Changes coming to Oilers roster this summer — The Fourth Period
With the Edmonton Oilers now focused on retooling for the 2026-27 season after a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, management is expected to make several changes to the roster to push this team back into Stanley Cup contention.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl expressed their disappointment and frustration with their season, noting the team’s average performance was unacceptable.
“I am concerned because we’re not trending in the right direction,” Draisaitl told reporters on Saturday. “We’ve taken big steps backwards and have to get a grip of this and head back in the right direction.”
McDavid echoed Draisaitl’s comments and with his two-year contract extension kicking in July 1, the club’s window to compete for a Stanley Cup is getting smaller.
“It starts with me, it starts with Leon, we all can be better, we need to be better,” McDavid, who was playing with a fractured ankle in Round 1, stated.
With around $16.5 million in salary cap space for next season, Oilers GM Stan Bowman has flexibility to make changes to his lineup.
During his weekly appearance on “Hello Hockey” in Edmonton on Saturday, TFP’s David Pagnotta suggested the Oilers may free up an extra $1.225 million by sending goaltender Tristan Jarry down to the AHL as opposed to buying out his contract, which would create less cap space for the club.
Goalie Connor Ingram, defenceman Connor Murphy, and forwards Adam Henrique, Jason Dickinson, Jack Roslovic, Kasperi Kapanen, Max Jones and Curtis Lazar are all eligible to become unrestricted free agents July 1.
The Oilers are expected to explore the possibility of signing Ingram, Dickinson and Murphy to new deals.
While goaltending will be a focal point this off-season, the Oilers must also address their bottom-six, specifically at the third-line centre position – which could be filled if they re-sign Dickinson – as well as going after a top-six winger and a defensive-minded, rugged defenceman.
The future of Head Coach Kris Knoblauch, who signed a three-year extension in October, is also up in the air and management must decide his fate moving forward.
