Oilers Enhance Playoff Roster with Key Free Agent AdditionsOilers Enhance Playoff Roster with Key Free Agent Additions Following a disheartening Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers have been hard at work during the off-season, eager to capitalize on their recent success. Led by CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson, the Oilers have made strategic acquisitions that bolster their already talented roster. Jeff Skinner: A Proven Scorer for a Low Price After being bought out by the Buffalo Sabres, Jeff Skinner joins the Oilers on a low-risk, high-reward contract of $3 million for one year. Despite a recent dip in offensive production, Skinner has a proven track record as a goal scorer, particularly when playing alongside star players. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl by his side, Skinner could significantly contribute to the Oilers’ offensive output. Viktor Arvidsson: A Playoff-Experienced Veteran Another notable addition is Viktor Arvidsson, who joins the Oilers after a successful tenure with the Los Angeles Kings. Despite missing a portion of the season due to injury, Arvidsson is a skilled winger who can contribute offensively and provide valuable playoff experience. Having reached the Stanley Cup Finals with the Nashville Predators, Arvidsson is undoubtedly motivated to chase a championship in Edmonton. Retaining Key Contributors In addition to bringing in new faces, the Oilers have also prioritized retaining existing talent. By re-signing Adam Henrique, Connor Brown, and Mattias Janmark, the team has ensured the continuity of its playoff core. Connor McDavid Expresses Optimism Oilers’ captain Connor McDavid has expressed his satisfaction with the off-season moves, highlighting the team’s ability to keep key players together and make strategic acquisitions. This reflects the team’s collective belief that they have assembled a roster capable of contending for the Stanley Cup next season. Conclusion The Edmonton Oilers have made significant improvements to their roster during the off-season, adding experienced veterans like Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson while retaining their current playoff core. These moves underscore the team’s unwavering determination to bring home their first Stanley Cup since 1990. With a roster boasting McDavid, Draisaitl, and a supporting cast of proven performers, the Oilers are poised to be a formidable force in the upcoming season.
The Edmonton Oilers may be one win away from their first Stanley Cup in more than 30 years, but CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson made it clear during NHL free agency that nothing less than a championship is the goal in 2025. Edmonton got off to a terrible start last season, finding itself at the bottom of the standings until Jay Woodcroft was replaced by Kris Knoblauch behind the bench.
And the rest is history; the Oilers came out on top, narrowly edging out the Vancouver Canucks for first place in the Pacific Division and defeating the Canucks (along with the Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars) to advance to their first title series since 2006. And after falling into a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 series deficit, the Oilers staged a stirring comeback, winning three straight games to force a deciding Game 7 against the Florida Panthers — the first such game in a Stanley Cup Final in half a decade.
Though it ended in heartbreak, with the Panthers capturing their first-ever championship in a narrow 2-1 victory, the Oilers proved they can hang with the best teams in the league and succeed. And after general manager Ken Holland left the team this offseason, Jackson and the front office immediately got to work.
Now that the dust has settled, the Oilers not only look better than they did last season, but this roster looks downright scary. And that’s especially true of the top six, which was bolstered this summer with the addition of veterans Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson. Let’s talk.
Jeff Skinner is a fantastic addition to the Oilers
In his first season with the Buffalo Sabres, after signing a massive $72 million contract, Jeff Skinner scored 40 goals and the deal seemed like a steal. Five years later, Skinner was bought out after one of the worst offensive seasons of his career. Skinner scored just 46 points in 74 games, almost unacceptable for a $9 million player.
Still, Skinner can play, and he’s the type of skater who will thrive around star players. If only Edmonton had a few of those, maybe Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The veteran should thrive on the wing of one of those superstars, and he’ll have much lower expectations.
The Oilers signed Skinner to a one-year, $3 million contract when free agency opened on July 1. It was a hugely low-risk, high-reward play. While it’s unrealistic to expect the 32-year-old to score another 40 goals, who’s to say he can’t score 25 or 30 with one of the best players in the world?
While Skinner’s defensive side of the game has never been strong, he does provide the secondary scoring the Oilers desperately need. They needed it toward the end of a gut-wrenching series against the Panthers, but instead ran their best players into the ground in Game 7. It’s a small price to pay for a player who can still put the puck in the net, and this signing is a huge win for both player and club.
And that’s all without mentioning that Skinner holds the record for most games played without a playoff appearance with 1,006. That’s just insane, and it’s really hard not to feel sorry for the veteran Canadian. With both the Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes — the organization that drafted him over a decade ago — Skinner has not appeared in a playoff game. That will almost certainly change in 2025, and is likely one of the main reasons he chose to sign in his home country.
On the surface, this deal is a home run for both Skinner, who gets a chance to play for a championship, and the Oilers, who get a proven scorer on a team-friendly contract. And he’s not the only smart addition in Alberta.
Viktor Arvidsson will feel right at home in the top 6
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Another veteran who should make an immediate impact is Viktor Arvidsson after the Los Angeles Kings’ regular forward took his talents to Edmonton in free agency. This is another ultra-smart acquisition by Edmonton’s front office; Arvidsson is coming off a shortened season following a disappointing back injury in training camp. He was still able to put up 15 points in 18 games for the Kings in the final stretch, and that was of course without playing alongside McDavid and/or Draisaitl.
Arvidsson, like Skinner, will be motivated to chase a championship after his Kings were swept by the Oilers in three straight Round 1 losses. He went to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Nashville Predators in 2017, eventually losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the clock is ticking on his career. At two years and $8 million total, this is a phenomenal contract for everyone involved.
The Oilers were also able to re-sign Adam Henrique, Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark, all of whom made a difference in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. That gives the Oilers arguably the best offensive core in the entire National Hockey League, and it’s clear that nothing less than a championship in 2025 will do. Add Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the mix, and this top-nine group is downright terrifying.
And McDavid, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP despite his team’s loss, is pleased with the steps management has taken.
Connor McDavid is happy with the off-season transfers
“They’ve had a great offseason so far,” McDavid told TSN earlier this week. “It’s been short, it’s been rushed, but I think in the short time that they’ve had it, they’ve done some great things. It’s good to keep so many guys together. In the salary cap era, it’s tough to do that.”
“It’s also a testament to the team that guys are willing to go back on team-friendly deals and take discounts to try to win,” Hyman reiterated. “I think they see how special it is to play in Edmonton, and it’s becoming more of a destination to play, and that’s really great to see.”
The Oilers are clearly all in for next season, and with essentially the same roster minus a few depth items, they should be the team to beat in the Western Conference in 2024-25. Only time will tell if this core can bring a championship to Edmonton for the first time since 1990, but it’s hard to say anything negative about what has been an absolutely incredible free agent frenzy for the franchise.
FINAL GRADE: A
