The 5 biggest questions facing the Edmonton Oilers this summer

New York Times

14 hours ago

Early in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers attempted a breakout. The score was tied, and the play looked routine. Although the Oilers needed a win to get the series to a decisive Game 7, the team played well through the first four minutes, and there was no need to press.
As defenceman Mattias Ekholm passed the puck along the left wall inside the defensive zone, all looked fine. Leon Draisaitl was nearby to offer support, and Corey Perry was available at the blue line. Florida Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad pinched at the line, and rejected the pass, but Draisaitl sent a short lob back to Ekholm for a reset. Edmonton was still in good shape, 0-0 score, no danger here.
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At that point, Draisaitl and Perry immediately exited the zone on a jail break. Connor McDavid, the other member of the line, was already past centre ice, all three forwards anticipating a sortie through the neutral zone and into the attacking end.
It took five seconds, from turnover to Panthers goal. Five seconds.
Ekholm made a poor pass, and Evan Bouchard was unable to handle it. The puck-hawk Florida forwards turned it over, and it was instantly 1-0 on an unforced error.
The play stood out as an example of several things the Oilers need to improve this summer and in years to come. Here are five issues, all clear as day on a pivotal goal by Florida.
Ekholm is a quality veteran and a valuable member of the Oilers. He wasn't playing his best hockey in the last two games of the final. Edmonton's management and coaching staff went with Ekholm in Game 6 despite some disturbing results in five-on-five play.
If Ekholm's ability to perform at a high level was in doubt, and the Oilers' decision-makers didn't trust other options (notably Darnell Nurse or Brett Kulak), that's a problem. Ekholm is 35 and entering the final year of his contract, and the Oilers don't have a left-handed defensive phenom poised to replace him now that Philip Broberg is a member of the St. Louis Blues.
Ekholm was clearly playing hurt, and the Oilers proceeded with him on the top pairing. It raises a big question about Edmonton's top pairing.
The breakout by the forwards (Draisaitl and Perry) on the goal was immediate once the puck had been pushed back to Ekholm by Draisaitl. McDavid was past centre before Ekholm made the subpar pass meant for Bouchard (the NHL visualizer on the play is a fantastic overview), and the positioning of the forwards at that moment is problematic.
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All three forwards were reacting to possession gained, suggesting a set play or at least the coaching preference. A jailbreak can work well, but the forwards isolated the defencemen by doing it. Once it became a battle between Bouchard and Sam Reinhart, the Oilers were in trouble.
If the forwards leaping out of the zone ran counter to the coaching staff's preference, it's a different problem. If it's a planned outbreak, a more conservative approach (breaking out as a five-man unit) should be an easy fix. The Oilers aren't brilliant defensively, especially against the Panthers.
More support is required.
The play described above must have looked like a biblical parting of the defensive sea from Stuart Skinner's vantage point. From what should have been a routine pass to a fumble and a turnover, it was all poor defending. It left Skinner with a lot to guess on as Reinhart moved toward the net.
If the Oilers are going to play a pure offensive style, and it makes sense with McDavid, Draisaitl and Bouchard, then investing in a strong goaltending tandem makes sense. It also means a higher spend at the position.
Edmonton's investment in goaltending during the Ken Holland era (2019-2024) was frugal, and last season (Stan Bowman's first as general manager) the club used less than $4 million in cap money for the position.
The play for Bowman is to make more room for a goaltender partner to match with Skinner. He's young, has extensive NHL playoff experience and remains a goaltender who can get hot in key situations (the series against the Dallas Stars in the 2024 and 2025 playoffs are examples).
If the Oilers choose a free agent (like Jake Allen) or trade for a significant stopper, the coaching staff can split the regular-season work and go with the hot hand in the postseason. The Vancouver Canucks are an example of a team who always have two strong options.
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Edmonton would be wise to adopt a similar plan. It's going to be expensive.
Perry was the right winger on the top line during the goal in question by Reinhart. Edmonton's right wing depth chart featured Zach Hyman all year, and through most of the playoffs. He was injured in the Dallas series, and the 40-year-old Perry emerged as the best option.
That isn't acceptable. The Oilers spend to the cap, and owner Daryl Katz has done so for many years. How did the Oilers land in such a situation? It's complicated and involves a disappointing season by veteran Viktor Arvidsson and inconsistent scoring from Connor Brown.
The club used the waiver wire to pick up Kasperi Kapanen, who performed well on the wing and at centre. None of the options were superior to Perry in the final game of the season, and his presence on the top line at that moment should be a red flag for the organization.
The NHL roster spent last season hermetically sealed, with recalls from the AHL Bakersfield Condors a rare item. The team's top prospect, right winger Matt Savoie, played just four games (recording one assist) before being dispatched to the minors.
Edmonton needed a right-handed centre all season, but Noah Philp played just 15 games with the team. Quinn Hutson was signed out of college and dressed for two games but barely played. Goalie prospect Olivier Rodrigue also saw just two games.
The club did recall veterans like Drake Caggiula, but precious development opportunities were missed. If Savoie had been brought along more aggressively, playing in 30-40 regular-season games, plus getting some playoff experience, the organization would have a better idea about him today. In fact, if Savoie had thrived during the regular season, Edmonton may have been able to consider him as an option for play after Hyman went down with injury during the Stars' series, or as a replacement for the ineffective Arvidsson.
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That goal, that single moment in time during Game 6, exposed several areas the Oilers need to address.
Playing veterans who are clearly not 100 percent, questionable breakouts when there is no need for desperate measures, devoting very little cap to goaltending while needing brilliant consistency due to an offence-first roster, having enough skill on the wings to survive an injury, and playing youth enough to get an idea about what they can be in the future.
No matter the names of the new recruits Bowman will procure, those five questions need answers before the fall.