From McDavid’s Future to Division Hopes: 5 Key Questions for the Oilers

The sting of another Stanley Cup Final still lingers, and until October gets here, that feeling’s not going away. But for as close as the Oilers came to finally ending the drought over these last two seasons, there’s no reason to believe this team can’t go right back and finish the job. The 2025–26 season won’t be about building something — it’s about finally finishing the job.

With a core that’s locked in, a few new prospects to be excited about, and an entire province gagging for this team to take the next step, here are five of the biggest questions heading into the season that could change how things play out.

1. How will the goaltending hold up?

Stuart Skinner enters the final year of his contract with a clear mission: be the starting goaltender who can win the big games when his team needs it most. In 2024–25, Skinner made 51 starts and finished with a 26–18–4 record, a 2.81 GAA, a .896 save percentage, and three shutouts. He had moments of brilliance and plenty of stretches of inconsistency, but when it mattered most, he was able to get his team to the Stanley Cup Final for a second straight year. Now, the bar is higher. Much higher.

As we speak today, Calvin Pickard, who quietly put together a strong season: 22–10–1, a 2.71 GAA, and a .900 save percentage in 36 appearances, will be the backup goalie for a second straight season. For a guy many expected to be the starter in Bakersfield, Pickard often fought above his weight class and gave the Oilers legit starts, but can he be trusted for 25–30 games again this year? Can Calvin Pickard be the guy the team depends on to smooth out any wrinkles in the crease?

The big question is whether Skinner can be more than “solid” and if he can do it more consistently. Those a two massive questions. If Stu can push his save percentage back over .905 and clean up the soft goals, the Oilers don’t just have the chance to be contenders — they’ll be terrifying. If not, this storyline won’t go away, and Stan Bowman will be forced to overpay for an upgrade at the deadline. In terms of questions for the upcoming season, how can anyone have anything other than goaltending at the top of the list?

2. How much should we expect from Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard?

Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard are pencilled in to be contributors this season, and there’s a real chance both will make the team out of camp and be expected to contribute from the jump. With cap space tight and the forward group still looking for consistent scoring depth, this is the perfect time for young players to earn real NHL minutes. The question is whether or not these two are ready for primetime and have the ability to handle the pressure that comes in this market.

Savoie, who got a brief look late last season, is coming off a strong AHL showing and brings speed, vision, and tenacity — the kind of profile that should work nicely in the lineup if the coaching staff gives him room to breathe. Howard, acquired this summer, played in college last year, scored at a point-per-game pace, won the Hobey Baker Award, and seems primed to take the next step. That said, we’ve seen plenty of young players get whipped around in the NHL, especially in the early days when they’re still learning what it takes at hockey’s highest level.

Can either one crack 15–20 goals? It depends on opportunity and their ability to stay healthy, but it’s a question I have based on Edmonton’s need for both of them to contribute. Savoie’s IQ and motor might give him the edge early, but Howard’s shot and confidence could make him a sneaky weapon if he manages to stick. Either way, the Oilers would love for one of them to grab a roster spot and run with it. Cheap, skilled forwards are worth their weight in gold, but with next to no NHL experience for either of them, I’m interested to see how much of the weight these two can carry.

3. Will we get a Connor McDavid extension?

This one is the elephant in every room this summer. Connor McDavid is eligible to sign a contract extension right now, with his current deal set to expire on June 30, 2026. While he’s said all the right things publicly — maybe even given us a scare or two in his year-end presser — fans are holding their breath until ink hits paper. I mean, how else would you react when the best player on earth is up for renewal? McDavid put up 100 points (26 G, 74 A) in 76 games last year while dealing with nagging injuries and playing a more pass-first game.

Even with a “down” year by his own standards, No. 97 was still the most dominant player in the league in transition, zone entries, and possession-driving metrics. If the team plans to continue trending upward — and if the front office can do everything possible to surround him with Cup-calibre depth — the smart money is still on Connor staying. But until his name is on a new contract, his storyline is going to hang over everything like a black cloud.

The good news is that Bob Stauffer speculated on his show this past week that McDavid could get an extension by the end of August. With Leon Draisaitl’s wedding on deck, Stauffer suggested nothing was ever going to happen until his Dynamic Duo partner’s big day is out of the way, so maybe that paves the way for a late-August extension.

“Let’s say by August the 28th, which is a Thursday, a month from today, I could foresee a scenario where extensions are done on Podzkolzin, Walman, Ekholm, and McDavid,” he said on Monday’s edition of OilersNow. “So I’m not moving off it.

“(Frank) Seravalli and myself both said 100 percent that Connor would re-sign. All along, nothing was happening before Leon’s wedding. I could see some traction occurring after that. Oh, and a potential extension for Kris Knoblauch as well. Those ones. I would say that (Brett) Kulak will probably have a decision to make.”

At this point in the summer, McDavid can sign his new deal at any time, but it’s also important to remember he doesn’t have to. And until he does, expect the media to ask about it *constantly*, Leafs fans to dream and make photoshops incessantly, and the noise to keep getting louder and louder. From my side of the computer screen, the best day of the year will be when McDavid extends with the Oilers, but until that happens, his future in Edmonton will be a question on all of our minds.

4. What tactical changes will Kris Knoblauch implement?

Kris Knoblauch walked into a storm two seasons ago and calmly guided the Oilers from near rock bottom to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances. He didn’t need sweeping changes — just clarity, trust, and stability. But now, with a full off-season and a coaching staff of his choosing, it’s fair to expect more of his own stamp on this team. It’s also fair to expect that he comes up with whatever details are needed to finally get over the hump and bring Lord Stanley home.

Look for adjustments to the defensive-zone structure, perhaps bringing more support down low and allowing D-men like Evan Bouchard to activate more selectively. I could see the Oilers wanting to generate more offence by bringing their defencemen up on the rush. Bouchard, who exploded for 82 points (18 G, 64 A) in 81 games two years ago, will once again be a big part of that equation. But while we’ll wonder for sure about the offensive adjustments, it’s the even-strength changes in the defensive zone that will likely bear the most fruit.

Another thing we’ll see some changes to is how Edmonton works their penalty kill. We already heard Knoblauch speak about wanting to make PK adjustments, but those are just words until we actually see some adjustments. In 2024-25, the Oilers’ PK finished the season with a 78.2 kill percentage, which was good for 16th overall, and that’s nowhere near good enough for anyone who spent the year watching games. Finding a way to kill off more penalties will be crucial to the team’s success, and I want to know how these new coaches and adjustments will help fix the problem.

5. Can the Oilers win their first division title since 1987?

Let’s say it again for the people in the back: the Edmonton Oilers have not won their division since 1987. That’s a wild stat given some of the teams that competed and won it all after the 1986-87 campaign. With all the talent they’ve had over the years — and now with the best player of this generation — they still haven’t been able to finish first in the Pacific Division, and I want to know if this is the year.

Last season, the Oilers went 48–29–5 for 101 points — good enough for third in the division behind Vegas and Los Angeles — and they did it while navigating another slow start and some major injuries down the stretch. Still, a slow start and some inconsistency kept them from chasing down Vancouver and Vegas, and I wonder if this is the season the team can put it all together more consistently. I know we don’t care much about the regular season anymore, but it sure would be nice if we did. This year? No excuses.

If the Oilers start strong and avoid the November collapse, the division is absolutely within reach, even with Vegas going out and getting Mitch Marner in free agency. And while banners aren’t everything, claiming that top seed would send a message: this team isn’t just trying to win — they expect to. And while a division win isn’t the price we’re all after, getting that first job done by setting the tone for the playoffs instead of riding in with a wobble or a limp. Obviously, winning the Pacific Division will take some luck, but I can’t see why they should be in the mix with Vegas being the only real team I see challenging them for the top seed.

Final Thoughts

The 2025–26 Oilers are a team with championship expectations — not just hopes. The roster is still pretty damned good. The stars are in their prime. The pain of falling just short again for a second straight year is still fresh, and I expect every single guy in that locker room knows exactly what it will take to go one step further.

Goaltending. Depth. Coaching. Health. It all matters. But above all else, this group has belief. Real belief. And if a few of these questions get answered the right way, then maybe — just maybe — we’ll finally get to see the Cup raised in Edmonton again. One more step. That’s all that’s left. See you at the parade.