For today’s NHL Rumours, the Edmonton Oilers are going into the summer with three burning questions. How will new general manager Stan Bowman operate? That’s what we are all looking for. With the NHL draft just days away, the Oilers have already begun making moves. Evander Kane was sent to the Vancouver Canucks for a fourth-round pick to clear cap space. It’s a signal that Edmonton wants to be active, but what will they spend it on? The biggest concerns for the Oilers are complicated, and they require innovative management.
NHL Rumours and Evan Bouchard’s Uncertainty
Friedman on Evan Bouchard extension (32TP): “There seems to be a lot of confidence over the weekend that they’re going to get this sorted out. I wonder if it’s going to be around 4×9.5, that was just numbers that were being thrown around here”
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 29, 2025
Rumour: Elliotte Friedman brings us a potential deal that Bouchard and the Oilers will agree upon.
Analysis: It’s a deal that seems to make sense from both sides. Let’s figure out why we can conclude such a thing.
To pay or not to pay, that is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to endure the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or take a bridge deal, Evan Bouchard will be a talking point all summer. All eyes will be on Edmonton’s star, restricted free-agent defenceman. As the Oilers look to improve going forward, Bouchard will play a big part in that. While he isn’t winning the Norris Trophy anytime soon because of his defensive lapses, that offensive upside is irreplaceable. Many teams will want Bouchard if the Oilers don’t, but the hole on the blueline would be seismic. He is an offer-sheet candidate, too. That won’t help fans anxiety through the summer.
Bouchard followed a 67-point regular season with 23 points in 22 playoff games. He was a monumental part of the Oilers’ deep playoff run. Performing like a star leads to players wanting star money, and that’s the case here. Bouchard is rumoured to be asking for $10 million a year. That’s a lot for someone with the defensive inhibitions he has. He’s capable of scoring six points in a game and still being on the ice for more goals against than goals for. It’s a difficult conundrum for Oilers management to navigate this summer. Bouchard’s scoring from the point has been a driving factor in back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances. They have to find a solution here.
The Rest of the Oilers Story and McDavid Entering His Final Year
Connor McDavid will enter the final year of his contract next season, which will have NHL Rumours swirling, the longer he goes unsigned. Currently earning $12.5 million per season, the uncertainty surrounding the best player in the league will be a constant topic of discussion all summer. The noise has already started after his postseason media availability. That’s something Edmonton will be used to because everyone wants the best player in the NHL. However, he did offer a few reasons for Oilers fans to be optimistic.
McDavid’s priority is winning. The Edmonton Oilers have been to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. That’s a good indication the team is close. They’ve fallen to the Florida Panthers twice, but they’ve gone the distance once and fallen in six the other. With a good summer, the Oilers can get over the hump, but that’s still a long way from now. McDavid’s next contract is likely to spark considerable discussion. When it gets signed, it’ll be news league-wide. However, it feels like a matter of when, not if.
The Last Potential Issues Affecting NHL Rumours, the Oilers Goaltending
Deja vu? We’ve been here before. Goaltending remains a significant issue for the Oilers. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard did their best in the playoffs, but it wasn’t enough. With goalie options drying up, Bowman is up against it. The crease was the undoing of the Oilers in the playoffs once more, but the issues do not stop there. Skinner’s boom-or-bust style of goaltending is effective when he’s on, but it also means he’s unreliable. He cannot be a starter for a Stanley Cup contender. Edmonton is already looking for a different voice in the crease, seeking something new.
It’s the last part of the team that the Oilers urgently need to fix. Everything else is at least passable. Would there ideally be a reworking of the bottom six? Sure. However, that can wait. If the issue in goal isn’t addressed, the Oilers will require more polishing. That’s not something this organization can continue doing. They’re burning assets to try to get over the hump, and they need to do it soon. A goaltender is the primary need this summer for Northern Alberta’s hockey team.
It’ll be a long summer, but most of this will be addressed. If the Oilers are going to take another step next summer, they must navigate this chaos carefully. They’ve built a team that’s on the verge of greatness. Now, it’s a matter of smoothing out the edges and refining the results. If the Oilers can do that, who knows what the limit is for them next season?
Main Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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