The Edmonton Oilers have been making notable changes after their 2024 Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Following Ken Holland’s departure in June 2024, the Oilers moved quickly to find his replacement.
They appointed Bowman as their new general manager, aiming to build on the strong foundation Holland left behind. Bowman’s experience is expected to bring a fresh perspective as the team looks to continue its push for a Stanley Cup title.
McDavid and Draisaitl: The Core Offensive Power
The Oilers’ roster strategy has consistently centered around two of the NHL’s most electrifying talents—Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid, in particular, has been a force of nature, captaining the team to the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Finals, their first appearance since 2006. Despite a hard-fought seven-game series, the Oilers were narrowly defeated.
Still, McDavid’s remarkable postseason earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player, making him only the sixth player in history to win the award from the losing team. Notably, McDavid also set a new record for the most points accumulated in two Stanley Cup Finals games, further cementing his legacy as one of the game’s greatest.
During his time with the Oilers, McDavid has played 719 games, tallying an incredible 347 goals and 503 assists. In the 2023-24 season alone, he played 81 games, contributing 41 goals and 65 assists for 106 points.
Similarly, Draisaitl has remained a key offensive contributor, often working with McDavid to drive the Oilers’ success. While the duo’s dominance often highlighted the team’s reliance on them, it also exposed the need for more depth.
Strengthening Depth with Key Additions
To address their depth issues, the Oilers made some significant moves during the 2023 and 2024 offseasons. One of the key acquisitions was Connor Brown, who was signed to an incentive-laden, one-year, $4 million contract for the 2023–24 season. Brown had previously played alongside Connor McDavid during their junior days, making the move an attempt to revive chemistry.
Despite struggling with injuries and recording only 12 points in 71 regular-season games, Brown performed better in the postseason, contributing six points and playing a key role on the penalty kill. His impact in the Stanley Cup Finals earned him a second one-year deal with Edmonton for the 2024-25 season, this time at a lower $1 million.
The Oilers continued bolstering their lineup with significant additions like Viktor Arvidsson, who signed a two-year deal, and Jeff Skinner, who joined on a one-year, $3 million contract. Both Arvidsson and Skinner are expected to provide much-needed scoring depth, particularly in the top six. Arvidsson, a former 30-goal scorer, was brought in to stabilize the second line, while Skinner could be paired with Draisaitl to generate more offense.
With departures like Dylan Holloway and Ryan McLeod, who were traded and signed with new teams, the Oilers are relying heavily on new additions to fill the gap left by their internal development pipeline. The upgrades have led to sportsbooks ranking Edmonton as favorites to win the Stanley Cup, with odds of +850, putting them ahead of the Florida Panthers. Fans can stay updated on the latest odds by checking platforms like Sports Interaction Canada.
Defensive Reinforcements and Stability
Edmonton’s defense has seen notable improvements, particularly with the addition of Mattias Ekholm in early 2023. Paired with Evan Bouchard, Ekholm was instrumental in shoring up a defense that had long been a weak spot for the team. Bouchard’s offensive game from the back end makes him a key player on the power play.
The Oilers also made moves to bring in Ty Emberson, who arrived from San Jose during the offseason. Emberson is expected to slot into the second pairing with Darnell Nurse, adding defensive depth. Although there are some concerns about Emberson’s defensive metrics from last season, the Oilers are banking on a change of scenery to bring out his potential.
Goaltending: A Spotlight on Stuart Skinner
The 2023-24 season was pivotal for Stuart Skinner, who emerged as the Oilers’ starting goaltender. Skinner’s performance during the season earned him a spot in the All-Star Game, though he experienced some ups and downs, particularly during the playoffs. He was great in regular season and his record of recording a 29–14–5 record with a .914 save percentage positions him as the Oilers’ clear No. 1 going into 2024-25.
Summary
As the Oilers head into the 2024-25 season, their roster reflects a stronger mix of veteran leadership and new talent. McDavid and Draisaitl remain the heart of the team, while recent additions like Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner are expected to bring extra scoring power. Defensively, Ekholm and Bouchard continue to improve the blue line, and Stuart Skinner has solidified his role as the starting goaltender. With new general manager Bowman in place, the Oilers aim to build on their recent success and make another run for the Stanley Cup.
