‘Edmonton checked all those boxes’: Curtis Lazar excited to join contending team with Oilers

One of the newest members of the Edmonton Oilers is excited to be with a new team, especially in a place with some familiarity.

Forward Curtis Lazar signed a one-year contract with the team on July 2, carrying a cap hit of $775,000 through the 2025-26 season.

It brings the native of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, back home, in a way, having played for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League for parts of four seasons before going pro. Lazar was a key part of the teams that won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions twice, being the last team in the WHL to win the Memorial Cup in 2014.

In an interview with NHL.com, Lazar admits the decision to sign with the two-time defending Western Conference champions was an easy one.

“I’m super happy to be going back to Edmonton,” Lazar said. “I think everybody knows that’s where my hockey career started, playing junior and I had a lot of success there.

This summer, kind of looking at the landscape of the League and after the tough season I had last year, I was thinking of where I can get my game back, and where I can help a team win? Edmonton checked all those boxes.”

Lazar will be around a couple of faces he knows from his past. He and captain Connor McDavid were roommates when the two played for Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2014 and 2015, with Lazar wearing the ‘C’ when the Canadians won gold 10 years ago, snapping a then-six-year drought.

The 30-year-old also remembers playing against Leon Draisaitl in his junior days, as the reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner played two years with the Prince Albert Raiders.

Lazar stated that he’s had a chance to speak with the two superstars since inking his new contract.

“I’ve already talked to both guys about the fit coming to Edmonton, how much fun it’s going to be and how much work it’s going to take. I love their winning mindset and I’m going to try and do as much heavy lifting as I can to help them out.

Anyone would be lying if they said they weren’t excited about playing with them, they’re two of the best players in the world.”

Lazar joins an Oilers team that is still sour after losing to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row. While there has been quite a bit of changeover over the past few weeks, Lazar can be a solid depth piece with notable experience.

The former Calgary Flame is coming off a tough 2024-25 campaign, during which he was limited to just 48 games due to a knee injury that led to him missing almost two months of the season.  After posting a career-high 25 points with the New Jersey Devils in 2023-24, he ended up with just two goals and three assists for five points.

Lazar admits that the time off this offseason has been beneficial in getting him back to 100 percent.

“I used the summer to heal up, and this actually feels like the perfect storm,” Lazar said. “My body feels right, I’m moving exceptionally well in the gym, which has translated into some pretty good on-ice sessions already.”

In 572 NHL appearances, Lazar has scored 47 goals and 78 assists for 125 points, including three points in 30 postseason contests.