After years of cap constraints, Stan Bowman is weaponizing Edmonton’s newfound financial flexibility. The GM expects to seize the opportunity to pounce on high-impact upgrades before the postseason.
For most of Stan Bowman's tenure in Edmonton, the Oilers haven't had the luxury of adding when they want to add or seizing opportunities on the trade market. This season, for the first time, he says they do — and in a recent interview with Bob Stauffer, he hinted that he's not about to waste the opportunity.
The Oilers Finally Have Cap Flexibility
Speaking to OilersNOW 880 on Friday, Bowman was asked if this offseason is different than the others because the team has cap space. He immediately agreed, explaining that his first two seasons running the Oilers were defined by a lack of ability to get things done.
Saying he was "handcuffed" in several situations, the team had been pressed right up against the cap ceiling, and Edmonton had almost no maneuvering room. He noted that they'd often operated out of LTI just to stay compliant. To say the least, the Oilers were not opportunistic buyers.
That's not the situation heading into this season. Bowman confirmed the Oilers are carrying real cap space into training camp. They're choosing to hold onto it rather than spend it immediately.
Not Hoarding, Just Waiting
What Bowman added was that the plan isn't just to accrue cap space for the sake of having it. He hinted they intend to build it up so they can use it.
He talked about the frustration of not being able to make moves in previous seasons when teams quietly shopped useful, affordable players purely to shed salary. He didn't specifically say the Oilers had a chance to add a $2.5 million contract last year, but he used it as an example of what could pop up this season.
He didn't have the pre-existing room to act on it. Now he does. Edmonton simply wasn't in that market before. Now they are.
Holding cap space this season is Edmonton positioning itself to finally be a buyer in that quiet, second-hand market — not just at the trade deadline, but at any point a good player becomes cheaply available.
In other words, the Oilers are saving money now with every intention to spend it later. Edmonton still expects to spend close to all of it by season's end, and he said the team that starts the season won't be the same one that enters the playoffs. He intends to add.
Names like Patrik Laine and Vladimir Tarasenko have circulated as potential targets this summer, but Bowman's tone and comments suggested Edmonton isn't going to be in that market. He might be thinking of a bigger swing or a more impactful add as teams make changes and players become available throughout the season.
Expect a move by Bowman and the Oilers. It just won't be right away.
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