Edmonton offered Tampa Bay a first-round pick (presumably in 2027) for the Michigan State star. Tampa reportedly wanted more, even though they’d lose Howard’s rights in a year if unsigned. If unsigned, the team would only get a compensatory second-round pick from the NHL in next year’s draft. Howard, a five-foot-11 left-winger, won the Hobey Baker Award last season after scoring 26 goals and 52 points for Michigan State. He’s already spent three years in the NCAA, so a fourth feels unnecessary. Would he fit in Edmonton? He’s unproven, but adding another young forward (he’s 21) could spark the lineup. He wouldn’t be a star right away, but could he offer more offence than Podkolzin or Mangiapane? Time will tell, but he’s worth the risk for what he could become.

Litco Law has been serving Edmontonians and all of Alberta for over 50 years. A family-owned and operated company, their purpose is to balance the power for people who find themselves having to navigate the complex legal system. They can help with personal injury claims (like car accidents), employment matters (such as wrongful dismissal or severance package reviews), or if you’ve been denied long-term disability benefits. Litco Law is known for being experienced, responsive, and genuinely caring. You might not believe Lawyers You’ll Love™ exist—but they do. To learn more or book a free consultation, visit LitcoLaw.com.