The Edmonton Oilers’ playoff exit in six games against the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs can be attributed to their own management. While players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are accepting responsibility for the team’s shortcomings, the ultimate accountability lies with General Manager Stan Bowman and President and CEO Jeff Jackson.
The issues for the Edmonton Oilers began to surface during the 2023-24 season when the team opted not to extend the contract of then-GM Ken Holland, who would later become GM of the Los Angeles Kings. Holland was in a precarious position heading into the season, with all teams aware of the crucial upcoming dates: the 2024 Stanley Cup Final conclusion on June 24, the NHL Draft on June 28-29, and the start of free agency on July 1.
This off-season was critical for the Edmonton Oilers. Regardless of their opinion of Holland, the organization needed a General Manager in place by July 1. If they had decided to move on from Holland before his contract expired on June 30, 2024, it would be expected that they would have been actively seeking a replacement beforehand. Allowing Jeff Jackson to handle free agency proved to be a misstep.
Furthermore, if the plan all along was to wait for Stan Bowman’s reinstatement by the NHL following his involvement in the Chicago Blackhawks scandal, then this decision was an even greater error, and its negative consequences are now evident. The choices made by Jackson and Bowman have moved the Edmonton Oilers further away from championship contention.
Let’s examine the 2024 transactions, notably the offer sheets extended by the St. Louis Blues to Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. Both players were drafted and developed by the Edmonton Oilers, yet management mishandled their development leading into the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite this, both players proved effective for the Oilers during their run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, with Broberg, in particular, contributing significantly on the blueline with solid defensive play.
The first priority for the incoming General Manager Stan Bowman should have been to assess these players without prior biases. Instead, he chose to acquire assets and allow both players to depart. Rather than Jackson signing Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, the initial move should have been to secure contract extensions for Broberg and Holloway and then address other roster needs. This is the approach taken by competent general managers and management teams.
Instead, the team signed Arvidsson and Skinner, while Broberg and Holloway left. They were also joined by the departures of Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais, Warren Foegele, Derek Ryan, and Ryan McLeod, with McLeod being traded for Matt Savoie. This significantly depleted the depth the Oilers possessed in 2024. The financial flexibility created by moving Desharnais and Ceci was sufficient to sign at least Broberg.
The Oilers experienced fluctuations throughout the 2024-25 season, with much of the core roster remaining, including Corey Perry, Evander Kane, John Klingberg, and others. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard shared goaltending duties, and the team demonstrated its capability by reaching the Stanley Cup Final once again.
Despite ultimately losing in six games, the series was not particularly close, as the Oilers were once again outmatched by the Florida Panthers. The depth that the Oilers once had was insufficient to compete with the Panthers, signaling that more changes were inevitable in Bowman’s first full off-season as GM. In the preceding off-season, he had to manage Leon Draisaitl’s contract extension, and during the 2025 off-season, he addressed Connor McDavid’s extension.
McDavid put Bowman and the management team on a tight deadline by signing a two-year extension that would commence on July 1, just before the season began. However, the roster had already suffered significant damage. Viktor Arvidsson was traded to Boston for cap relief, Connor Brown signed with New Jersey, Evander Kane was traded to Vancouver for cap relief, and Corey Perry joined Los Angeles.
The depth of the Edmonton Oilers was rapidly diminishing. Evan Bouchard secured a substantial extension, but to compound matters, despite claims of seeking goaltending upgrades, Bowman traded Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry and his entire cap hit.
Kulak was subsequently traded by the Penguins to the Colorado Avalanche, who then advanced to the Western Conference Final with his overtime-winning goal. In addition to these moves, Bowman also relinquished a 2027 first-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 second-round pick in trades for Connor Murphy, Colton Dach, and Jason Dickinson with the Chicago Blackhawks, while also managing Andrew Mangiapane’s contract.
As Bowman stated at the year-end press conference, he hopes to re-sign Murphy and Dickinson. However, there is little hope; he needs to find a justification for setting the Edmonton Oilers back and moving them further from a Stanley Cup Championship. And who bore the brunt of these decisions? The head coach, Kris Knoblauch.
Knoblauch was dismissed before his three-year contract extension could take effect because Bowman circumvented the coach to replace him, and this information became public. Consequently, Bowman had no alternative but to make a change. Credit to Stan Bowman for accepting responsibility for the turmoil in Edmonton, but he and Jeff Jackson are now under immense pressure.
This team must achieve success next season or demonstrate a clear path to winning for Connor McDavid to remain in Edmonton. These trades and decisions are inexcusable for any general manager. While Bowman’s name is associated with the Blackhawks’ three Stanley Cup victories, Dale Tallon was instrumental in building the core of those championship teams, whereas Bowman’s actions have demonstrably weakened the roster.
The same pattern is unfolding in Edmonton. This is the most critical off-season in the franchise’s history, mirroring the situation in Toronto. However, for the Oilers, it holds true: when poor decision-makers are in charge, poor decisions are made. This is precisely why the Edmonton Oilers regressed this season instead of progressing.
English Translation
Management Made the Edmonton Oilers Roster Worse, Not Better
The Edmonton Oilers have no one to blame but themselves for their current predicament, having been eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in six games in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. While players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are taking ownership of the season’s failures, the responsibility ultimately begins with General Manager Stan Bowman and President and CEO Jeff Jackson.
The timeline for the Edmonton Oilers’ issues began during the 2023-24 season when the team did not extend the contract of their then-GM, and now Los Angeles Kings GM, Ken Holland. Holland was in a compromised position going into the season. All teams were aware of the schedule: the last possible date of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final was June 24, 2024, with the NHL Draft on June 28 and 29, and free agency commencing on July 1.
This was a crucial offseason for the Edmonton Oilers. Regardless of the organization’s sentiments towards Holland, they needed a GM in place by July 1st. If the organization knew they were moving on from Holland before his contract’s non-renewal on June 30, 2024, one would expect they would have been searching for a replacement prior to that. Allowing Jeff Jackson to conduct free agency was a mistake.
And if the plan was always to wait for Stan Bowman to be reinstated by the NHL following his role in the Chicago Blackhawks scandal, then that is an even bigger mistake, and it is clearly manifesting. The decisions made by Jackson and Bowman have pushed the Edmonton Oilers further from a championship than they were before.
Let’s begin with the 2024 moves, highlighted by the St. Louis Blues’ offer sheets to Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. These two players were drafted and are being developed by the Edmonton Oilers. Management mishandled the development process for both players leading into the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, both players were effective for the Oilers during their run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, especially Broberg, who logged significant minutes on the backend and played solid defense.
The first order of business for incoming General Manager Stan Bowman should have been to evaluate those players without preconceived notions. Instead, he opted to acquire assets and let two players walk. Rather than Jackson signing Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, the primary action would have been to sign Broberg and Holloway to deals and then address the rest. That is what good general managers or good management teams do.
Instead, Arvidsson and Skinner were brought in, while Broberg and Holloway departed. They were joined by the exits of Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais, Warren Foegele, Derek Ryan, and Ryan McLeod, with McLeod being traded for Matt Savoie. The depth the Oilers possessed in 2024 was depleted. Not to mention, the moves to offload Desharnais and Ceci cleared the cap space to sign both players, or at least Broberg.
The Oilers experienced highs and lows throughout the 2024-25 season, with most of the team returning, including Corey Perry, Evander Kane, John Klingberg, and others. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard split time in net as the Oilers demonstrated they could contend, returning to the Stanley Cup Final.
Despite losing in six games, the series was not particularly close, as the Oilers were outmatched by the Florida Panthers once again. The depth the Oilers once had was absent, failing to match the Panthers, so more changes were inevitable in Bowman’s first full off-season as GM. In the previous off-season, he had to manage Leon Draisaitl’s extension; during the 2025 offseason, he had to deal with McDavid’s extension.
McDavid put Bowman and the organization on a clock by signing only a two-year extension that kicked in on July 1, signed right before the season. However, the roster damage was already done as Viktor Arvidsson was traded to Boston for cap relief. Connor Brown signed in New Jersey. Evander Kane was traded to Vancouver for cap relief. Corey Perry signed in Los Angeles.
The depth of the Edmonton Oilers was shrinking before their eyes. Evan Bouchard received a massive extension as well. But to make matters worse, despite stating they were looking to upgrade their goaltending, Bowman traded Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry and his full cap hit.
Kulak was then flipped by the Penguins to the Colorado Avalanche and just sent his new club to the Western Conference Final with an overtime winner. In addition to those moves, Bowman also gave away a 2027 first-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 second-round pick in trades for Connor Murphy, Colton Dach, and Jason Dickinson with the Chicago Blackhawks, along with moving Andrew Mangiapane’s contract.
As Bowman stated at the year-end press conference, he hopes to re-sign Murphy and Dickinson. There is no hope; he needs to find any justification for sending the Edmonton Oilers backward and further away from a Stanley Cup Championship. And guess who paid the price, the head coach, Kris Knoblauch.
Knoblauch is out before his three-year contract extension kicks in because Bowman went behind the coach’s back to replace him, and it got out. Now he had no choice but to replace him. And credit to Stan Bowman, he took ownership of the fiasco in Edmonton, but now he and Jeff Jackson are on the clock.
This team must win next season or show signs of winning for Connor McDavid to stay in Edmonton. These trades and moves are inexcusable for any general manager. While his name is on the Stanley Cup for the Blackhawks’ three titles, Dale Tallon built the core of those Blackhawks teams, while Bowman made them worse.
The same thing is playing out in Edmonton. This is the biggest off-season in franchise history. It’s similar to what’s happening in Toronto. But it is true for the Oilers. When poor decision-makers are at the helm, poor decisions are made. Hence, why the Edmonton Oilers took steps back, not forward, this season.
