NHL Rumors: Oilers Insider Predicts 3 More Huge Moves for Edmonton This Summer

 

The Edmonton Oilers aren't finished revamping their lineup for the summer. Nor are they, according to noted Oilers insider Bob Stauffer, finished spending money. 

Yes, they've already got an extension done with top defenseman Evan Bouchard, inking him to a four-year deal at a $10.5 million AAV. But David Staples of the Edmonton Journal cites Stauffer, on his Oilers Now podcast, predicting that three more key extensions will be worked out before the end of the summer.

And it all starts with Stauffer's "certainty" of a Connor McDavid deal:

Let’s just cut to the chase here. I still believe 100% that Connor McDavid will be extended in the off season by the Edmonton Oilers. I know there’s some people freaking out. There’s one of the Toronto media guys who every day tweets an update on how many days until McDavid becomes a free agent.

Stauffer believes that talks (and an eventual agreement) will get seriously rolling after Leon Draisaitl’s wedding... in the first weekend of August.

That would obviously be a huge sigh of relief for Oil Town.

The insider continued, switching his attention (and predictions) to the blueline:

"Then there’s Jake Walman. He’s going to get extended too. You could pretty much bet on that."

Walman was acquired midseason and was a key player on the backline for Edmonton. 

And Stauffer didn't forget about another crucial member of the defense corps:

"And it wouldn’t surprise me if the Oilers extended Matthias Ekholm, maybe even this summer."

None of those moves would affect the 2025-26 cap, as any of those extensions would kick in for the 2026-27 season.

In the meantime, GM Stan Bowman currently has just $225K in cap space to work with for the coming campaign.

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