The Edmonton Oilers’ early exit from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, losing to the Anaheim Ducks in six games, is a self-inflicted wound. While star players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are accountable, the ultimate responsibility lies with General Manager Stan Bowman and President/CEO Jeff Jackson.

The issues began to brew during the 2023-24 season when the Oilers did not extend the contract of their then-GM, Ken Holland. Holland was effectively a “lame duck” as the league was aware of the critical dates: the Stanley Cup Final conclusion on June 24, 2024, followed by the NHL Draft and the July 1 start of free agency.

Regardless of their opinion on Holland, the Oilers desperately needed a GM in place by July 1. If the organization knew they were parting ways with Holland before his contract expired on June 30, 2024, one would expect a proactive search for a replacement. Allowing Jeff Jackson to navigate free agency without that crucial GM role filled was a misstep.

Furthermore, if the plan was always to wait for Stan Bowman’s reinstatement by the NHL following his involvement in the Chicago Blackhawks scandal, then this decision proves to be an even greater blunder, and its negative consequences are now evident. The choices made by Jackson and Bowman have pushed the Edmonton Oilers further away from their championship aspirations.

Let’s examine the 2024 offseason moves, notably the offer sheets extended by the St. Louis Blues to Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway. Both players were drafted and developed by the Oilers. Management mishandled their development leading up to the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, both players proved valuable during the Oilers’ run to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, with Broberg, in particular, contributing significantly on defense.

The immediate priority for the newly appointed General Manager Stan Bowman should have been to evaluate these players thoroughly. Instead, he opted to trade their assets and let them depart. Rather than signing Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, a more prudent approach from Jackson would have been to secure Broberg and Holloway with new deals first and then address other roster needs. This is the hallmark of effective management.

Instead, Arvidsson and Skinner were acquired as Broberg and Holloway departed. They were joined on the exit list by Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais, Warren Foegele, Derek Ryan, and Ryan McLeod, who was later traded for Matt Savoie. This move significantly depleted the depth the Oilers possessed in 2024. The financial flexibility created by moving Desharnais and Ceci should have been used to retain Broberg, at the very least.

The Oilers experienced a rollercoaster 2024-25 season with many of the core players returning, including Corey Perry, Evander Kane, and John Klingberg. With Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard in net, the team demonstrated they could compete, once again reaching the Stanley Cup Final.

Despite reaching the Final, the series against the Florida Panthers was not particularly close, with the Oilers being outmatched. The lack of depth to contend with the Panthers signaled more changes were imminent during Bowman’s first full offseason as GM. The previous offseason had been dominated by the Leon Draisaitl extension, and the 2025 offseason focused on Connor McDavid’s extension.

McDavid put Bowman and the front office on notice by signing a two-year extension that began on July 1, just before the season. However, roster damage had already been inflicted. Viktor Arvidsson was traded to Boston for cap relief, Connor Brown signed with New Jersey, Evander Kane was sent to Vancouver for cap relief, and Corey Perry joined Los Angeles.

The depth of the Edmonton Oilers was visibly eroding. Evan Bouchard secured a substantial extension. To compound matters, despite publicly stating intentions to upgrade goaltending, Bowman traded Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry and his full cap hit.

Kulak was subsequently traded by the Penguins to the Colorado Avalanche, where he contributed to their Western Conference Final run with an overtime winner. Beyond these moves, Bowman also surrendered 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 moving 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 for improvement; he needs to find a justification for these decisions that have sent the Edmonton Oilers backward, away from a Stanley Cup. And who paid the price? The head coach, Kris Knoblauch.

Knoblauch was dismissed before his three-year contract extension could take effect because Bowman allegedly went behind the coach’s back to arrange his replacement, and the information leaked. This left Bowman with no choice but to make the change. To his credit, Stan Bowman has taken responsibility for the Edmonton debacle, but he and Jeff Jackson are now under intense pressure.

This team must achieve success next season or demonstrate clear signs of progress for Connor McDavid to remain in Edmonton. These trades and roster moves are inexcusable for any general manager. While Bowman’s name is on the Blackhawks’ three Stanley Cup victories, Dale Tallon built the core of those teams, whereas Bowman has demonstrably weakened their rosters.

The same pattern is unfolding in Edmonton. This is the most critical offseason in the franchise’s history, mirroring the situation in Toronto. But for the Oilers, the consequences of poor decision-makers at the helm are starkly apparent, leading to the team taking backward steps instead of forward momentum this season.

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 after being 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 this season’s failures, it truly begins with General Manager Stan Bowman and President and CEO Jeff Jackson.

The timeline for the Edmonton Oilers began during the 2023-24 season, when the team did not extend the contract of its then-GM and current Los Angeles Kings GM, Ken Holland. Holland was a lame duck going into the season. All teams knew 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 beginning on July 1.

Regardless of the organization’s thoughts on Holland, they needed a GM in place by July 1st. If the organization knew they were moving on from Holland before his contract wasn’t renewed on June 30, 2024, you would think they would have been searching for a replacement before then. Allowing Jeff Jackson to conduct free agency was a mistake.

And if waiting for Stan Bowman to be reinstated by the NHL for his role in the Chicago Blackhawks scandal was always the plan, then that is an even bigger mistake, and it is showing. The decisions by Jackson and Bowman have put the Edmonton Oilers further away from a championship than before.

Let’s start 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 ate up minutes on the backend and played solid defense.

The first order of business for incoming General Manager Stan Bowman is to evaluate those players without even knowing them. He decided to take the assets and let two players walk. Instead of Jackson signing Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, the first order of business would have been to sign Broberg and Holloway to deals and then figure out the rest. That is what good general managers or good management teams do.

Instead, Arvidsson and Skinner are brought in, as Broberg and Holloway were out the door, and were joined by Cody Ceci, Vincent Desharnais, Warren Foegele, Derek Ryan, and Ryan McLeod. McLeod was traded for Matt Savoie. The depth that the Oilers had in 2024 was depleted. Not to mention the moves to move out Desharnais and Ceci cleared the money to sign both players, or at least Broberg.

The Oilers had their ups and downs throughout the 2024-25 season, as most of the team was back, including Corey Perry, Evander Kane, John Klingberg, and others. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard were between the pipes as the Oilers showed they could do things the right way, getting back to the Stanley Cup Final.

Despite losing in six games, the series wasn’t that close, as the Oilers were outmatched by the Florida Panthers once again. The depth the Oilers once had was not there to match the Panthers, so more changes were coming in Bowman’s first full off-season as GM. In the previous off-season, he had to deal with the Leon Draisaitl extension; during the 2025 offseason, he had to deal with the McDavid extension.

McDavid put Bowman and company on the clock as he only signed a two-year extension kicking in on July 1. It was signed right before the season. However, the damage was done to the roster 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 right before their eyes. Evan Bouchard got a massive extension as well. But to make matters worse, despite saying 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 3rd round pick, a 2028 2nd 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 has to win next season or show signs of winning for Connor McDavid to stay in Edmonton. These trades and moves are excusable 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 offseason in franchise history. Similar to what is going on 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.