The Edmonton Oilers face a pivotal period of contract negotiations, tricky decisions on potential PTO additions, and some lingering trade questions.
From rumors of Connor McDavid’s team-friendly extension to Stuart Skinner’s uncertain future, here’s what fans need to know.
How Will the New CBA Timeline Impact the Oilers?
The recently agreed-upon NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will be something the Oilers keep in the back of their mind most of the season. Once thought to give possible leverage in negotiations with players like Jake Walman, Stuart Skinner, and Vasily Podkolzin, the date of when that CBA kicks in may change things.
As per James Mirtle of The Athletic, the agreement doesn’t officially take effect until September 2026. If that date doesn't change, the above mentioned players can complete the 2025–26 season and even test free agency on July 1, 2026, without losing eligibility for a long-term deal.
Previously, the Oilers could have dangled eight-year contracts as a carrot. Now, players can wait, gauge their market value, and potentially command higher salaries.
The McDavid Contract Twist
Respected analyst John Shannon recently reported that Connor McDavid is expected to sign a team-friendly extension with Edmonton at $16–17 million per season.
“I think it’s a three or four-year deal,” Shannon told Bob Stauffer.
That's far less than the 20 percent McDavid could get, which would put him around $19 million starting in the 2026-27 season.
But, what happens in four or five years when McDavid reaches his mid-30s? Salary cap growth could push him into the $25 million range per season and that's a huge issue for Edmonton, especially if McDavid's production understandably declines a little.
When does loyalty versus production come into play for the Oilers? If McDavid shows the organization love by signing another under-value deal, do they owe it to their captain to give him more than he's potentially worth in his mid 30s? Or, is this a simple fact that McDavid will always be undervalued, regardless of the size of his contract?
It will be intriguing to see how the narrative changes from today (where the Oilers are exclusively focused on trying to win a Stanley Cup) to four years from today.
Trade Talk or Extension for Stuart Skinner?
Stuart Skinner’s future in Edmonton is anything but clear. For now, it appears he's safe and will start the season with the team. Does the sense of security last?
According to
Allan Mitchell of The Athletic, “fans should expect either a Stanley Cup delivered with Skinner-Pickard or a complete overhaul in goal by this time next year. Possibly sooner.”
Edmonton must decide whether to extend Skinner at a reasonable cap hit or trade him while his value remains intact. Signing Skinner early could pay dividends if he finds consistency, but if he underperforms, a long-term contract is extremely risky.
Mitchell talks about overhauling the goaltending, but that is dependant on upgrades being available. There's no guarantee that's going to happen.
If Skinner and Pickard falter, the Oilers’ front office may be forced into an aggressive move, whether via trade or free agency, to find the netminder who can push them over the top like the Avs did when they took only 11 days to overhaul their goaltending tandem completely. They traded Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen and picked up MacKenzie Blackwood and acquired Scott Wedgewood.
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Oilers Looking at 3 Potential PTO Options
Veteran PTOs and Depth Options
As training camp approaches, veteran free agents are exploring professional tryouts (PTOs), and Edmonton could be a landing spot. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, 38, is a candidate, offering a veteran presence on the blue line for a sheltered role.
Vlasic recently told Le Journal de Québec that he fully intends to keep playing in 2025-26
Other PTO options being speculated include forwards Klim Kostin and Brett Leason, and goalies Ilya Samsonov and Alexandar Georgiev.
Mattias Janmark on the Trade Bubble
Mattias Janmark could face an uncertain spot on the roster this season. With prospects like Noah Philp pushing for a full-time NHL role, Janmark’s tenure in Edmonton may be limited.
Janmark's production and usefullness dropped last season, but a veteran with nearly 600 NHL games may have some value on the trade market. If the Oilers continue to look at ways to clear cap space and they want to give younger players an opportunity, he could be in trouble.
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