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Report: McDavid ‘likely going to’ expect Oilers to deliver on ‘specific roster adjustments this summer’
Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid
Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Zach Laing
May 1, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: May 1, 2026, 03:34 EDT
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Summer has arrived early in Edmonton this year, with the Oilers eliminated from the playoffs far sooner than any in the market hoped.
While locker room cleanout, exit interviews, and some difficult conversations are soon to follow, so will the noise around what this offseason could look like. After all, two months from today unrestricted free agency will open.
And with Connor McDavid entering the first year of his two-year, $12.5 million per year team-friendly extension next season, a hint at what could come has already arrived.
According to The Athletic’s Sean Gentille and Chris Johnston, McDavid will be bringing forth high expectations of what the team needs to accomplish.
“McDavid’s burning desire to bring the Oilers to the promised land remains, despite the setback, according to league sources, but he’s likely going to expect management to deliver on specific roster adjustments this summer, rather than accepting general promises,” the pair wrote in a shared byline story late Thursday night.
When McDavid signed his deal last October, he was clear in what he was doing. In his own words, he wanted to give “a chance to continue chasing down what we’ve been chasing down here with the core guys that have been here, and (leave) a little bit of money (for the team) to work with, too.”
The Oilers have already put that money to use — for better or for worse — signing defenecman Jake Walman to a seven-year extension, and Mattias Ekholm to a three-year extension, while acquiring goaltender Tristan Jarry, who carries a $2.775 million cap hit higher than that of former netminder Stuart Skinner.
The team will have no lack of cap space heading into the summer, with $16.49 million in space to work with. The Oilers will need to make decisions on eight pending unrestricted free agents: Adam Henrique, Jason Dickinson, Jack Roslovic, Kasperi Kapanen, Max Jones, Curtis Lazar, Connor Murphy, and Connor Ingram. Restricted free agents Colton Dach and Spencer Stastney will need new deals, too.
It should be no surprise that McDavid has high expectations, and hearing he still has a “burning desire” to win a cup in Edmonton should help quell anyone’s concerns about No. 97 leaving anytime soon.
Now, it’s time for Stan Bowman and the Oilers management team to get to work.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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