As part of The hockey news’ NHL Summer Splash series, the Edmonton Oilers arrived at number 18 – in the middle of the peloton for teams that did not get dramatic or worse this season. But for a team that was just back-to-back Stanley Cup definitive performances, even small changes can have large implications. So the question is: Are the oilers actually better than last season?
Let’s look at the neat changes.
Additions for the Oilers
The additions of this season are Andrew Mangiapane, David Tomaseek, Isaac Howard and Curtis Lazar.
Mangiapane is the most important get-a proven scorer of 20 goals (once 35-target forward) with two-way capacity that can flourish in the top six of Edmonton. The oilers hope that from this time he will find part of his old game with the Calgary Flames, which increases his production than what he did with the Washington Capitals. This is a solid and relatively cheap gamble.
Howard is a high-up side college prospect that the Hobey Baker Award has won and gets an excellent look in a top role in addition to some of the top stars of the team. He is added to score goals, but he wants to play in all situations. There is some discrepancy when it comes to predictions about where he will penetrate to start the season, but the oilers have high expectations and exchanged a solid prospect in Sam O’Reilly to acquire him from Tampa Bay.
Lazar adds the veteran depth while trying to bounce back from a faint season where an injury delayed him. He will not be a fixed value, but he could be a consistent player on a fourth line. A right shot that can win faceoffs is never a bad addition.
Tomasek remains a question mark, but the oilers gave him a one-year UFA deal. The team is expected to give him sufficient opportunity to prove itself.
The departure for the oilers
It is impossible to deny that the oilers have lost various fixed pieces. Evander Kane, Corey Perry, Connor Brown, Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner, Derek Ryan, John Klingberg and Drake Caggiula have all disappeared. Many of these players would have stayed if Edmonton could have offered their salaries in an increasing salary cap era in which a few teams were challenged too much.
Not everyone played a role in the late season of the Oilers, but that is a lot of Playoff experience and complementary skills, in particular from Brown, Kane and Perry, who had strong Posseensons in 2024 and 2025.
Are the oilers better or worse?
The loss of grit and veteran Savvy can hurt, but the oilers are banking on youth and internal growth. There are still plenty of veterans in this schedule that the lost play -off man games have not exhausted this team.
If this summer has told us something, it is that the oilers believe in Howard and Matthew Savoie. Perhaps that is a by -product of limited cap space. GM Stan Bowman had no room for large swings, but can still be looking for upgrades near the Handelsdeadline. What he will prioritize, the feeling is target versioning if it seems suspicious at all this season.
So – are they better? That depends on it. If Mangiapane bounces back and break the young guns, Edmonton can be more dangerous than ever. They will certainly be faster and play at a faster pace. If not, the step back should not be considerable. This is still a deep team with an elitental talent. They are playoff-bound unless something unforeseen attacks.
Next: Trading underpaid winger mid -season would be a big mistake for oilers
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