As a legitimate contender with the best player on the planet, the Edmonton Oilers have become one of the NHL’s most talked-about teams. Following their consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final, what the Oilers do next is front-page news, and there is no shortage of opinions going around.
The obvious imminent play is to get Connor McDavid signed. Beyond that, speculation pivots in various directions. There is talk of contract extensions, trade ideas, and moves to gear up for plans ahead of the 2026 deadline. Not every idea is a good one and there are compelling reasons why the Oilers should stand pat in some cases, rather than make drastic changes.
Here are a few examples:
Keep The Less Expensive Stuart Skinner
Outside of McDavid, the biggest story of the summer for the Oilers is their goaltending situation. Specifically, is the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard good enough?
Calls to replace Skinner are growing louder, but I'm not sold that's a good idea. At least not right now.
Skinner’s inconsistencies during the 2023-24 and 2024–25 seasons have become problematic to many. The issue is more sensitive now that said inconsistency has contributed to two failed Stanley Cup Final appearances. Some of that criticism is fair. However, it’s important to take a measured look at his value and the goaltending market as a whole before making any impulsive moves.
Skinner posted a respectable 26–18–4 record with a less-than-ideal .896 save percentage. However, his 2.81 goals-against average over 51 games in the regular season isn't awful, and there were times he looked like a legitimate starter, even an All-Star. He's yet to show he's worthy of being in the Vezina Trophy conversation, and he was recently left off Team Canada's orientation invite list, so his stock has arguably gone down. All the more reason to keep him.
Skinner has shown resilience in the past, and he's been able to bounce back when others might have cratered. That's important as the Oilers bring a new goalie coach.
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Beyond focusing on Skinner's results, it's also key to note that the goalie market is stagnant. If there were an elite, proven starter available, the Oilers would be kicking tires. Because there isn't, don't expect traction on an imminent deal.
Landing an upgrade on Skinner would likely come at a steep price. The Oilers would need to give up valuable draft picks, prospects, or cap space—resources they cannot easily spare. The better play is to wait, see what Skinner does early in the season, and revisit the idea of a change midseason.
Retain Evan Bouchard Despite Some Cracks At His Contract
Another topic stirring debate is Evan Bouchard’s recent four-year, $10.5 million average annual value contract. Former NHL defenseman James Wisniewski openly criticized the deal, suggesting that trading Bouchard to acquire two $5 million defensemen—one for power play duties and one for shutdown roles—would be smarter. While many analysts see Bouchard's deal as solid value, he's not the only voice that doesn't like what might wind up being an overpayment.
On paper, spreading cap money across multiple players seems sensible, especially given that superstars McDavid and Draisaitl already command large salaries. However, the quality Bouchard brings to the Oilers’ blue line is not easily replaced by quantity. This is, assuming Edmonton can even find a team willing to make this kind of two-for-one trade.
Some will claim Bouchard is just a power-play specialist. That's a vast oversimplification of what he brings to the team. He's elite in that role, but he also drives offense, suppresses scoring chances against, and plays at a high level in the postseason. His issue is consistency, but GM Stan Bowman recently said, “I think probably he takes too much criticism. He doesn’t make more mistakes than others—his just get magnified for some reason.”
Trading him for two lesser defensemen risks diluting the team’s top-end talent on the back end. The Oilers’ current roster construction relies on elite two-way defensemen, and Bouchard fits that mold.
His $10.5 million salary is high. If he signs another big deal in four years, it will mean the Oilers paid full price for him over the long term. It's not ideal for any organization to do so. Still, trading him away to save cap space would be a short-sighted move.
Mattias Ekholm: Proceed with Caution on Extension Talks
Veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm has been one of the best trade deadline acquisitions the Oilers have made in years. He fit in seamlessly when acquired from Nashville, and it would make sense to look at his expiring contract and consider re-upping him on a new deal. There is some risk in doing so.
At times, he has been the Oilers’ best defenseman; at others, injuries and speed have started to show themselves as potential problems.
Unlike deals for Jake Walman, Vasily Podkolzin, or other players on expiring deals, there isn't much of a benefit in doing an Ekholm deal today. In fact, the Oilers might be better served to wait and see how he looks a few months into the 2025-26 season.
Ekholm is 34, and a series of injuries late in the year and in the playoffs slowed him down. By the time any new contract would kick in, he will be 36, an age where few defensemen sustain top-level, two-way play over a full NHL season. Bowman might want to find out if Ekholm is going to continue slowing or can rebound.
If Edmonton extends Ekholm, it should be with tempered expectations and likely at a reduced salary reflective of his advancing age. Patience is essential: the Oilers should wait to see how Ekholm performs and recovers this upcoming season before committing long-term.
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