<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-22-0-oilers-get-rolled-over-in-game-6-as-panthers-win-second-consecutive-stanley-cup">Game 6</a> was one of those nights you hope to forget quickly. It was dismal.

The Oilers started well, but the first period ended with them trailing by a couple of goals. Florida didn’t even have to work hard for their goals — they came from clear mistakes made by Edmonton’s best players. Not exactly a recipe for success.
From Game 2 onward, Edmonton struggled to find its identity. It was rinse and repeat: permitting shots, shooting low on Sergei Bobrovsky, and losing puck battle after puck battle. They got saves at times from Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, but when they needed them most, they couldn’t deliver. Not even Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl could find a way.
It was a disappointing end to what had been a dominant run by the Oilers — four straight wins over L.A. and Dallas, followed by a quick five-game revenge series over the Vegas Golden Knights. It felt destined for a storybook ending.
Injuries came at the wrong time. <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/04/i-knew-it-wasnt-good-edmonton-oilers-zach-hyman-suffered-dislocated-wrist/">Zach Hyman</a>, the most notable, didn’t play in any of the Stanley Cup Final games. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins picked up a knock in the series, too, which hindered him. Connor Brown wasn’t the same after his injury against the Stars, and Mattias Ekholm struggled with the pace of play — particularly as the series progressed — following his return from a regular-season injury. It’s not an excuse; it’s the reality of the situation.
With the Stanley Cup wrapped up, it’s time to turn attention to NHL free agency. McDavid and Evan Bouchard — a pending restricted free agent — are the most notable deals that need to be signed, but they shouldn’t be a problem. Corey Perry, Jeff Skinner, Connor Brown, Kasperi Kapanen, <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/12/edmonton-oilers-and-trent-frederic-should-agree-contract-extension/">Trent Frederic</a>, and John Klingberg are all pending unrestricted free agents. Noah Philp is the only other notable RFA on the roster.
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<h2 data-start="1907" data-end="2263">What will the Oilers do now?</h2>
Frederic is likely to return on a longer-term deal. His post-season was underwhelming, to say the least, but he was playing on an injured ankle the entire time. The hope is that he can regain the 15-goal form he showed in back-to-back seasons with the Boston Bruins. At just 27, having a “younger” player in the middle six is good for Edmonton.
Not much has been announced regarding the futures of Skinner, Brown, or Kapanen. You’d have to imagine Brown will seek out a payday after a 13-goal, 30-point season. Skinner was arguably the Oilers’ best forward in Game 6, but things didn’t go as expected throughout the regular season. Having him back would be beneficial, but it’s hard to envision. As for Kapanen, he was a solid depth option who showed flashes during his time in Edmonton. Kris Knoblauch mentioned that the team had interest in signing him last summer, but Kapanen opted to sign in St. Louis instead.
Klingberg turned heads in the playoffs. His game changed dramatically from what we saw in the regular season. Like many, I was convinced he’d never play a game again for the Copper and Blue. He became a solid puck-moving defenceman who could be trusted — to an extent — in the defensive zone. Yes, there were a few clearing errors, but that’s expected with high-risk, high-reward players. If he’s willing to return on a cheap deal, he’d be welcome back, but Edmonton can’t afford to pay big for a bottom-pairing defenceman.
Perry is going to be interesting. He’ll turn 41 next season but is coming off a 29-goal campaign, combining the regular season and playoffs. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJO90KRdrTQ">Jeff Marek mentioned on Oilersnation Everyday</a> that Perry could return to the Anaheim Ducks if he seeks a payday. The Ducks aren’t close to contending, so that would likely close the door on his Stanley Cup aspirations. However, Perry’s done this before — signing with the Chicago Blackhawks a few years ago. If he leaves, it would be a significant loss.
The free-agent class is okay. It’s headlined by Mitch Marner, who Edmonton can’t afford, but there are a few players who could be fits. GM Stan Bowman needs to consider bringing in middle-six right-wingers — assuming Viktor Arvidsson departs — and potentially a bottom-six centreman, if they don’t want Matthew Savoie playing down the middle.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period linked the Oilers with <a href="https://x.com/NHLRumourReport/status/1933571819841229121">Aaron Ekblad</a>. That seems unrealistic, considering they need to pay Bouchard, already have an overpriced Darnell Nurse, and Ekblad will want a significant deal. He’s also not that good — Edmonton should let someone else overpay him.
While Ekblad would be a bad fit, it’s still exciting to see Edmonton linked with major free agents. They were connected with Mikko Rantanen at the deadline as well, so clearly, Bowman wants to take a swing.
It hurts right now, but Edmonton is close to reclaiming Lord Stanley. Maybe they’re one significant addition away, or maybe they just needed a healthy Zach Hyman. Hopefully, we’ll find out this time next year — as they look to return to the Final for a third straight season.
<hr />
<h2>Article Presented by The Alberta Teachers&#8217; Association</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176305" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/ATA-2025-SUMMER-Nation-727x404_v1.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="404" srcset="https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/ATA-2025-SUMMER-Nation-727x404_v1.jpg 727w, https://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/ATA-2025-SUMMER-Nation-727x404_v1-300x167.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px" />
Alberta spends the least per student on public education in Canada, leaving schools underfunded and in crisis. Overcrowded classrooms, unmet student needs, and dwindling supports are driving record numbers of teachers to leave the profession. As Albertans, we cannot ignore this neglect. Our children deserve better. It’s time to act—advocate for increased funding and demand answers from your MLA. Why does Alberta invest the least in its students? The excuses must stop. Stand up for our schools, support our educators, and help ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. The future of education in Alberta depends on it. Visit <a href="http://www.stoptheexcuses.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.stoptheexcuses.ca/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749136640784000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1gmi3aqIXnAHKknK0OC3Fr">www.stoptheexcuses.ca</a>

<a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/instant-reaction-22-0-oilers-get-rolled-over-in-game-6-as-panthers-win-second-consecutive-stanley-cup">Game 6</a> was one of those nights you hope to forget quickly. It was dismal.

The Oilers started well, but the first period ended with them trailing by a couple of goals. Florida didn’t even have to work hard for their goals — they came from clear mistakes made by Edmonton’s best players. Not exactly a recipe for success.
From Game 2 onward, Edmonton struggled to find its identity. It was rinse and repeat: permitting shots, shooting low on Sergei Bobrovsky, and losing puck battle after puck battle. They got saves at times from Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, but when they needed them most, they couldn’t deliver. Not even Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl could find a way.
It was a disappointing end to what had been a dominant run by the Oilers — four straight wins over L.A. and Dallas, followed by a quick five-game revenge series over the Vegas Golden Knights. It felt destined for a storybook ending.
Injuries came at the wrong time. <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/04/i-knew-it-wasnt-good-edmonton-oilers-zach-hyman-suffered-dislocated-wrist/">Zach Hyman</a>, the most notable, didn’t play in any of the Stanley Cup Final games. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins picked up a knock in the series, too, which hindered him. Connor Brown wasn’t the same after his injury against the Stars, and Mattias Ekholm struggled with the pace of play — particularly as the series progressed — following his return from a regular-season injury. It’s not an excuse; it’s the reality of the situation.
With the Stanley Cup wrapped up, it’s time to turn attention to NHL free agency. McDavid and Evan Bouchard — a pending restricted free agent — are the most notable deals that need to be signed, but they shouldn’t be a problem. Corey Perry, Jeff Skinner, Connor Brown, Kasperi Kapanen, <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2025/06/12/edmonton-oilers-and-trent-frederic-should-agree-contract-extension/">Trent Frederic</a>, and John Klingberg are all pending unrestricted free agents. Noah Philp is the only other notable RFA on the roster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmeQCKKK9rg
<h2 data-start="1907" data-end="2263">What will the Oilers do now?</h2>
Frederic is likely to return on a longer-term deal. His post-season was underwhelming, to say the least, but he was playing on an injured ankle the entire time. The hope is that he can regain the 15-goal form he showed in back-to-back seasons with the Boston Bruins. At just 27, having a “younger” player in the middle six is good for Edmonton.
Not much has been announced regarding the futures of Skinner, Brown, or Kapanen. You’d have to imagine Brown will seek out a payday after a 13-goal, 30-point season. Skinner was arguably the Oilers’ best forward in Game 6, but things didn’t go as expected throughout the regular season. Having him back would be beneficial, but it’s hard to envision. As for Kapanen, he was a solid depth option who showed flashes during his time in Edmonton. Kris Knoblauch mentioned that the team had interest in signing him last summer, but Kapanen opted to sign in St. Louis instead.
Klingberg turned heads in the playoffs. His game changed dramatically from what we saw in the regular season. Like many, I was convinced he’d never play a game again for the Copper and Blue. He became a solid puck-moving defenceman who could be trusted — to an extent — in the defensive zone. Yes, there were a few clearing errors, but that’s expected with high-risk, high-reward players. If he’s willing to return on a cheap deal, he’d be welcome back, but Edmonton can’t afford to pay big for a bottom-pairing defenceman.
Perry is going to be interesting. He’ll turn 41 next season but is coming off a 29-goal campaign, combining the regular season and playoffs. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJO90KRdrTQ">Jeff Marek mentioned on Oilersnation Everyday</a> that Perry could return to the Anaheim Ducks if he seeks a payday. The Ducks aren’t close to contending, so that would likely close the door on his Stanley Cup aspirations. However, Perry’s done this before — signing with the Chicago Blackhawks a few years ago. If he leaves, it would be a significant loss.
The free-agent class is okay. It’s headlined by Mitch Marner, who Edmonton can’t afford, but there are a few players who could be fits. GM Stan Bowman needs to consider bringing in middle-six right-wingers — assuming Viktor Arvidsson departs — and potentially a bottom-six centreman, if they don’t want Matthew Savoie playing down the middle.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period linked the Oilers with <a href="https://x.com/NHLRumourReport/status/1933571819841229121">Aaron Ekblad</a>. That seems unrealistic, considering they need to pay Bouchard, already have an overpriced Darnell Nurse, and Ekblad will want a significant deal. He’s also not that good — Edmonton should let someone else overpay him.
While Ekblad would be a bad fit, it’s still exciting to see Edmonton linked with major free agents. They were connected with Mikko Rantanen at the deadline as well, so clearly, Bowman wants to take a swing.
It hurts right now, but Edmonton is close to reclaiming Lord Stanley. Maybe they’re one significant addition away, or maybe they just needed a healthy Zach Hyman. Hopefully, we’ll find out this time next year — as they look to return to the Final for a third straight season.


<hr />

<h2>Article Presented by The Alberta Teachers' Association</h2>
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176305" src="http://publish.oilersnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/02/ATA-2025-SUMMER-Nation-727x404_v1.jpg" alt="" width="727" height="404" />

Alberta spends the least per student on public education in Canada, leaving schools underfunded and in crisis. Overcrowded classrooms, unmet student needs, and dwindling supports are driving record numbers of teachers to leave the profession. As Albertans, we cannot ignore this neglect. Our children deserve better. It’s time to act—advocate for increased funding and demand answers from your MLA. Why does Alberta invest the least in its students? The excuses must stop. Stand up for our schools, support our educators, and help ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed. The future of education in Alberta depends on it. Visit <a href="http://www.stoptheexcuses.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.stoptheexcuses.ca/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749136640784000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1gmi3aqIXnAHKknK0OC3Fr">www.stoptheexcuses.ca</a>

Oilers Thoughts: Dismal showing in Florida and looking ahead to Free Agency

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