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NHL Insider Drops Surprising Revelation on Stan Bowman's Mindset Following Free Agency Criticism

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 10:22 AM ET

Oilers GM Stan Bowman has been facing some heat for his free agency decisions, and NHL insider Gene Principe revealed a shocking revelation on his mindset.

The Edmonton Oilers are determined to wipe the slate clean this NHL offseason after back-to-back defeats in the Stanley Cup Final. This has prompted big changes in the Province of Alberta.

Now, as Connor McDavid and company bid farewell to several longtime teammates, general manager Stan Bowman has reportedly made his stance clear after taking quite a bit of criticism from fans and analysts.

'The one thing about Stan Bowman, he's not fretting about what they lost,' insider Gene Principe said in dialogue with Sportsnet 590 The Fan.

Business is far from booming in Edmonton, but Bowman and the front office are certainly working overtime during the busy free agency period.

Last season and this season's loss in the Stanley Cup Final remain an open wound for the Oilers, scars they don't wear proudly, but serve as a vivid reminder of what lies ahead.

The goal for the upcoming NHL campaign is self-explanatory, do whatever it takes to capture the Stanley Cup.

Evan Bouchard was recently signed to a four-year contract extension

The Oilers know what it takes to reach the Final, but they're still searching for the last piece of the puzzle. Re-signing Evan Bouchard to a four-year contract secured a key part of Edmonton's core, but the most important piece has yet to extend his contract.

While McDavid's future continues to draw speculation ahead of 2026 free agency, Bowman is reportedly confident in where the team stands heading into the 2025-26 NHL season. Not even the key departures are a headache for Bowman right now.

These are some of the biggest names that have left The Oil Capital of Canada during the 2025 free agency.
- Viktor Arvidsson (via trade to the Boston Bruins)
- Corey Perry (to the Los Angeles Kings)
- Connor Brown (to the New Jersey Devils)
- John Klingberg (to the San Jose Sharks)
- Jeff Skinner, expected to sign elsewhere