Big Trades Possibly Brewing as Several Oilers Forwards Generating Buzz, per NHL Insider

The Edmonton Oilers' season ended in devastating heartbreak, falling short once again in the Stanley Cup Final, once more at the hands of the juggernaut Florida Panthers.

Despite returning to hockey's biggest stage, the Oilers were outplayed for most of the series.

Florida controlled the tempo, and outside of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton's offense was quieted. The depth that carried them through earlier rounds vanished when it counted most.

Now, GM Stan Bowman has some significant questions to answer heading into the 2025-26 season.

Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson could be on the trade block as Edmonton works to clear up cap space, according to David Pagnotta of 'The Fourth Period'.

Kane has one year left on his $20.5M contract, while Arvidsson is in the final year of a $4M AAV contract he signed in 2024.

The Oilers have almost $12 million in projected cap space but a long list of pending free agents that includes Evan Bouchard, Connor Brown, Trent Frederic (this one is almost signed), Kasperi Kapanen, John Klingberg, Corey Perry, and Jeff Skinner.

And the biggest story of them all? Connor McDavid can sign an extension on July 1. The longer that goes on, the more pressure there will be on Bowman and the Oilers to prove they can build a winner around him and Draisaitl.

After yet another painful ending, everyone's focus shifts to Edmonton's offseason and how they continue to get their superstars invested in the mission to bring home a Cup.