Edmonton-nefteen turned to their greater concern in the 2025-26 season, signing the captain of the superstar Connor McDavid as a short-term extension.
But for the team that reached the Stanley Cup in the last two seasons, Edmonton is still heading into a campaign with an amazing number of interrogative signs.
None of the issues related to goalkeepers, depth, protection or matches of McDavid is new, and they are delayed over the team even after McDavid signed a two -year extension of $ 25 million on Monday.
In the amount of 12.5 million dollars. The USA, the average annual cost of the MCDAVID contract is lower than the teammate Leon Draysit of $ 14 million.
General Director Stan Bowman said that the amount was what McDavid wanted. The captain, Bowman added, is more interested in victory in the Stanley Cup.
“It is obvious that he wants, he wants to win,” Bowman said, adding that his attention is now – to win earlier than later. “We are not trying to create this to be good in the future. We want to win now. ”
Like last season, when they reached and lost the Stanley Cup final in Florida for the second year in a row, then, as oil, they solve other problems, will be of great importance for determining whether they can make it the third latest appearance.
“Everything should go correctly. In order for everything to be correct, you must build and become a good, solid team and be able to win different methods, special teams, five in five games, goalkeeper, all these things should fall into place, ”said Chris Knoblach, head coach, who himself signed a three-year extension before the start of the season.
“We are in an excellent starting point, we have an excellent team, many good players, if everything goes correctly, we will have such an opportunity. But to say that it will just happen is crazy a little. ”
An attempt to find suitable, long -term classes in the McDavid match remains a problem. Zach Haiman was at home with McDavid and Draseite last season, but in the first few weeks he came out of the injury of wrist.
“I know that Oil has many prospects that were cut out in the upper part of the composition, and this did not go well,” said Knoblaukh, who experimented with winger through a training camp. Opportunities include Trent Frederick, Adam Henrik, Andrew Mangiapan and beginner Matt Savoy.
While the game McDavid and Draisaitl together presents a huge problem for opponents, this also facilitates the ice problem for others. Last season, Knoblauch said that on average there were 49 minutes of ice icy time for the game. McDavid and Draysit on average amounted to 17 minutes each, when they focused on different lines, leaving about 15 minutes for the third and fourth units.
“It’s hard for them to get regular minutes,” said Knoblah. “C (McDavid and Draysit), playing together, for everyone there is more time. You play these two -four (lines) much more consistently, and one line does not stand aside. ”
The goalkeeper, especially Stuart Skinner, who begins his fourth season as the starter of the team No. 1, was an easy goal for the dissatisfied fans of the Oilers. The team traded in Connor Ingram from Utah Mammoth, but the Management Management quickly called it an insured step to support skinner and backup Calvin Picard.
“We have two guys, and we are confident in them, Stuart and the choice – our goalkeeper right now,” said Knoblah. “Connor is just an insurance policy, and we believe that these two are our best options. Stuart Skinner is our starter, and Kalvin Picard is our backup copy. ”
It is supervised that the oil workers have a depth and experience with their top-two pairs of Matthias Ekholm with Evan Bushar and a nurse Darnell with Jake Walman, who has just signed a seven-year extension of $ 49 million. Brett Kulak, Tai Emberson, Troy Stera and Alex Regula provide depth.
The keys here are that Ekholm remains healthy, regulatory to become healthy, Bushar to improve his protective game and nurses to be more consistent.
If Oilers really manage to make the final appearance of the third in a row, the story suggests that the “third time lucky” does not cut it in the NHL. Over the past 70 years, six teams have lost the final in the back to the back, and only one-Montreal Canadiens 1956, the Cup made on its third trip.
The last team that reached the final in the consistent seasons was Boston Bruins 1977-78, and it took another 10 years before they returned there.
Skinny skinner
He is not quite thin, but Skinner took about 15 pounds in the offseason and entered the season, he says that he feels easier and much more agile. He also welcomed the addition of a new coach -breeder Peter Obri.
“There are many aspects with which he can help me,” Skinner says. “The creation of my game is stronger and stronger, creating the best habits. These are trifles, but doing these things really, very good. ”
Both Skinner and Picard enter the last year of their contracts.
Youth energy
The Oilers have several young players, or new players, in whom Knoblah has high hopes for: newcomers of Savoy and Noah Philip and Frederick veterans, the acquisition of trade at the end of the season and a signature with a free agent.
“You need this young, young energy,” said Knoblah. “It will be more important during the regular season when you get to the dogs.”
This report of the Canadian press was first published on October 7, 2025.
