How the future outlook of the Oilers stacks up with the rest of the NHL
A five-year plan is always good to have. It can help keep a person on track towards specific goals.
Well, according to some people, the Edmonton Oilers have a lot on their plate in the next five years, and it could mean the team struggles to stay near the top of the NHL pyramid.
On Wednesday, Daily Faceoff’s Paul Pidutti wrote about what the league will look like in 2030, projecting what teams will be contending for a Stanley Cup, who will be rebuilding and what teams will be in the “mushy middle” – teams that are good, but aren’t either bad enough to sell, but not good enough to contend.
Unfortunately, for the Edmonton Oilers, they aren’t as high up on the totem pole as fans would like.
Pidutti has the Oilers ranked 13th of the 32 teams in the NHL, sitting in his second tier of “Contenders.” He cites the fact that forward Leon Draisaitl is locked in under his contract through the 2032-33 campaign, with young forwards Isaac Howard and Matthew Savoie expected to be part of the core by 2030.
Defenceman Evan Bouchard’s new contract has him in Edmonton until 2029, with the unknown of his status with the team four seasons from now leaving many to wonder whether he’d re-sign with the team, or move on from there. Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ deal is also up at the end of the 2028-29 season, which will make the former first-overall pick 36 years old.
Regarding captain Connor McDavid, who has one more season left on his current contract, Pidutti laid out the plan that he expects no. 97 to sign an extension that will at least carry to 2030.
Pidutti compares the Oilers’ future status to that of a different team that’s now going through the struggles of clinging to the talent of another all-world player.
“McDavid is a near-certainty to be extended for at least a handful of seasons, Pidutti wrote. “With Zach Hyman (three more years), Nugent-Hopkins (four) and Darnell Nurse (five), the Oilers’ main men are in place a while longer. Short term, expect more of the same… a dangerous core and revolving cast of free agents, rentals, and buy-low candidates seeking to be Edmonton’s elixir. If it hasn’t happened by 2030, however, this will be a very old group clinging to the talent of McDavid (maybe?), Draisaitl, and Bouchard (maybe?). Think the 2020-22 Penguins.”
It’s a little disheartening to see where the Oilers could be as far from the Stanley Cup picture, especially since the team has made it to back-to-back Finals. The team lost to the Florida Panthers both times, falling to the Cats in six games this past spring.
The teams Pidutti thinks that are true Cup contenders include the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and the Montreal Canadiens, who he believes will win it all in 2030.
