The Edmonton Oilers came from the low season at the momentum of a Stanley Cup final in the 2024, but made a series of precious missteps that have already started to chase them. One of the biggest missteps of the oilers was to allow Jeff Jackson to lead the design and the free desk before hiring Stan Bowman. Jackson took large selection decisions and left Bowman to tidy up the aftermath and to manage a selection that he did not get to set up the first stamp after Ken Holland was removed from his position.
The oilers felt good about how many players were watching them in the free desk. They were the belle of the ball and player agents were out. With the dop space they had, the oilers made two expensive mistakes.
They signed Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson in free desk. Both came successfully from the past, but there were questions about fit and decreasing figures. Even, they paid the oilers well and gave them no-move clauses. Both could not produce as top-six attackers. Skinner was rarely used and not again signed; Arvidsson was eventually traded to Boston.
Edmonton also signed defender Josh Brown for a three -year -old deal in a leading -off movement. The veteran tough guy barely played and did not justify the bet.
As a result of the signing sessions, Capruise problems opened the door for the St. Louis Blues to successfully offer the Vel-Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. BroBraRG wanted out because of a lack of opportunities, and Holloway, despite his advantage, was overlooked in favor of the new veterans. Losing two young, rising players was an important setback.
Their own players were not treated correctly
One of their mistakes that until this summer only seemed like a huge problem, it did not seem to sign Evan Bouchard for a long-term extension. After strong Playoff performance in 2023, the oilers hesitated, probably for fear of a bloated market value. Bouchard, however, only got better and the rising salary limit made it impossible to get a team -friendly deal. As a result, she signed him a year later for a four-year, $ 10.5 million AAV contract-extended value that contributed to a strict cap situation and their ability to retain important in-law players.
Related: Bowman breaks silence on Bouchard -Hitte and massive extension
Finally, the oilers did not make an upgrade of the goalkeepers and chose to stay with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Although not only responsible for their play -off exit, the position remains a concern – and since then there are no clear upgrades.
Looking back, the low season of 2024 now seems to be a missed opportunity for a team that was exactly on the edge. The cap rises, but the oilers seem stagnating in their development and schedule improvement. They have lost the most important depth, go with non -tested rookies (which may be great), and they still have problems with salary caps.
What is most problematic in all this is that Connor McDavid looks at every movement. The oilers have to take steps to get better, no movements that make them worse. If they keep doing that, how long does McDavid want to linger?
Next: what McDavid would make if he played in another competition
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