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Oilersnation’s Summer 2025 Prospect Countdown – No. 8: Dalyn Wakely

Welcome to Oilersnation’s Top Prospect Countdown for Summer 2025. This list profiles players and goaltenders under 25 years old who have played fewer than 25 NHL games.

Over five drafts during the Ken Holland era, the Edmonton Oilers selected just two skaters from the Ontario Hockey League, which is surprising given how much NHL talent the league produces. In their lone draft with CEO Jeff Jackson serving as acting general manager in 2024, the Oilers used four of their seven picks on OHL forwards.

One of those picks was Dalyn Wakely, finally selected in the sixth round after being passed over in two previous drafts. Wakely turned heads with a 104-point season in 2023-24 and is committed to the University of Massachusetts–Lowell for the fall.

Dalyn Wakely​


Position: Centre

Shoots: Right

Nationality: Canada

Date of Birth: March 5, 2004

Drafted: 192nd overall in 2024

Height: 6-foot-1

Weight: 200 pounds

Screenshot-2025-08-06-at-7.39.36-AM.png



The North Bay Battalion selected Wakely in the second round of the 2020 OHL Draft. After missing the 2020-21 season due to the pandemic, he scored 20 goals and 34 points in 67 games as a rookie in 2021-22. He followed that up with 30 goals and 49 points in 66 games in 2022-23 but was passed over in the NHL Draft for a second straight year.

Wakely broke out in 2023–24 while playing on North Bay’s top line, scoring 39 goals and 65 points in 66 regular-season games, good for third in OHL scoring. He followed that up with 23 points in 16 playoff games. Here’s what Elite Prospects had to say about him in their draft guide that summer:

Every team needs players like Wakely. He battles for pucks mercilessly, takes hits to make plays, and dishes out even more punishment than he takes. Around the net, he digs for pucks and creates space for his teammates by engaging as many defenders as possible. Along the boards, he throws reverse hits, rolls with contact, and attacks the middle.
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Last off-season, the Battalion traded Wakely to the Barrie Colts, and his offensive production dipped in his final OHL campaign. He recorded 58 points in 55 games, third on the low-scoring Colts but well off the league leaders. In the playoffs, however, Wakely led the way with 24 points in 16 games for Barrie.

With the NCAA lifting its eligibility restrictions for CHL players starting in 2025-26, Wakely will join UMass–Lowell this fall. The Oilers hold his rights until next summer, so it won’t take long to find out whether he’s part of the organization’s long-term plans.

Wakely isn’t a typical NCAA prospect, as he’ll be among the first players to complete a full OHL career before heading to the college ranks. With the big club always on the lookout for bottom-six forwards who play his style, a strong freshman season at UMass–Lowell could put him in line for a pro deal with the Oilers.

Top Prospects Countdown…​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-summer-2025-prospect-countdown-8-dalyn-wakely
 
Better Lait Than Never: Wedding season, trade rumours, and Oilers extension watch

It’s Wednesday smack dab in the middle of the NHL dead zone, which means a fresh episode of Better Lait Than Never is ready to recap what was another slow news week in Edmonton. On today’s podcast, I discussed some of the wild Oilers rumours, wedding season, the Matthew Tkachuk NHL ’26 cover, and whatever else has happened over the last seven days.

We’re smack dab in the middle of the off-season dead zone, which meant there wasn’t a whole lot of Oilers news to talk about this week, but I did check off the Edmonton-related items that came across my feed. Starting with what was a busy wedding week for the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl was the big one that everyone was talking about, as many of his current and former teammates congregated in France for the big day. From there, I ran through a list of items from insane rumours to Tyler Wright ending up in Los Angeles to four Oilers being invited to Olympic orientation camp.

Finally, I wrapped up this week’s episode of BLTN with a pair of Righteous Sack Beatings before wrapping up the podcast with another round of voicemails. The voicemail was quiet but mighty this week, and as always, the messages were still as fun as ever. The voicemails are a fun way to wrap up the show and give everyone a chance to share their thoughts. Another hearty thank you to everyone who contributed to this week’s episode, because having all of you in the mix makes the show so much better.

Want to leave a voicemail for next week’s show? Do it here!

Subscribe to Better Lait Than Never for FREE on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and wherever else you get your podcasts from! Better Lait Than Never is proudly presented by Star Mechanical, Odd Company, and Trilogy Oilfield Rentals. Without them, this podcast would not be possible.
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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/bette...trade-rumours-edmonton-oilers-extension-watch
 
Canucks banking on rebounds from core players: Off-Season Recap

This is Off-Season Recap, a summer series where we’ll look at what the other 15 teams in the Western Conference have done ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. Last time, we looked at the Calgary Flames, and we’ll stay in Canada to preview the Vancouver Canucks.

The Vancouver Canucks’ 2024-25 Season in a Nutshell​


After a few years of mediocrity, it finally looked like the Canucks’ core was ready to contend. They finished with 109 points, tops in the Pacific Division, won a playoff round, and pushed the Oilers to Game 7 in the second round.

But like the Flames, the Canucks found themselves fighting for a wild-card spot for most of the 2024-25 season. As of March 19, they held the eighth seed by a thread, playing one fewer game than the St. Louis Blues. The next night, they lost 4-3 in overtime, kicking off what could best be described as a stretch of “average” hockey to close out the year. They finished 6-5-3 down the stretch.

Their final record of 38-30-14 for 90 points was solid on paper, but not nearly enough. The Blues went on a massive run and finished six points ahead, leaving the Canucks on the outside looking in.

And that’s only part of the story.

Internal Chaos and a Stunning Trade​


Behind the scenes, the Canucks appeared to be in disarray.

J.T. Miller (who had a monster 2023-24 season with 37 goals and 103 points in 81 games, plus 12 points in 13 playoff games) was traded by the end of January. Vancouver dealt its top scorer to the New York Rangers for a package that included Filip Chytil and a protected 2025 first-round pick.

That pick didn’t stay long. It was later flipped, along with former Oiler Vincent Desharnais, to the Penguins for defenceman Marcus Pettersson. Did it make the team better down the stretch? Not really.

Many of Vancouver’s top players also regressed or dealt with injuries.


  • Elias Pettersson had another down year, scoring 15 goals and 45 points in 64 games, on pace for just 19 goals over a full season.
  • Quinn Hughes was still excellent, putting up 16 goals and 76 points in 68 games despite missing time.

  • Brock Boeser was a major driver in their 2023-24 success with 40 goals and 73 points. He fell back to 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games, closer to his career average.

  • Thatcher Demko struggled to stay healthy, appearing in just 23 games and finishing with an .889 save percentage and 2.90 GAA.

  • Kevin Lankinen filled in, performing respectably with a .902 save percentage and 2.62 GAA in 51 games.

So, how should we assess the Canucks’ 2024-25 season? On one hand, they were only three wins shy of a playoff berth. On the other hand, it’s hard to call that “underachieving.” The truth is, Vancouver has been a middling team ever since their 2011 Cup window slammed shut.

The core of Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, and Thatcher Demko made a surprise run to the second round in the 2020 playoff bubble, but that was more a product of the pandemic than true contention. They missed the postseason in the next three seasons before shocking everyone with a division title in 2023-24.

In hindsight, that looks like one of the most overachieving seasons in recent memory. Last year, they came back down to earth, fighting for a wild-card spot and hoping for playoff magic.

Off-Season Transactions​


The biggest splash of the summer came on June 25, when the Canucks did the Oilers a favour by taking on Evander Kane (and his full salary) in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick, the same one that Edmonton had sent to Vancouver earlier for Vasily Podkolzin.

Evander Kane is the newest member of the Vancouver Canucks pic.twitter.com/GX0vclzHEK

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) June 25, 2025
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Aside from that, Vancouver focused on re-signing key players:


  • Brock Boeser inked a seven-year, $50.75 million deal.

  • Thatcher Demko agreed to a three-year extension.

  • Conor Garland signed a six-year contract worth $6 million annually.

Their most notable free-agent addition was Pierre-Olivier Joseph, while they lost Pius Suter (25 goals in 2024-25) to free agency. The Canucks also traded Artūrs Šilovs to Pittsburgh and Dakota Joshua to Toronto.

What’s Next for Vancouver?​


Are the Canucks better than they were last season? That depends.

Elias Pettersson ready to flip the script this season 😈

(via @NHLdotcom) pic.twitter.com/3u61wTQpxc

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) August 6, 2025
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A bounce-back year from Pettersson is crucial. He needs to play up to his contract and return to the 100-point form he showed in 2023-24. Hughes remains one of the league’s top defencemen and Demko can be an elite goalie, but the team will need better health and consistency across the board.

It’s hard to predict how they’ll perform in 2025-26, but one thing seems clear: a repeat of their 109-point 2023-24 season is unlikely. Another battle for a wild card spot seems far more realistic.


Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/vancouver-canucks-2025-off-season-recap
 
NHL Notebook: Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk ‘undecided’ about surgery that could delay start to 2025-26 season

Just days after being named to the cover of EA Sports’ NHL 26, Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk may not be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season.

Tkachuk told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that he’s contemplating the next steps in his recovery from a torn adductor muscle and sports hernia injury he suffered while playing for Team USA at the 4-Nations Face-Off.

One option is surgery, Tkachuk said, but it’s something that would keep him out of the Panthers’ lineup at the start of the year.

“I’m still hoping to hit the ice as soon as possible,” said Tkachuk. “If I do get the surgery, it’ll definitely be the first two or maybe three months if that’s the case, but it’s still undecided at this point.”

Tkachuk missed the remainder of the regular season after being injured in the February tournament, but was able to return in time for the postseason. There, he chipped in eight goals and 23 points in 23 games, helping the Panthers win their second straight title.

Other news…​

  • Little Caesars Arena is getting a nice touch for the Detroit Red Wings this year as the team celebrates its 100th year in the NHL. The centre ice logo will see them bring their decades-old nickname of “Hockeytown,” splayed over a new logo with a version of the winged-wheel and the number 100 behind it. The logo was voted on by Red Wings fans, which gave them a second option of the logo without “Hockeytown” on it.”
  • The Colorado Avalanche signed forward Joel Kiviranta to a one-year contract, the club announced Friday. The 29-year-old left-shot winger drew in for 79 games last year for the Avalanche, scoring 16 goals — double his previous career high — and 23 points. According to PuckPedia, his deal will pay him $1.25-million, a $475,000 raise from his previous contract, which was also a one-year deal.
  • Ex-NHL’er Jakub Vrana is taking his talents to Sweden, signing a two-year deal with Linköping HC of the Swedish Hockey League. Drafted by the Washington Capitals 13th overall in the 2014 draft, Vrana had success with the team, scoring 83 goals and 168 points in 310 games between the 2016-17 and 2020-21 seasons. But after being traded to the Red Wings in April 2021, he dealt with injuries and spent time splitting games between the NHL and AHL.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-n...tkachuk-undecided-surgery-delay-start-2025-26
 
Projecting what Stuart Skinner’s extension will look like with the Oilers

There may not be a more important season in Stuart Skinner’s career than the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.

Because when it’s all said and done, a massive decision will have to be made about the Edmonton Oilers’ pending unrestricted free agent.

This season will be Skinner’s final of a three-year extension signed in Dec. 2022 that pays him $2.6-million per year. However, the first two years of his deal, Skinner has struggled to fully establish himself as a No. 1 goaltender, instead somewhat finding himself the product of some really good Oilers teams.

Of the 31 goaltenders who have played 82 or more games in the last two seasons, Skinner ranks 10th in games played and sixth in wins. Wins, however, aren’t solely a goaltender’s statistic, nor are things like save percentage or goals against average, which his .901 and 2.71 rank 22nd and 14th, respectively.

Two metrics we can look at to better examine a goaltender, thanks to Hockey Reference’s Stathead, are goals saved above average (GSAA) and goalie point shares (GPS). GSAA looks at “the goals this goalie prevented given his save percentage and shots faced vs. the league average save percentage on the same number of shots,” while GPS is “an estimate of the number of points contributed by a player due to his play in goal.” His -2.2 GSAA ranks 22nd, while his GPS is a little more middle of the pack at 17th overall.

If we rank all of those numbers and average them out for the group of goaltenders, Skinner ranks 15th out of 31 — a perfectly cromulent average starting netminder.

There’s an argument to be made that Skinner has outperformed the current contract he’s on, as the average cap hit for this group of goalies is $4.448-million — $1.848-million more than what Skinner’s made in each of the last two seasons.

Then, of course, there’s the playoffs, where it’s been another up and down experience, giving more Hyde than Jekyll.

So what would a realistic contract extension look like for Skinner? According to Evolving Hockey, there’s a wide range of outcomes.

The predicted, or most likely deal is a five-year extension carrying a $6.817-million cap hit — something Evolving Hockey projects to have a 22 percent chance of happening. But there’s four other deals which have a greater than 12 percent chance at happening.

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Term​
[/td]​
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Cap hit​
[/td]​
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Percent chance​
[/td]​
[td]
2​
[/td]​
[td]
$5,166,000​
[/td]​
[td]
20%​
[/td]​
[td]
3​
[/td]​
[td]
$6,242,000​
[/td]​
[td]
12%​
[/td]​
[td]
5​
[/td]​
[td]
$6,817,000​
[/td]​
[td]
22%​
[/td]​
[td]
6​
[/td]​
[td]
$6,837,000​
[/td]​
[td]
17%​
[/td]​
[td]
8​
[/td]​
[td]
$6,645,000​
[/td]​
[td]
19%​
[/td]​

That’s an undeniably large range of outcomes for Skinner, and whatever his next contract looks like — in Edmonton or elsewhere — will largely be dependant on what he’s able to accomplish this year. If he establishes himself as a true No. 1 starting goaltender, a longer term deal to keep him in Edmonton makes sense.

If not, a shorter-term deal with the Oilers bringing in another goaltender, or someone to replace him, is entirely possible.

Projecting other extensions​


Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/stuart-skinner-contract-extension-projection-edmonton-oilers
 
Oilers: How Darnell Nurse stacks up with the 2013 NHL Draft

About to enter his 12th season with the Edmonton Oilers, it’s hard to believe that Darnell Nurse finds himself the second-longest-tenured member of the roster.

A full 82-game season from the defenceman will solidify him sixth overall in franchise history in terms of games played, and contract warts aside, there’s no denying he’s been an important member of the organization.

Over his 11 seasons, he’s appeared in 716 games, scoring 81 goals, 219 assists, 300 points and 621 PIM.

But with over a decade’s worth of games since being taken seventh overall in the 2013 draft, it’s time to look back at how he shapes up with other members of his class.

The first round misses​


By all accounts, this was a solid first round. Of the 30 players selected, they’ve averaged 519 games, 101 goals, 189 assists, 289 points and 243 PIM, according to HockeyDB.

Few players could be considered true misses here. The earliest miss was the Philadelphia Flyers’ 11th overall selection of defenceman Samuel Morin, who played just 29 NHL games. There’s some misses later in the round, too.

Winger Kerby Rychel, drafted 19th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets, played 43 games, winger Hunter Shinkaruk, drafted 24th by the Vancouver Canucks, played 15 games while the Calgary Flames had two missses: winger Emile Porier, drafted 22nd, played eight games, while winger Morgan Klimchuk, drafted 28th, played just one.

The Value​


The third round of this draft was stacked with seven players have played over 400 games:

No.PosPlayerDrafted ByGPGAPtsPIM
66DBrett PesceCarolina69942173215256
79CMattias Janmark-NylenDetroit63782131213205
89ROliver BjorkstrandColumbus624172212384120
80LAnthony DuclairNY Rangers607153161314209
77CJake GuentzelPittsburgh600268303571256
75LPavel BuchnevichNY Rangers593182276458253
82CCarter VerhaegheToronto411147155302215

There were some other sleepers in this class, too.

C Andrew Copp was drafted in the fourth round, 104th overall by the Winnipeg Jets, and has played 700 games, scoring 114 goals and 300 points. D Mackenzie Weegar was taken by the Florida Panthers in the seventh round, 206th overall, playing 550 games, scoring 59 goals and 251 points.

There were two goals of impact from this class. The Nashville Predators took Juuse Saros 99th overall in the fourth round, while the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Tristan Jarry 44th overall.

How does Nurse stack up with the class?​


Nurse shapes up well with the class overall. He’s 11th in games played, 27th in goals, 16th in assists, and 23rd in points.

Among defencemen, those ranks improve: fourth in games played behind Nikita Zadorov, Rasmus Ristolainen and Seth Jones, second in goals behind Jones, as well as fifth in assists and points behind all of Ristolainen, Shea Theodore, Josh Morrissey and Jones.

Did the Oilers make the right pick?​


Looking at the other players selected behind him, I struggle to find anyone clear cut and dry as better selections than Nurse. Those who could be in contention are Ristolainen, Bo Horvat, Valeri Nichushkin and Josh Morrissey.

Horvat likely has the strongest argument to be the one, as he’s racked up 813 games, 269 goals and 561 points, but at the time the Oilers had Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 20, and Sam Gagner, 24, on the roster as the one-two punch up the middle that they hoped to carry them into the future.

Nichushkin has a good case as someone that was expected to be a top-five pick, sliding to Dallas at 10, but he has had his own struggles throughout his career before settling in with the Colorado Avalanche.

The organization didn’t have much in terms of blue chip defensive prospects at the time, and Nurse was someone who not only faced the toughest competition of any blue liner in the draft, but was looked at as a blue-chip prospect.

Whatever you may say now about how Nurse has panned out, the biggest issue plaguing him in the year 2025 isn’t so much his play, which has been solid over the years, but rather his $9.25-million contract.

Past classes​


Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-darnell-nurse-stacks-up-2013-draft
 
From Sather to Bowman: The best trade from every Edmonton Oilers General Manager

As Oilers fans, we love to debate and dissect the work of general managers. These are the people trusted and paid to build the team we see on the ice.

A huge part of that job is making trades: finding deals that improve your roster and, hopefully, push you closer to a Stanley Cup. Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of them. Some were brilliant, others still make us scratch our heads.

In this piece, I’ve looked back through franchise history and picked the best trade made by each Edmonton Oilers GM, from Glen Sather to Stan Bowman. You might disagree with some of these choices, and that’s fine. There have been plenty of trades that can spark debate in Oil Country.

Glen Sather (1980-2000)​


Glen Sather was the architect of the Oilers dynasty in the 1980s. He wasn’t alone, but his leadership and hockey mind were major reasons the team won five Stanley Cups. Over two decades as GM, he made plenty of deals, but the one that stands out didn’t happen in the 1980s.

At the tail end of the 1992-93 season, Sather traded Esa Tikkanen to the New York Rangers for a prospect named Doug Weight. The young forward had just eight points in 13 games after joining Edmonton, but the team was coming off one of its worst seasons ever (26-50-8). The following year, Weight led the Oilers with 74 points, becoming a rare bright spot in the early ’90s.

By 1995-96, Weight hit the 100-point mark, something no other Oiler managed in that decade. He was named captain in 1999-00 and, by the time he was traded in 2001, had scored 178 goals and 436 points in eight seasons with Edmonton. No Oiler in the ’90s had more points (487) or goals (132).

Other strong Sather deals: acquiring Curtis Joseph and Mike Grier’s rights from St. Louis, getting Tommy Salo from the Islanders, and adding Jason Smith from Toronto. But none defined an era the way Weight did.

Kevin Lowe (2000-08)​


Replacing Sather after he left the Oilers to run the New York Rangers was no small task. Kevin Lowe made his share of controversial trades, but his best was landing Chris Pronger from St. Louis in 2005 for Eric Brewer, Doug Lynch, and Jeff Woywitka.

Fresh off the NHL lockout, Pronger instantly became a franchise-altering piece. He led the Oilers to the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, posted the third-best offensive season of his career, and had a dominant playoff run. Unfortunately, after the Cup Final loss, Pronger requested a trade and was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks.

A Hall of Fame defender during his playing career in Edmonton, Lowe has a mixed legacy as general manager. His work ahead of the 2006 deadline (adding Dwayne Roloson, Jaroslav Spacek, and Sergei Samsonov) is among the best string of in-season trades the league has ever seen. But losing franchise icon Ryan Smyth over pennies is an ugly memory for the Oilers.


Screen-Shot-2022-06-22-at-12.11.40-PM-1024x560.png


Steve Tambellini (2008-13)​


Tambellini’s tenure was defined by a rebuild, and his record is thin on wins outside of the ones that came at the Draft Lottery.

His best trade came at the 2011 deadline, when he sent winger Dustin Penner to the L.A. Kings for Colten Teubert, a first-round pick, and a conditional third. That pick became Oscar Klefbom, who developed into a steady top-four defenceman and fan favourite before injuries cut his career short.

Without that trade, we don’t get the Klefbom era in Edmonton.

Craig MacTavish (2013-15)​


The MacT years weren’t exactly a high point for trades, but acquiring David Perron from St. Louis in 2013 was a solid move. Edmonton gave up Magnus Paajarvi and a 2014 second-round pick, and Perron responded with a career-best 28 goals and 57 points in his first season.

Though he was traded the next year to Pittsburgh for Rob Klinkhammer and a first-rounder, Perron was one of the few bright spots before the Connor McDavid era began.


chiarellishrug-e1525995929998.jpg


Peter Chiarelli (2015-19)​


Chiarelli’s time in Edmonton is remembered for more bad than good, but trading for Cam Talbot at the 2015 draft was a win. The Oilers sent second-, third-, and seventh-round picks to the Rangers for Talbot and a seventh.

Talbot became the starter for four seasons and backstopped Edmonton to its first playoff berth in a decade in 2016-17, starting 73 games with a .919 save percentage. His performance that year remains one of the best by an Oilers goalie in the last 20 years.

Ken Holland (2019-24)​


Holland inherited Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in their prime and the mess left by Chiarelli. His best trade came in 2023, when he acquired Mattias Ekholm from Nashville for Tyson Barrie, Reid Schaefer, a first-round pick, and a fourth.

Ekholm stabilized the blue line, formed a dominant pairing with Evan Bouchard, and has been among the NHL’s best in plus-minus since joining Edmonton (+83). While the Cup hasn’t come yet, the Ekholm deal was a game-changer.

Holland also made undoubtedly the best free-agent signing in team history back in 2021, inking Zach Hyman to a seven-year deal.

Stan Bowman (2024-Present)​


Hired last summer, Bowman hasn’t had an opportunity to really put his stamp on the Oilers yet. That said, the former Blackhawks boss has already made a handful of solid additions during his brief time in Edmonton.

Bowman’s first year brought pressure to deliver at the 2025 deadline, and he struck by acquiring Jake Walman from San Jose for Carl Berglund and a conditional 2026 first-round pick. Walman isn’t Ekholm defensively, but he’s a reliable top-four defenceman with strong two-way metrics. The move surprised many, but Walman’s play has been well-received so far.

Being GM of the Edmonton Oilers means every move is under the microscope. When things go wrong, fans demand change. And with the franchise’s losing history, there’s no shortage of bad trades to point at. But through all the turbulence, each GM has had at least one deal that worked out for the team.

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/best-...-manager-bowman-chiarelli-holland-sather-lowe
 
NHL Notebook: Senators secure land deal in LeBreton Flats for new arena

From the outskirts to the heart of Ottawa, the Senators have taken a significant step forward in securing a new downtown arena.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) and Capital Sports Development Inc. announced Monday that they have signed an agreement to secure land parcels for the team at LeBreton Flats.

Statement | LeBreton Flats Major Events Centre

The National Capital Commission (NCC) and Capital Sports Development Inc. (CSDI) are pleased to announce they have signed the agreement of purchase and sale for land parcels at LeBreton Flats.#ottnews pic.twitter.com/4Jn0cfjKPH

— National Capital Commission (@NCC_CCN) August 11, 2025
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The Senators have been vying for a new hockey home for some time, with their current arena’s location located in Kanata, Ont., 28 kilometers from LeBreton Flats. To put it in Alberta terms, it would be like the Edmonton Oilers’ arena being in Fort Saskatchewan, or the Calgary Flames’ arena being near Cross Iron Mills Mall.

While the deal comes almost a year after the NCC and Senators signed a lease agreement, both sides expressed excitement at the next step moving forward.

“The promise of a major events centre will provide a lively and convenient attraction for residents and visitors,” Tobi Nussbaum, CEO of the NCC said in a release. “Inject new energy and excitement into the core of the Nation’s Capital and further catalyze the development of LeBreton Flats.”

“We are pleased to reach an agreement of purchase and sale with the NCC to take the next step in this process,” Cyril Leeder, president and CEO of the Senators said. “There are still many more hurdles to clear, and we look forward to working with the NCC and other stakeholders to achieve our shared vision of creating an event centre at LeBreton Flats.”
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The next steps in the project will include “zoning, design and approvals, as well as decontamination of the land parcels to prepare for construction,” the NCC said in a statement.

The Senators have played out of the Canadian Tire Centre since 1996, having spent the prior four, their first in the NHL, out of the Ottawa Civic Centre, now known as TD Place Arena.

Other news and notes…​

  • Analytics are finally coming to EA Sports’ NHL Franchise. The NHL announced a partnership with the gaming company on Monday that will bring “the same advanced analytics used by NHL teams into the hands of players and fans” of NHL 26. The data will help drive the franchise’s new ICE-Q 2.0 gameplay system, as “millions of data points” will help inform on-ice behaviour, allowing for “significant differentiation between superstar athletes.”
  • As rumours continue to swirl about Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson’s next hockey home as he enters the final year of his contract, he said he nixed a trade that would’ve sent him to another team as he wasn’t willing to sign a long-term deal there. He made the comments to Swedish media, also saying that rumours he would only sign with one team were untrue. Andersson carries a $4.5-million cap hit and has a six-team no-trade list, and will be a hot commodity in the trade market this season.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-notebook-ottawa-senators-secure-land-deal-lebreton-flats-new-arena
 
‘Numbers haven’t been exchanged’ between Oilers, McDavid on contract extension: report

Edmonton Oilers fans around the world have been waiting with bated breath for Connor McDavid to put pen to paper on a contract extension that will surely make him the highest-paid player in the league.

And while there’s been speculation about what that dollar amount could be on an annual basis, insider Frank Seravalli reported the two sides have yet to exchange numbers.

“People in Edmonton, Alberta, are nervous. Should they be? I don’t think so,” said Seravalli. “It’s been a very busy social summer for Connor McDavid, as everyone saw on social media, overseas in Europe at best friend Leon Draisaitl’s wedding.

“Should people be nervous? Well, my understanding is that numbers haven’t even been exchanged yet. They’re still very early on in the process. And yet, there doesn’t seem to be any hint of nerves or panic or fear from either the Edmonton Oilers’ side, as best as I can tell, and also the McDavid side.”

.@frank_seravalli doesn't think there's reason to panic in Edmonton even though Connor McDavid has yet to sign a contract extension pic.twitter.com/mT2Kgdd6Fc

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) August 12, 2025
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As Seravalli indicated, there’s no need for concern, and last summer when the Oilers were negotiating with Leon Drasiaitl, it wasn’t until early August that conversations began. Having to navigate a pair of offer sheets forced the Oilers to pivot priorities, and even though there was a late August report about the two sides being “a little further apart” than previously believed, his contract was signed less than a week later.

While the exchanging of numbers between McDavid and the team have yet to begin, Seravalli said he sees them kicking off soon

“I’d expect in relatively short order here, whether it’s in the next week or two, that that process will begin to ramp up, and that essentially the way it’s been explained to me is the minute that Connor McDavid picks his head up off the pillow and decides that he would like to have a contract extension done, that’s the day that it’ll happen,” he said.”

For McDavid and the Oilers, it’s simply a matter of when, not if.


Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/numbe...nton-oilers-connor-mcdavid-contract-extension
 
Oilers search for goaltending help reportedly has them looking at top prospects Trey Augustine, Sebastian Cossa

The Edmonton Oilers’ search for goaltending help has taken them far and why, so much so they have reportedly begun calling teams about their top prospects.

Among them have been calls to the Detroit Red Wings, Elite Prospects’ Cam Robinson reported Monday.

During an appearance on The Nation Network’s Sekeres and Price Show, Robinson said the Oilers were calling about two players: Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa.

“They’re looking a little more long-term,” said Robinson of the Oilers’ mindset to address their goaltending. “They’ve got their field of vision a little bit wider here. I was told that they’ve contacted Detroit. I believe the first person they asked about was Trey Augustine, and I think that that was just a nonstarter. Steve Yzerman and company really, really love that kid, and as they should.

“But they have a 6’6, 6’7 former first-rounder in Sebastian Cossa sitting there who’s slowly been progressing up the way… They’re not soured on him by any means, but I think maybe they’re hoping that he’d be quicker along the path. The fact that they have Augustine there in the Red Wing system allows him to potentially be an expendable chip.”

Augustine and Cossa are believed to be two of the top drafted goaltending prospects, ranking third and eighth among their peers by The Athletic. Augustine, 20, has ties to this Oilers roster, entering his third year of NCAA hockey for the Michigan State Spartans where he played last season alongside Ike Howard.

A product of the US National Development Team program, Augustine has appeared in 65 games for the Spartans over the last two years, posting a 42-16-6 record, a 2.55 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.

Cossa, meanwhile, has roots in Edmonton of his own, having played three years of WHL hockey for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Drafted by the Red Wings 15th overall in the 2021 draft, he returned to the WHL for another season, and has spent the last three seasons in the pro ranks. He’s spent the last two years with their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, posting a 43-24-14 record, a .912 save percentage and a 2.43 goals against average.

All signs point to the Oilers running back the Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard tandem next season — though somethings could still shake loose. Shifting their mindset to a longer-term outlook is wise, as the organization doesn’t have any goaltending prospects who appear to be able to take the NHL reins in the future.

And in Robinson’s eyes, Cossa is someone who could.

“There’s no pinch point for Detroit, though. They don’t have to move this guy,” he said.” He’s still young.

“They have his rights for years yet, but if Edmonton does want to get themselves someone that they can tag as, ‘Here’s our goal of the future that maybe is only a year, two years away,’ he’d be a great bet to go on.”


Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-goaltending-help-trey-augustine-sebastian-cossa
 
Oilersnation’s Summer 2025 Prospect Countdown – No. 4: Beau Akey

Welcome to Oilersnation’s Top Prospect Countdown for Summer 2025. This list profiles players and goaltenders under 25 years old who have played fewer than 25 NHL games.

Over five drafts as the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, Ken Holland selected only five defencemen. Of those five, only two were taken with picks in the first two rounds: Philip Broberg (eighth overall in 2019) and Beau Akey (56th overall in 2023).

Broberg developed into a top-four defender four years after being drafted and left the Oilers as a restricted free agent, signing an offer sheet with the St. Louis Blues. Akey will debut at the professional level in 2025-26 as undoubtedly the top defence prospect in Edmonton’s system.

Though injuries have slowed his development, Akey has the skating and puck-moving ability of an NHL defenceman. If he hits, the Waterloo, Ontario, native could be a rare homegrown blueliner to stick in Edmonton.

Beau Akey​


Position: Defence

Shoots: Right

Nationality: Canada

Date of Birth: Feb 11, 2005

Drafted: 56th overall in 2023

Height: 6-foot-0

Weight: 185 pounds

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The Barrie Colts selected Akey 19th overall in the 2021 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. He posted 16 points in 61 games as a rookie in 2021-22, then broke out the following season with 47 points in 66 games, adding another five points in 13 playoff contests.

Heading into the 2023 NHL Draft, Akey was regarded as one of the top defencemen in his class, ranked 32nd by Elite Prospects, 33rd by NHL Central Scouting, and 38th by FC Hockey. Elite Prospects’ 2023 Draft Guide praised his skating, along with his play both with and without the puck.

“With his precise and powerful footwork, he can shadow attackers and push them to the outside, pinch on opponents in the offensive zone before they can break out the puck, and absorb and box out attackers rushing to the slot. Some of his best work came off his ability to anticipate players on the rush and use his stick to poke pucks away, as well as while chasing puck carriers in his own end.”
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The Oilers landed Akey with their top pick in the 2023 draft, selecting him 56th overall. With only one selection in the first four rounds, adding a defenceman with serious upside was a win for Edmonton. He impressed at rookie camp and signed his entry-level contract in early October.

Akey looked primed for a strong post-draft campaign in 2023-24, scoring four goals and nine points through Barrie’s first 14 games. But in mid-November, he was shut down for the year after undergoing shoulder surgery. Though the Colts missed the playoffs in what was ultimately a lost season, Akey said the experience of watching from the stands proved valuable.

“I had been battling injuries with that same shoulder for a while, and it was actually kind of nice to have the surgery and be able to recover fully from that injury,” he back in August of 2024. “Seeing the game from up in the stands, it’s a lot different than being on the ice. It allows you to get that coach’s perspective, like getting your head up a lot more, and you can visualize those plays coaches are talking about when you’re sitting up there in the stands.”
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Akey returned in 2024-25, posting 32 points in 52 regular-season games and adding five more in 16 playoff appearances. With top 2025 draft prospect Kashawn Aitcheson handling primary puck-moving and power-play duties, Akey shifted into more of a minute-eating role for the Colts. Akey also suited up in five games for Team Canada at the 2025 World Juniors in Ottawa.

The 2025-26 season will mark Akey’s first taste of professional hockey after four years in the OHL. While he’s Edmonton’s top defence prospect by a wide margin, he’ll face plenty of competition for minutes on a crowded Bakersfield Condors blueline. Cam Dineen, Josh Brown, and Riley Stillman are veterans with experience, while newcomers Alec Regula, Atro Leppanen, Luke Prokop, and Damien Carfagna will also be vying for minutes.

Top Prospects Countdown…​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-summer-2025-prospect-countdown-4-beau-akey
 
Real Life Podcast: Ice makers, Facebook Marketplace, and the Pigeon Lake Music Festival

Thursday afternoon means a fresh episode of Real Life was recorded, edited, and is ready to help you wrap up your workweek. On today’s podcast, the guys discussed Facebook Marketplace, ice makers, the Pigeon Lake Music Festival, and more.

The guys started the Thursday episode of Real Life with a conversation with Chalmers about why he hasn’t been on the podcast for the last few weeks. As it turns out, moving the studio from upstairs back to the primary office was a major sticking point for Chalmers because it raised the barrier to entry for him to have a podcast cocktail. Somehow, talking about the studio move led to a conversation about buying an industrial ice maker for your residence. Too much? Good living?

Changing gears, the boys spoke about buying and selling items on Facebook Marketplace. While Baggedmilk and Chalmers have never moved any units on Facebook, producer Eli walked the boys through how he’s currently selling his car on the platform. Trying to help Eli move his car, the guys started working through the details on his vehicle to see if the fellas can drum up more clicks heading to his car ad.

Finally, the guys wrapped up the Thursday episode of Real Life with a story from Wanye about when he and Jay got in a car accident on the QE2 back in the day. Thankfully, the boys were all okay despite the severity of the accident, but the story was jarring to hear for the first time. Chalmers also talked about his weekend at the Pigeon Lake Music Festival and how it was a wonderful night of nostalgia and music.

Listen to the Thursday episode of Real Life below:

Subscribe to the Real Life Podcast for FREE on Spotify here, on Apple Podcasts here, on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/real-...arketplace-and-the-pigeon-lake-music-festival
 
Pressure is on young talent to lead Kraken out of mediocrity: Off-Season Recap

This is Off-Season Recap, a summer series where we’ll look at what the other 15 teams in the Western Conference have done ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. So far in the series, we’ve looked at the teams in or around a playoff spot: Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, and Anaheim Ducks. In this article, we’ll look at the Seattle Kraken.

The Seattle Kraken’s 2024-25 Season in a Nutshell​


After missing the playoffs in their inaugural season, the Seattle Kraken burst onto the scene in 2022-23, reaching the postseason for the first time in franchise history. They didn’t just sneak in, either. The Kraken pushed all the way to Game 7 of the second round before falling 2-1 to the Dallas Stars. It was a major step forward.

In 2023-24, they took a step back, finishing 34-35-13 with 81 points, tied for sixth in the Pacific Division and well out of a playoff spot. The 2024-25 campaign wasn’t much better. Seattle went 35-41-6, earning more wins than the year prior but fewer points, and finished second-last in the Pacific, ahead of only the San Jose Sharks.

What made the Kraken so dangerous in 2022-23 was balanced scoring from top to bottom. That depth has faded over the past two seasons, and it’s becoming increasingly clear they lack a true superstar.

Who Will Lead the Kraken Out of Mediocrity?​


Matty Beniers’ breakout rookie season in 2022-23, which saw the former second-overall pick score 24 goals, 57 points, and win the Calder Trophy, was a driving force in Seattle’s success. But after a sophomore slump in 2023-24, he wasn’t much better last year, posting 20 goals and 43 points in 82 games.

The good news is that other young players took steps forward. Shane Wright, the 2022 fourth-overall pick, recorded 19 goals and 44 points in his first full NHL season after a strong year in the AHL. Kaapo Kakko also found his stride following a mid-season trade from the New York Rangers, finishing with a career-high 44 points, including 14 goals. On the back end, left-shot defender Ryker Evans broke out with 25 points in 73 games.

Seattle’s core also includes a mix of veterans and players in their prime. Captain Jordan Eberle leads a veteran group featuring Jaden Schwartz, Jamie Oleksiak, Adam Larsson, and free-agent signings Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson. Original Kraken Jared McCann and Vince Dunn remain key pieces, while Eeli Tolvanen hit a career-high 23 goals last season.

In net, Joey Daccord continues to quietly be one of the league’s more reliable goaltenders, posting a .906 save percentage and 2.73 goals-against average in 57 games. Over the last two seasons, he owns a .910 save percentage and 2.61 goals-against average across 107 appearances.

With 2024 first-rounder Berkly Catton in the pipeline, there’s promise for the future. But the question is whether they’ve done enough for the present.

USATSI_24535905_168383996_lowres-1024x682.jpg

Oct 19, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Mason Marchment (27) controls the puck against Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak (27) in the second period at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Off-Season Transactions​


Seattle’s biggest free-agent signing was left-shot defenceman Ryan Lindgren, who inked a four-year, $18 million deal. They also added goaltender Matt Murray on a one-year contract and re-signed Evans, Kakko, Tye Kartye, and Cale Fleury.

The Kraken were more active on the trade front. On June 19, they acquired Mason Marchment from Dallas for 2025 and 2026 draft picks; Marchment scored 22 goals and 47 points last season. Two days later, they moved André Burakovsky to Chicago for Joe Veleno, who was promptly bought out. Their other notable move was acquiring Frédérick Gaudreau from Minnesota for a 2025 fourth-round pick; Gaudreau had 18 goals and 37 points in 2024-25.

What’s Next for the Kraken?​


Even with the additions of Gaudreau and Marchment, this year’s roster looks a lot like last season’s — essentially swapping Oliver Bjorkstrand for Marchment and Yanni Gourde for Gaudreau.

For Seattle to have any hope in 2025-26, their young players will need to take meaningful steps forward. They still lack elite talent at the top of their lineup, but if Catton makes the roster and adapts quickly, he could provide the top-six scoring punch they desperately need.

With no true superstar and a roster that looks much like last year’s, Seattle’s playoff hopes hinge on Beniers, Wright, and the rest of the young core taking a big step forward.


Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/seattle-kraken-off-season-recap-pressure-young-players
 
Oilersnation Radio: Are there any Oilers regulars at risk of losing their jobs?

It’s Friday afternoon, which means a fresh episode of Oilersnation Radio is ready to massage your eardrums with an hour of off-season Oilers talk. On today’s podcast, the fellas discussed bubble players, winning jobs at camp, PTOs, and much more.

We kicked off the Friday episode of ONR with a delicious debate about the Oilers’ roster and whether any players who played last year could find themselves on the bubble. While many slots on the roster are likely written in ink, we looked at the fourth line and wondered if either of Mattias Janmark or Kasperi Kapanen could get beat out for a job. With plenty of competition fighting for those jobs, it’s fair to ask if any of the veterans are at risk of losing a spot.

Changing gears, the guys walked through the little Oilers news that’s happened over the last week, including some minor league signings in Bakersfield, Connor McDavid’s extension, and Andrew Mangiapane’s new baby. And while there isn’t much happening right now, that didn’t stop the boys from yammering on about these limited items anyway. Even so, the big news everyone is waiting for is when Connor McDavid will sign his extension, and even though it’s taking longer than we may hope, there’s still no need to be concerned about having No. 97 back.

Finally, we wrapped up the Friday episode of ONR with another round of Ask the Idiots, betting talk for our friends at bet365, and Hot and Cold Performers to look back on the week. With just over two months left until the start of the 2025-26 season, the guys spent the bulk of the Friday episode talking about an array of topics that were Oilers-related or not at all, but that’s what happens in August.

Listen to the Friday episode of Oilersnation Radio below:

Subscribe to Oilersnation Radio for FREE on Soundcloud here, on Apple Podcasts, or wherever else you get your podcasts from!
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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/oiler...-oilers-regulars-at-risk-of-losing-their-jobs
 
Oilersnation’s Summer 2025 Prospect Countdown – No. 2: Isaac Howard

Welcome to Oilersnation’s Top Prospect Countdown for Summer 2025. This list profiles players and goaltenders under 25 years old who have played fewer than 25 NHL games.

In back-to-back off-seasons, the Edmonton Oilers added a top prospect via trade. Both lead this summer’s countdown and will likely have graduated to the NHL by the time next year’s list arrives.

At No. 2 on this year’s ranking is newly acquired winger Isaac Howard. It’s rare for a 21-year-old without a pro game to have such a decorated résumé, but that’s exactly what the reigning Hobey Baker winner brings. With two Big Ten titles and gold medals from both the World Juniors and World Championship, the speedy winger looks like an ideal addition for a Stanley Cup contender that needs an injection of youth.

Isaac Howard​


Position: LW

Shoots: Left

Nationality: United States

Date of Birth: March 30, 2004

Drafted: 31st overall in 2022

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 190 pounds

Screenshot-2025-08-15-at-7.20.15-AM.png



Born in Hudson, Wisconsin, Howard joined the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2020-21 after playing at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. He recorded 11 goals and 37 points in the USHL in 2021-22 and boosted his draft stock at the U18 World Juniors, where he tied for third in tournament scoring with 11 points in six games while helping Team USA win silver.

Here’s how Elite Prospects summed up Howard’s game in their 2022 Draft Guide:

“Right away, Howard’s skating stands out. Pushes his knees past his toes, engaged his hips, and maintains his posture in tight, while deking, or on the backcheck. His top hand moves freely around his body, which he turns into incredible stickhandling displays. When handling, he’s scanning. Adjusts body positioning to get pressure on his back, then uses hesitations and changes of pace to slip around the check.”
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The Tampa Bay Lightning took Howard with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 draft, one spot ahead of where the Oilers took winger Reid Schaefer with their first selection.

Howard joined the University of Minnesota-Duluth for his freshman season in 2022-23, scoring six goals and 17 points in 35 games for a team that finished with a 16-20-1 record. After the underwhelming campaign, he transferred to Michigan State University.

The move paid off. In 2023-24, Howard tallied 36 points in 36 games and helped lead the Spartans to their first-ever Big Ten Championship (and first conference title since 2006) with an overtime win over rival Michigan in the final. That same season, he also played a starring role for the United States at the World Juniors in Sweden, tying for the tournament lead in scoring with seven goals in seven games. Howard scored twice in the gold medal game to help spark a 6-2 win over the host nation.

Success continued in 2024-25. Howard appeared in four games at the World Championship, where the U.S. won its first gold medal since 1933, and he dominated again at the NCAA level, scoring 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games to rank fifth in the nation. Michigan State finished 26-7-4, captured their second straight Big Ten title, and Howard sealed the championship with the double-overtime winner against Ohio State.

Isaac Howard with the game-winning, double overtime goal. Michigan State wins back-to-back Big Ten Tournament titles. pic.twitter.com/5tIC3RAEoR

— Nathaniel Bott (@Nathaniel_Bott) March 23, 2025
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While many NCAA players turned pro in the spring, Howard didn’t sign with Tampa Bay. Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts in April that the two sides “didn’t see eye to eye” on his development. Under the CBA, Tampa held Howard’s rights through August 2026, leaving them the choice to trade him or risk losing him for nothing.

The Oilers and Lightning struck a deal in early July, sending 2024 first-rounder Sam O’Reilly to Tampa Bay for Howard. A key piece on London’s back-to-back OHL championship teams and this spring’s Memorial Cup winner, O’Reilly is a top prospect himself, but Howard is closer to NHL-ready — a crucial factor for a contender in need of young impact players.

After the trade, Howard said he was grateful to the Lightning for working out a deal with Edmonton, noting that playing in Edmonton offers him an incredible opportunity.

“I’m super psyched,” Howard said on a Zoom press conference in July. “It’s such an unreal opportunity. I’m grateful Tampa was able to get this done. I can’t wait to get started.

“I met with Edmonton and this was probably the spot I wanted to go,” Howard added. “Just checks all my boxes. I knew somehow if it could happen, I would absolutely love it.”
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While Tampa likely wanted Howard to spend time with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Oilers expect to have the young winger in their season-opening lineup come October. There are spots on the wings of both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl up for grabs at training camp in Edmonton this fall, and Howard is a candidate to play alongside one of the league’s top centres.

Howard already carries an impressive résumé — gold medals, conference titles, and clutch goals in big moments. The leap from college to the NHL is significant, and immediate success is never guaranteed, but he looks like a prospect who can help the Oilers sooner rather than later.

Top Prospects Countdown…​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-summer-2025-prospect-countdown-2-isaac-howard
 
NHL insider sees Connor McDavid’s extension with Oilers coming in ‘lower than a lot of people’ expect

Connor McDavid leaving money on the table in contract negotiations isn’t anything new for the superstar, and according to NHL insider John Shannon, that could be the case once again.

Shannon made the comments on Friday’s edition of Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer, saying it would likely come on a shorter-term deal.

“I think it’s going to be a three or four-year deal,” said Shannon. “Connor’s entitled to 20 percent (of the salary cap)… But I also think Connor’s smart enough to know if he gets too much, that’s less to acquire free agents and other players for this hockey club. And that’s what superstars do that want to win Stanley Cups — they sacrifice.

“I think Connor’s going to come in lower than a lot of people [are expecting], short-term… and it will give Stan Bowman to go out and spend some money on other players at the appropriate time.”

When McDavid signed his eight-year extension in July 2017, the Edmonton Oilers captain went back to the team to take an additional $500,000 off his deal, taking it from $13-million to $12.5-million — a dollar amount that still made him the highest paid player in the NHL by $1.5-million.

McDavid is expected to sign another big-ticket deal this summer, now entering the final year of that aforementioned deal, set to become the highest-paid player once again.

The highest-paid player set for this upcoming season is McDavid’s right-hand man, Leon Draisaitl, who will make $14-million with his contract extension kicking in. If McDavid were to become the highest-paid player by the same $1.5-million margin as previous, that would put him at $15.5-million on an annual basis — a dollar amount well below the 20 percent maximum, which would be just over $19-million.

The Oilers and McDavid’s camp, led by agent Judd Moldaver, hadn’t exchanged contract numbers as recently as earlier this week, according to a report from Frank Seravalli. Despite that, he said the two sides are expected to begin doing so “in relatively short order.”

And on Thursday, Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco, he thinks the deal will be signed before the regular season.


Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/connor-mcdavid-extension-edmonton-oilers-lower-than-expected
 
Oilersnation’s Summer 2025 Prospect Countdown – No. 1: Matthew Savoie

Welcome to Oilersnation’s Top Prospect Countdown for Summer 2025. This list profiles players and goaltenders under 25 years old who have played fewer than 25 NHL games.

For the second summer in a row, Matthew Savoie is the No. 1 prospect of the Edmonton Oilers. If things go according to plan, this is the last time he’ll be on a list like this.

The St. Albert product has been a blue-chip talent for years, and after a strong first pro season with the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League, the next step is earning a top-six wing role in Edmonton. He’ll enter training camp as a frontrunner to skate with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl when the 2025-26 season opens in October.

Matthew Savoie​


Position: C/RW

Shoots: Right

Nationality: Canada

Date of Birth: Jan. 1, 2004

Drafted: 9th overall in 2022

Height: 5-foot-9

Weight: 175 pounds

Screenshot-2025-08-17-at-8.55.42-AM.png



Savoie’s path has been mostly linear for a high-end Western Canadian prospect. The Winnipeg ICE selected him with the first-overall pick in the 2019 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, months after Hockey Canada declined his exceptional-status bid to play in the league at 15 years old.

Despite that, he still saw WHL playing time in 2019-20. Under a partial-season allowance, Savoie appeared in 22 games for the ICE and recorded seven assists. With the 2020-21 WHL schedule in flux due to COVID-19, he joined the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints and produced 38 points in 34 games.

Savoie finally played his first full WHL season in 2021-22, scoring 35 goals and 90 points over 65 regular-season games for Winnipeg before adding 12 points in 10 playoff games. He came into that summer’s draft expected to go somewhere in the first half of the first round, likely in the top ten. Here’s what Elite Prospects had to say about him in their Draft Guide at the time.

“Heavy crossover use and constant motion propel his high-pace, constantly attacking approach, making his every puck touch an opportunity to create a scoring chance. Then Savoie stacks a brilliant first touch, handling skill, an in-stride wrister, and one- and two-touch passing ability on top of that skating and pace combo to ensure many of those chances aren’t for naught.”
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The Buffalo Sabres selected Savoie ninth overall and signed him to an entry-level deal a few weeks later. He returned to the WHL in 2022-23 and posted 38 goals and 95 points in 62 games, then added 29 points in 19 playoff games.

The young forward was in the mix to play with the Sabres in 2023-24, but an injury during the team’s rookie camp derailed the early part of his campaign. Savoie joined Buffalo’s AHL club on a conditioning loan in late October and recorded five points in six games. He was called up to make his NHL debut, and was returned to the WHL after just one game.

In his final WHL season, Savoie overwhelmed the field. He opened with the relocated Wenatchee Wild (formerly Winnipeg) and posted 11 goals and 24 points in 11 games, then recorded 47 points in 23 following a trade to Moose Jaw. He added 24 points in 19 playoff games as the Warriors captured the franchise’s first WHL Championship.

The Sabres moved Savoie the following off-season, sending him to Edmonton for Ryan McLeod and prospect Ty Tullio. Early returns are solid for both clubs: McLeod produced 20 goals and 53 points in his first year with Buffalo, while Savoie was an AHL All-Star in his first pro season, posting 54 points in 66 games for Bakersfield.

The Oilers brought up Savoie for a cup of coffee in the NHL last February following the 4 Nations Face-Off. He picked up an assist in his debut with the Oilers and was sent back to the AHL after four games. During that stint, the club’s top prospect didn’t look out of place at all. There’s a decent chance he’s played his last game for the Condors.

Though drafted as a centre, Savoie will play on the wing as he transitions to the NHL. His pace, retrievals, and quick touches fit next to puck-dominant centres, and wing usage simplifies matchups while he builds pro strength for interior minutes. With time and experience, Savoie could eventually become a versatile threat for Edmonton, playing both centre and wing depending on the team’s need.

Top Prospects Countdown…​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-summer-2025-prospect-countdown-1-matthew-savoie
 
Top 100 Oilers: No. 100 — Mark Lamb

Oilersnation is reviving the Top 100 Edmonton Oilers of All Time list, a project originally created by the late Robin Brownlee in 2015. Mark Lamb comes in at No. 100 on our updated 2025 list. He was ranked No. 97 on Brownlee’s original list.

Mark Lamb was on the radar of the Edmonton Oilers in the year before the 1987 NHL Waiver Draft. Lamb, then 22, had drawn in for 22 regular-season games and 11 playoff games for the Detroit Red Wings in the year prior — five of which were in the Campbell Conference Final.

While Lamb didn’t find his way onto the scoreboard, Oilers general manager Glen Sather took note of a “fiesty kid” who played well against them in the playoffs, and while Slats didn’t know whether or not he would play for the team, he went down as one of the 100 best to do so.

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Notable​


Lamb debuted with the Oilers in 1987-88, appearing in two early-season games before spending the rest of the year with the AHL’s Nova Scotia Oilers, where he put up 27 goals and 61 points in 69 games. In his second season, he split time between leagues, producing in the AHL and finding his footing in the NHL with 10 points in 20 games. He also got a six-game taste of the playoffs.

By 1989-90, Edmonton’s second season without Wayne Gretzky, Lamb was a regular. His role and production grew: 12 goals and 28 points in 58 games. He elevated in the playoffs with six goals and 17 points in 22 games, including two game-winners in the first round against Winnipeg.

He buried the 3–2 overtime winner in Game 2 and added the decisive goal in a 4–1 Game 7 to advance. Three of his goals and eight of his points came in that series, with multi-point efforts in Games 6 and 7.

Against Boston in the Final, Lamb recorded assists in Games 3, 5, and 6, including a helper on Glenn Anderson’s power-play opener in Game 5, helping Edmonton lift its most recent Stanley Cup.

Lamb’s Oilers tenure spanned five seasons (1987–88 to 1991–92). He totaled 24 goals and 78 points in 176 regular-season games, plus seven goals and 26 points in 59 playoff appearances.

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The Story​


Lamb was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round of the 1982 draft and appeared in two games for them in 1985-86 before signing as a free agent with the Red Wings.

His time in Edmonton ended when he was taken by the expansion Ottawa Senators in 1992. He scored seven goals and 26 points in 71 games in their inaugural season, played 66 more the following year, and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on March 5, 1994, for Kirk Daubenspeck and Claude Boivin.

From there, he became a bit of a journeyman, with brief stops in Philadelphia and Montreal. His NHL run wound down when he joined the IHL’s Houston Aeros in 1995-96, spending two seasons there, a year in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in 1997-98, and then two more seasons back in Houston.

After his playing days ended following the 1999-2000 season, he took a year off and began coaching in 2001-02 as an Oilers assistant. He spent 2002-03 through 2008-09 as an assistant with the Dallas Stars. He then ran the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos for five years as head coach and general manager, before leading the AHL Tucson Roadrunners in 2016-17.

He served as general manager of the WHL’s Prince George Cougars in 2018-19 and, since 2019-20, has also held the head coach role. Around that time, he was even floated as a potential assistant for Dave Tippett’s staff in Edmonton.

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What Brownlee said​

Based on talent and physical tools, Mark Lamb had no business being in the NHL, let alone on this list, but he was a stubborn little player who refused to take “no” for an answer. Lamb parlayed those traits into a career in the NHL that spanned 403 games, including 176 games and a Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers in 1990.

Unlike a couple of far more talented players who occupy lower slots on this list of top 100 Oilers – Pat Price and Dean McAmmond – Lamb found a way to extract everything possible from limited gifts. He wasn’t big. He wasn’t fast. Simply put, Lamb, who grew up as a cowboy and bull rider, made it to the NHL because he was tenacious as hell.

…

Lamb never was anywhere near the best player on the Oiler teams he toiled with, but he was at his very best in a career built on dogged determination in the 1990 playoffs, when the Oilers needed him most.
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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/top-100-edmonton-oilers-2025-no-100-mark-lamb
 
Oilers: How Stuart Skinner stacks up with the 2017 NHL Draft

While Stuart Skinner may only be three years into his National Hockey League career, his time as an Edmonton Oiler dates back to when the team selected him in the third round of the 2017 draft.

It took, after all, some development time before he broke into the big leagues, including stints in the ECHL (44 GP, .903 sv%, 3.19 GAA, 17-15-7 record), and the AHL (113 games, .906 sv%, 2.68 GAA, 62-35-17).

But now he’s established himself as a big league goaltender, helping take the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. How does he stack up to the rest of his class?

The first round misses​


It was a relatively solid first round, with many players still being contributors to their NHL clubs, but there were some flops at the top of this class. The first was centre Nolan Patrick, drafted second overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. He’s played just 222 NHL games scoring 32 goals and 77 points, with concussion issues severely impacting him. He hasn’t played hockey since the 2021-22 season.

The next miss was centre Cody Glass, drafted sixth overall by the Vegas Golden Knights. He’s played in 252 NHL games scoring 35 goals and 93 points, bouncing between the Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils, the latter of whom he re-signed with.

The final early miss was the New York Rangers’ seventh overall selection of Lias Andersson. He’s been out of the NHL since 2022-23, playing 110 NHL games.

The Value​


This draft was relatively light in terms of value picks that popped. Looking down the draft board, there were some solid picks in the second round, including the Dallas Stars’ 39th overall selection of winger Jason Robertson, the San Jose Sharks’ 49th overall selection of defenceman Mario Ferraro, the Carolina Hurricanes’ 42nd overall selection of Eetu Loustarinen and the Golden Knights’ 34th overall selection of defenceman Nic Hague.

In the fourth round, the Ottawa Senators took Drake Batherson 121st overall, getting 116 goals and 293 points in 391 games from him, while the L.A. Kings’ 103rd overall selection of Mikey Anderson playing 345 games.

How does Skinner stack up with the class?​


Examining the goaltenders in this draft, there are only two who have played more games: Jeremy Swayman (190 games), drafted in the fourth round, 111th overall by the Boston Bruins, and Jake Oettinger (251 games), who was drafted by the Dallas Stars 26th overall.

Skinner, who has 174 NHL regular season games under his belt, was selected 78th overall by the Oilers in the draft, while the only other goaltender who has over 100 games played from the class being Buffalo Sabres netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Here’s how Skinner shapes up with the other three:

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Did the Oilers make the right pick?​


They did. No other player selected in the third round has played over 77 games, and while there was Swayman taken 33 picks later, Skinner was still ranked higher. NHL Central Scouting had Skinner as the fifth-best goaltender, while Swayman was 12th.

Whatever you may say about whether or not Skinner is the long-term answer in net for the Oilers, there’s no denying how valuable he’s been to the team in the post-Mike Smith/Mikko Koskinen days.

Entering the year as a pending unrestricted free agent, it’s a make-or-break year for Skinner.

Past classes​


Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-stuart-skinner-stacks-up-2017-draft
 
Jets hoping Jonathan Toews can dial back the clock: Off-Season Recap

This is Off-Season Recap, a summer series where we’ll look at what the other 15 teams in the Western Conference have done ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. So far in the series, we’ve looked at every Pacific Division team. In this article, we’ll look at the other Canadian team in the Western Conference, the Winnipeg Jets.

The Winnipeg Jets’ 2024-25 Season in a Nutshell​


In 2023-24, the Winnipeg Jets finished with a 52-24-6 record, finishing second in the stacked Central Division. After a high-scoring Game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche, the Jets lost the next four games and were eliminated from the postseason.

In the first game of the 2024-25 season, the Jets smashed the Oilers 6-0, beginning an eight-game win streak to kick off the season. After a 6-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Jets won another seven games to start the season 15-1.

These two win streaks weren’t their only massive win streak, as a 3-2 overtime win on Jan. 22 kicked off an 11-game win streak. At the end of the season, the Jets finished with a 56-22-4 record with 116 points, winning the first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history.

Even with home ice advantage, the Jets were in a dogfight with the eighth-seeded St. Louis Blues. The Blues had a 3-1 lead with just under two minutes left, but Vladislav Namestnikov scored to get within one, and Cole Perfetti scored with three seconds left in the season to send the game to overtime. Eventually, Adam Lowry found the game-winning goal to send the Jets to the second round.

Unfortunately for the Jets, they were unable to defeat the Dallas Stars, losing in six games. Even more heartbreaking is that Game 6 went to overtime, with Thomas Harley scoring the game-winning goal just 93 seconds into the period, ending the Jets’ season on the spot.

The Jets’ core​


The Jets arguably have the best netminder in the league. For the second consecutive season, Connor Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy thanks to a .925 save percentage and 2 goals against average in 63 games. He was so good that the netminder was also named the Hart Trophy winner. However, Hellebuyck struggled in the postseason, posting an .866 save percentage and 3.08 goals against average in 13 games.

Kyle Connor led the team with 41 goals and 97 points in 82 games, and he’ll enter the 2025-26 season in the final year of his contract. Mark Scheifele didn’t finish too far behind Connor, as the long-time Jet scored 39 goals and 87 points in 82 games. Gabriel Vilardi had a breakout season, scoring 27 goals and 61 points in 71 games.

On the backend, Josh Morrissey finished with 14 goals and 62 points, becoming one of the best defencemen in the league. Neal Pionk also had a solid season, scoring 10 goals and 39 points in 69 games.

This doesn’t even mention the rest of the Jets’ depth. Cole Perfetti, Vladislav Namestnikov, Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry, and Alex Iafallo all finished with 10 or more goals.

Off-Season Transactions​


So what did the Jets do to improve this off-season? On the opening day of free agency, they signed Manitoba-native Jonathan Toews to a one-year contract worth $2 million. Toews, a three-time Stanley Cup winner, hasn’t played since 2022-23 due to long-COVID.

They signed another Stanley Cup winner, Tanner Pearson, on Canada Day. Two other notable signings are Gustav Nyquist and Philip Di Giuseppe. The Jets also extended Dylan Samberg, Vilardi, Morgan Barron, Haydn Fleury, Neal Pionk, and Alex Iafallo.

Does the addition of Toews, Pearson, Di Giuseppe, and Nyquist offset their losses? Not quite. Nikolaj Ehlers scored 24 goals and 63 points in 69 games last season, with five goals and seven points in eight postseason games. He agreed to terms with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Moreover, Mason Appleton departed the Jets in free agency, signing with the Detroit Red Wings. Last season, the bottom-six forward scored 10 goals and 22 points in 71 games. Acquired before the 2025 trade deadline, Brandon Tanev signed with the Utah Mammoth. Captain Adam Lowry will miss the start of the season due to hip surgery.

What’s Next for the Jets?​


Despite lacking a true superstar skater, the Jets consistently overachieve in the regular season before collapsing in the postseason. A big reason for that has been Hellebuyck’s performance.

If Hellebuyck performs in the postseason as he does in the regular season, the Jets are a true contender thanks to their strong depth. Still, it’s been three consecutive postseasons where the league’s best netminder has struggled in the postseason.

Simply put, for the Jets to get over the hump, they need Hellebuyck to perform like a Vezina-calibre netminder.

Other Off-Season recaps:​


Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/jets-hoping-jonathan-toews-can-dial-back-the-clock-off-season-recap
 
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