Six things September should reveal about the Edmonton Oilers

It was a summer that left Edmonton Oilers fans with more questions than answers.

Is this team actually better than last season? How healthy is Zach Hyman? Will Connor McDavid commit to Edmonton long-term? And what about the goaltending? Unfortunately, as training camp approaches, we still don’t have definitive answers.

What we do have, though, is an opportunity to start piecing things together. Over the coming weeks, camp and preseason will provide a glimpse into where players fit, how Kris Knoblauch and his staff want this team to play, and just how healthy key contributors are heading into 2025-26. It won’t reveal everything — the real tests come in October — but it should start to shape the storylines that will define this season.

Mattias Ekholm’s Health

Mattias Ekholm’s season ended on a sour note with a rough performance in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. He wasn’t the only standout player who struggled, but he was the one who stood out most.

Ekholm returned from a significant injury late in the Oilers’ playoff run and looked fine initially. Unfortunately, as the games became more critical, his performance declined. General manager Stan Bowman said Ekholm was fully healthy, while captain Connor McDavid suggested the defenceman was still playing hurt. Considering his performances, perhaps Bowman should have admitted the injury.

With exhibition games starting this month, we’ll get an early look at how Ekholm has recovered. The competition and minutes will likely be light, but they should still give us an idea of where he’s at physically.

Connor McDavid’s Future

This storyline could trickle into October and beyond, but updates are expected now that Connor McDavid is back in Edmonton.

Recent speculation from reporters suggests the two sides aren’t close to signing an extension yet. However, that’s not because of a lack of interest — full negotiations simply haven’t begun. McDavid has been careful with his words, recently saying he “wants to win in Edmonton,” which should give fans reason for optimism.

CEO Jeff Jackson has been less reserved, essentially saying the Oilers are prepared to pay McDavid whatever he wants. That makes it sound like the decision rests entirely with the captain, who has repeatedly stated he wants to spend his entire career in Edmonton.

Fans will be hoping this saga ends soon so they can stop hearing about it from rival fan bases.

How Ready Is Beau Akey?

Is anyone else curious about Beau Akey? The Oilers’ second-round pick from 2023 spent last season with the Barrie Colts, finishing his junior career with 32 points in 56 games — respectable but not eye-popping numbers.

Recently, Akey made waves with a bold statement: “I want to give my all to try and make the Oilers and prove I can make an NHL roster.” It’s refreshing to see his confidence and high standards.

Making the roster is still a long shot — not because of a lack of talent, but because of how many defencemen are already battling for spots. That said, how long can Akey stick around in camp? Could he push the conversation enough to earn a look in exhibition games? It’s unlikely, but if he impresses, expect the hype around him to grow quickly.