Take a deep breath, Oilers fans. After months of speculation, uncertainty, and endless contract talk, the cloud hanging over this team has finally lifted.

Connor McDavid is signed. Evan Bouchard is locked up. The core is intact. And for the first time in what feels like forever, this organization can actually focus on what matters: winning hockey games.

The relief should be palpable. McDavid’s two-year extension alone removes the existential dread that’s been lurking in the background of every conversation about this team. No more “what if he leaves” scenarios. No more tracking his body language after losses. No more reporters asking if he’s committed to Edmonton.

It’s done. He’s staying. That’s massive.

But it’s not just McDavid. Bouchard’s four-year extension at $10.5 million per season solidifies the defence, at least in part, for years to come. That’s stability on the blue line in a league where elite right-shot defensemen are impossible to find. And that’s one less question mark fans have to worry about.

Mattias Ekholm put it perfectly when discussing his own contract situation and what McDavid’s extension meant to him.

“It’d be hard to go to a place where you’re not there to win, so to speak,” Ekholm said. “I know that everybody tries to win, but at the end of the day, there might be a handful of teams that actually have a legit chance of winning, and knowing that Connor will be here, and knowing that we can build around that as well, is very exciting to me.”

That’s the thing about these extensions—they create a domino effect. McDavid staying makes it easier for everyone else to commit. Why would Ekholm or Bouchard or anyone else want to leave when the best player in the world just re-signed? When the core is staying together and the championship window is wide open? The answer is they wouldn’t, and now they don’t have to.

“To be honest, it’s not like I’ve gone around thinking about it too much or whatnot,” continued Ekholm. “I knew at some point it was gonna happen, or if it wasn’t, I’m pretty confident in what I bring to a hockey club.”

Now that it’s done, Ekholm and others can put contracts behind them and focus on game one.

The locker room benefits from this clarity. Players can stop answering questions about contracts and start answering questions about systems, matchups, and special teams. The media circus that would have followed McDavid all season is gone. The constant speculation about Bouchard’s next contract after every good or bad game is over.

They can just be hockey players again instead of walking, talking contract negotiations.

For fans, the relief means something different but equally important. You can finally enjoy watching this team without the nagging fear that it’s all temporary. You can invest in jerseys without wondering if that player will be here next year. You can debate line combinations and defensive pairings instead of endlessly speculating about who’s staying and who’s going. The conversation can be about hockey again.

And let’s be honest about what these extensions represent: commitment. McDavid taking another team-friendly deal shows he believes in what’s being built here. Bouchard signing long-term instead of pushing for a short bridge deal shows he wants to be part of this core. Ekholm recognizing that Edmonton is one of those handful of teams with a real chance to win. These are players betting on this organization’s ability to deliver.

The timing matters too. Getting these deals done by game one means that the Oilers can operate without distractions. There’s no awkward contract year hanging over anyone. The team can focus entirely on the ice, which is exactly where the focus needs to be with a new season starting today.

So yes, breathe that sigh of relief. The contracts are signed. The core is locked in. The uncertainty is gone. Players like Ekholm can stop thinking about it and just play. Now comes the hard part: actually delivering on the promise these extensions represent. The Oilers have their players. They have their window. And they have their chance tonight.

Lines and Pairings

Draisaitl – McDavid – Frederic

Mangiapane – RNH – Savoie

Podkolzin – Philp – Kapanen

Howard – Henrique – Tomášek

Lazar

Ekholm – Bouchard

Nurse – Regula

Kulak – Emberson

Walman – Stecher

Skinner

Pickard

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