The Edmonton Oilers have three elite talents who are capable of driving the team to the Stanley Cup. In Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, the club looks inevitable for a championship at the top end. The support players on the roster are aging, though, with Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins both now 33. The erosion that occurs with aging includes games missed due to injury. The team must add quality talent over the summer.

What general manager Stan Bowman will be looking for is players who can step right in and are young enough to have their peak seasons (and highest paid years) in the future. Since the fall of 2024, Vasily Podkolzin and Matt Savoie have arrived as legit contributors who can be part of the foundation through the end of the decade.

The goal for Bowman this summer should be adding at least one more quality forward and a goalie who can push for the top job this season in Edmonton. Depending on how well the season goes, there may be opportunities to add more quality youth to the foundation. Here’s how Bowman can help his team.

Establishing the goal

If we look at Podkolzin and Savoie in 2025-26, we get an idea of the target Bowman should be seeking via trade or free agency in acquiring forwards.

PlayerPts-60Mins v elitesGF Pct overall

1.73

385

57

1.51

291

52

All numbers at even strength, via Puck IQ and Natural Stat Trick

Podkolzin and Savoie are young, with reasonable contracts, and can play on a skill line that faces elite competition. The goal share for both wingers is quality, with the individual scoring (points per 60) a little shy. The hope is that both can grow into their current roles as top-six wingers in Edmonton.

If Bowman is to find one or two additional talents who fit the description, where can he shop?

Offer sheet

The Oilers don’t have a 2027 first-round pick and are shy in cap room, but could make some noise in this area. Murat Ates at The Athletic wrote an interesting piece about possible Winnipeg Jets targets, with one of the names listed possibly being a fit for Bowman and the Oilers.

Mavrik Bourque of the Dallas Stars posted 1.70 points per 60 at five-on-five last season, with a 52 percent goal share. He played 312 minutes versus elites and spent some time on the power play. He scored 20 goals this season and might be a fit for Edmonton. The Oilers have a second-round pick in 2027 and could offer the max for that range ($4.68 million) that would make the Stars uncomfortable.

This isn’t exactly getting ahead of the pack; in fact, the Oilers are still behind due to the offer sheets sent by the St. Louis Blues two summers ago. This kind of move does claw back some of what was lost.

Minor trade

The Oilers are fortunate this summer in one area. The Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild all have young goalies that may be available. In the case of Minnesota, the team’s young phenom, Jasper Wallstedt, likely did enough in the postseason to earn a starting role with the Wild next season.

If Bowman is looking to add young talent that is attached to low cap dollars and can backstop the future in Edmonton, Devon Levi (Buffalo) and Sebastian Cossa (Detroit) could be ideal acquisitions.

The best way to evaluate emerging talent is over three years. Here are the save percentages for both in the AHL during that period:

Player2023-242024-252025-26

0.927

0.919

0.904

0.913

0.911

0.915

All numbers via THEAHL.com

Both young goalies have proven they are capable of playing at a high level over a significant period of time. A team can never be completely certain, but these two players are more than ready for the task of playing as regulars in the NHL. If the plan is to partner Tristan Jarry (under contract to Edmonton already) with the goalie of the future, Bowman can take his pick or pay the lowest price.

A tough avenue

The Oilers are beginning to see the no-movement clauses ease just a little on some key veterans. This is a sensitive area for Bowman because men like Hyman are key pieces when healthy. However, the time has come for Bowman to look at the bigger picture and at least contemplate a big move.

Hyman has an eight-team no-trade list, and Darnell Nurse will have a 10-team modified deal in the summer of 2027. Bowman won’t talk about it, but he will need to know his options should Edmonton fall out of the playoff race in the coming season.

If there’s a surprise trade involving a veteran, Bowman must deal for a younger player who can be an effective contributor immediately while lowering the cap.

A must to avoid

If the Oilers reach next summer, and McDavid indicates he would prefer to delay signing an extension, Bowman will have to make the most difficult decision since the selling of Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings almost 40 years ago.

Incredibly, it shouldn’t represent the end of the window to win the Stanley Cup. Assuming Draisaitl and Bouchard are willing to remain, the talent at the top level will be strong enough to compete for a championship.

A summer 2027 deal that sends McDavid away will be painful for all involved. Bowman would need quality pieces that are young, established and capable of driving five-on-five outscoring. An astute deal with an Eastern Conference team should return at least two high-level players carrying significant cap, and (just as important) an impact young player who represents a significant future.

No one wants to contemplate dealing McDavid. The Oilers must have the conversation. Management can’t allow the franchise to walk out the door for zero assets.

Bottom line

For this summer, an offer sheet that brings in a fine young scorer like Bourque and a goalie to build around like Levi or Cossa would be a strong addition to the Podkolzin-Savoie foundation. Ike Howard may also emerge this season, giving the Oilers (if all comes to fruition) five players who are young and can fill a foundation position with Edmonton.

Trading Hyman or Nurse could be less than 12 months away, and dealing the captain might be a reality in the next 12 months. For Bowman and the Oilers, the fact that Draisaitl and Bouchard remain means the window can remain open, come what may.

The Oilers don’t hold all the cards with McDavid, but they will move heaven and earth to sign him. If next summer brings a parting of ways, owner Daryl Katz will need to make certain he has the right people in place to make what would be the second biggest trade in team history. It would be earth-shattering, but not catastrophic, if the Oilers get young pieces who can play key roles in return.

For Katz, there might be a front office move before it all goes down. It might be a matter of who he trusts.