Oilers Are Surging Towards A New NHL Record
The Edmonton Oilers were down 0-2 when they hopped on the plane back to the City of Champions in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings.
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Then came the wins.
Four consecutive wins to send their divisional rival to the fairways for (yet) another year. However, winning those games in a come-from-behind fashion is unprecedented. Or at least, it's getting really close.
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They have the most comeback wins in NHL playoff history, and that record could soon include the regular season.
The Oilers are tied for the second-most comeback victories in NHL history, whether in the regular season or the playoffs. Seven is the magic number for comeback wins.
This Oilers team can't shake the comeback victory. They know the importance of scoring the first goal and have gone on record detailing how they want to start games better.
On Thursday night, it was the same script but a different movie. The Oilers were down 1-0 after the opening period. But no quit was to be found in their game.
They stormed back with three unanswered goals from Jake Walman, Vasily Podkolzin, and Darnell Nurse to take a commanding 3-1 lead over the Vegas Golden Knights.
A squandered lead would force the game to overtime, where Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid worked their magic.
So on Saturday night, when the Oilers defend their home turf, don't worry if they find themselves in a similar position to the previous six games.
They would love to flip the script, but like the Marvel Universe, they can't help but create a sequel.
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New York Times
18 hours ago
- New York Times
What Connor McDavid's next contract could tell us about the Oilers
Since August 1988, when Wayne Gretzky was sold in what was called a trade at the time, the city of Edmonton has doubled in size. The city's airport has gone through several upgrades, to the point any awkward moments at #YEG are unlikely. Perhaps more importantly, the Edmonton Oilers are one of the richest franchises in the NHL, with a fan base so devoted that the city itself is more an Oilers town than a hockey town. Advertisement This summer, the city has been mostly calm when discussing the potential next contract for Connor McDavid, the team's captain and best player. Fortunately for modern fans of the team, those economic and population changes since 1988 mean an entirely different scenario for today. Insider reporting on the deal has been unusually vague about the details, making an observer suspicious about how much is actually known by even the most connected hockey reporters. It does appear a contract is likely to be signed, and that it will be a shorter deal than McDavid's previous agreement. Back in July 2017, he signed an eight-year extension for $100 million ($12.5 million annual average value); this time, some have him coming in around $16.5 million on a three- or four-year agreement. In the decade since arriving in Edmonton, the captain has delivered fantastic value in all 10 seasons. The franchise gets an enormous edge due to his presence on the roster, and no matter the cap hit on the new deal, his cap hit will continue to hold exceptional value. The player may prefer a shorter deal for two reasons. McDavid may not want a repeat of the last decade, a period when the team deployed elite talent at the top end but were never able to find enough support players of quality to win the Stanley Cup. The two recent trips to the Final represent progress while also making the superior depth of the Florida Panthers roster clear. Other NHL teams have consistently outperformed Oilers management. The second reason? McDavid may feel another three or four years devoted to the task of winning in Edmonton represents enough of a commitment to the organization. If he signs elsewhere in the fall of 2030, few could suggest he delivered less than his best while in an Oilers uniform. From the outside looking in, it looks like the lack of an answer to the Panthers' furious forecheck had a major impact on the result in the Stanley Cup Final. That includes deployment (Mattias Ekholm was not able to play at normal levels in Games 5 and 6) and execution — the players abandoned passes through the middle in favour of low-percentage outlets along the wall and alley-oop dumps to centre ice. Advertisement The Oilers looked like the older team, especially on the wings. A postmortem of the final also has to include mention of the goaltending, despite Stuart Skinner's strong performance against the Dallas Stars leading up to the Panthers series. General manager Stan Bowman has yet to address the goaltending, but the team's defence is recognized as being top-drawer. It is so deep that any trade in-season for a goaltender may include a defenceman as part of the assets out. The wingers will be younger, with rookies Matt Savoie and Ike Howard joined by veteran free-agent Andrew Mangiapane. Along with a healthy Zach Hyman and deadline addition Trent Frederic, coach Kris Knoblauch should be able to mix and match as needed through the regular season. Finding three lines that can outscore opponents at five-on-five will be key. The club has improved depth across the roster, from veteran forwards (such as Curtis Lazar) to wild-card European additions like David Tomasek and Atro Leppänen. The deadline deal for Jake Walman was a big part of the upgrade, and Bowman did move the needle this summer. A guess on goaltending: the organization gives Skinner and Calvin Pickard most of the regular season (to the deadline) in order to show consistency. At that time, or before, management likely makes a move. The Oilers may opt to carry a 22-man roster (one short of the maximum) in an effort to optimize the trade deadline. A list of possible additions at that time include names like right wing Alex Tuch (Buffalo Sabres), left wing Adrian Kempe (Los Angeles Kings), defenceman Jamie Oleksiak (Seattle Kraken) and goaltender Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild). There is also the added urgency that comes from the foundation of this team (McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Darnell Nurse) aging out of their peak years and reaching their 30s over the next few seasons. McDavid has been carrying this roster forever — he may not be able to reach previous dizzying heights with the same consistency, and injuries will become a bigger factor. The anxiety some Oilers fans feel about the future is real, and adding young talent like Savoie and Howard is vital. Advertisement The next McDavid contract will give fans an indication of how much additional time the captain wishes to devote to a management group that has consistently run out of sync with the cutting-edge GMs in the league. He's held up his end of the bargain; it's time for the organization to stand and deliver. When Peter Chiarelli arrived in 2015, he traded for a starting goaltender (Cam Talbot), signed a top-flight defenceman (Andrej Sekera) and then invested heavily in riskier assets like Griffin Reinhart and Milan Lucic. The Oilers were a team badly in need of a stronger farm system, but Chiarelli neither committed to a full rebuild nor optimized McDavid's entry deal in an effort to win it all early. Ken Holland got a lot closer, but like Chiarelli, bled young assets like they were a constantly renewing resource. His time in Edmonton will be remembered as a mixture of inspired acquisitions (Hyman, Ekholm) and baffling deals (the Duncan Keith trade) that led directly to more baffling deals (the Darnell Nurse contract). McDavid's frustration after the Final likely had much to do with the Panthers' impressive efforts against the Oilers' outlet attempts. Some of the vexation may also come from the decade of curious roster decisions that consistently left Edmonton poorer. If McDavid has expressed bewilderment in regard to Oilers' management being unable to compete for talent at the highest levels, he is justified in doing so. If a short-term contract is a result of that frustration, it may clarify things and possibly put an end to walkabout trade ideas and front-office gaffes that cost real talent. This isn't Stan Bowman's fault, but it is his problem. The length of McDavid's deal starts the clock on what could be his final seasons in Edmonton. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Newsweek
21 hours ago
- Newsweek
Connor McDavid's Future With Oilers Draws Surprising Prediction
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers once again came up just short in the Stanley Cup Final last season. Once again, they fell to the Florida Panthers. In two straight years, the Oilers have made a run to the Stanley Cup Final. Two years ago, they were defeated by the Panthers in seven games. Last season, they were eliminated in six games. Losing in back-to-back years just a win or two short of a championship is incredibly frustrating. However, McDavid and company are focused on once again getting back to that point and this time pulling off a win during the upcoming 2025-26 season. Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on against the Dallas Stars during the third period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on... Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on against the Dallas Stars during the third period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 25, 2025 in Edmonton, Alberta. More Photo byHeading into the upcoming campaign, McDavid's future with Edmonton has become a major storyline. Read more: Former NHL Player Drops Major Update on Oilers Star Connor McDavid McDavid is set to play in the final year of his contract with the Oilers. While the team would like to keep him around long-term, there has been speculation that he could consider the option of signing with another franchise. That being said, a new update has shared a potential surprising outcome to the situation. NHL insider John Shannon recently appeared on the "Oilers Now" podcast and shared his thoughts on McDavid's impending free agency. He thinks that the superstar center could stay in town and help the team financially in the process. "I think it's going to be a three or four-year deal," Shannon said. "Connor's entitled to 20 percent (of the salary cap), but I also think Connor's smart enough to know if he gets too much, that's less to acquire free agents and other players for this hockey club. And that's what superstars do that want to win Stanley Cups—they sacrifice." Needless to say, that would be an ideal scenario for Edmonton. Being able to keep McDavid and have him help with financial relief to make other moves would be crucial to continuing the Oilers' pursuit of a championship. Read more: Maple Leafs Emerging as Future Connor McDavid Suitor During the 2024-25 NHL season in Edmonton, McDavid played in 67 games. He scored 26 goals to go along with 74 assists for a total of 100 points and also shot 13.3 percent. There are few players even on the same tier of superstar status as McDavid in the NHL right now. If he were to choose to stay with the Oilers and give up money for them to make extra moves, he would clearly separate himself as the ultimate team player and leader. For more about the Edmonton Oilers and NHL and sports news, head to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
The Edmonton Oilers cap challenges are not and shouldn't be Connor McDavid's problem: 9 Things
Will he? Won't he? For how much? And for how long? The questions surrounding the contract status of Connor McDavid is the main focus in the latest edition of… 9 Things 9. Congratulations to Andrew and Claudia Mangiapane on the birth of their baby boy A.J. It is a reminder that like us, NHL players have lives away from hockey and share many of the hopes and dreams that we do. 8. A lot of chatter out there about possible PTOs. Two skaters who I have written about in the recent past are still possibilities for the Oilers. Former Oiler Klim Kostin is one. Alberta kid Brett Leason is another. 7. The Oilers have let D-man Luca Munzenberger walk. Edmonton held his rights up until Friday, when they expired and no offer to remain in the organization was forthcoming. It was clear the jig was up when he did not join Bakersfield after his season at the University of Vermont ended. 6. Connor McDavid is rated #1 in 2025-26 Oilers Fantasy Rankings, with a point projection of 135. His buddy Leon Draisaitl is number two (114). Evan Bouchard is pegged at 86. Zach Hyman at 68. And Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is ranked fifth at 64 points. That would eclipse The Nuge's 49 last campaign. More on McDavid in a minute… 5. An unknows in this upcoming season for the Oilers is the status of Stuart Skinner. Despite helping his club make it to The Stanley Cup Finals in back-to-back years, an upgrade could be in the cards. But if Skinner grabs the net and runs with it, he could pass a couple legendary Oilers in Games Played. He is just three behind Curtis Joseph, only twenty-two behind Dwayne Roloson for sixth all-time. 4. The Oilers were the only club in the NHL last season to finish in the top four in O-zone time in all four situations: All Strengths (43.8), at Even strength (43.2), The Power Play (61.0) and on the P.K. (31.2). And three Edmonton Oilers were among the top ten individually at All Strength, Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard and Zach Hyman. Mattias Ekholm was sixth at Even Strength (47.5). 3. The Bakersfield Condors have extended AHL contracts to four players new to the organization: Forwards Matt Brown and Trevor Kanicke have inked 1-year deals, as have D-men Mats Lindgren and Luke Prokop. The undersized Brown had 47 points in 39 games for BU in 2022-23. Kanicke is a right shot Center out of Notre Dame. Lindgren is a left shot D who can move the puck. Solid minor-pro-options for Keith Gretzky. 2. Of those four guys, Edmonton fans are likely most familiar with Prokop who was an Edmonton Oil King when the won a WHL Championship in 2022. Never bad to have organizational depth in the form of a 6'6, right-shot defender who can skate. And the hometown kid is just twenty-three. Prokop has been stuck in the AHL in Nashville's system but he has got some game. Of the four guys inked, Prokop is the guy who I could see getting an NHL shot if injuries strike the big club. Strong signing. Now it's your move, Luke. one thing hockey fans everywhere are waiting for, and no more so than in Edmonton, is a contract extension for Connor McDavid. When will it happen? For How much? And for how long? On the when front, I believe right now that McDavid will sign before the regular season begins. Maybe even before training camp. There is no way on earth that a guy who hates talking about himself in public will want to trudge through the season with that question hanging out there night after night. Not chance. Not even a little one. But what about the 'how much'? The maximum Connor McDavid can sign for under the salary cap would be 20% of the club's hit. And it is impossible to say he has not earned that. But there are some already suggesting that it would be wise for Connor to take a hometown discount, leaving some cash left over to sign other assets. Load up for another Stanley Cup run. And look: Under the heading 'Manage the Cap', I do get the thinking. But lets be real: Who among us given a comparable opportunity would not max out and grin all the way to the bank? The fact of the matter is Connor McDavid does not owe the Oilers or Edmonton anything. He has done everything for the franchise short of a cup. Compared to his contributions and statistics, he has been underpaid. If Connor McDavid does choose a dollar figure in an extension lower than what he is entitled to, then that is his business. But no one should expect or ask Connor to do that. You hand the contract over to him with the amount blank. Yes, the Oilers are in a bit of a tight cap squeeze. The club needs to deal with the issues that have left them in that position. Agreed. Deal with those. But 97 is not one of those issues. Now on Bluesky @ Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at KurtLeavins@ This article is not AI generated. Recently, at The Cult… STAPLES: Can new D-man keep the Edmonton Oilers streak alive LEAVINS: The goaltenders the Edmonton Oilers are looking for Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025. Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
