History tells us general managers put a high value on assets personally acquired. So, when we populate the Oilers roster for 2026-27, it’s important to start with the ultimate trio (we’ll call them Nirvana) and then the group of players acquired by Stan Bowman with a good chance to play in the 2026-27 Oilers. I’m including Matt Savoie with Nirvana, because even though Bowman didn’t acquire him,, he is part of the foundation. Let’s call him Pat Smear.
So, we have 67 percent of the forwards, 57 percent of the defense and 50 percent of the goaltending covered. Next we need to add in those men who own full no-movement clauses and are unlikely to move this summer.
Now we have the roster coming together, leaving out Darnell Nurse (now actively in trade rumours) and Mattias Janmark (who may be on the outside this fall). Before we make trades or sign outside free agents, let’s add in two internal UFA’s worth keeping:
With Kapanen and Murpy signed, we are close to the opening night lineup, lacking only a right winger on the soft minutes line, a third-pairing defenseman and a backup goalie. Let’s go ahead and fill in the rest.
Here we see the Oilers land Jordan Kyrou for the third line (he could play higher but I like him crushing the soft parade); Ryan Shea joining the team and giving the third pairing a veteran to rely on (Brett Kulak is also an option, no idea if he would be interested in returning, so I went with Shea). I went with DiPietro as the backup goaltender because he would cost less and the cap relief would be necessary.
Bottom line: If Bowman has full control of the throttle, expect only a few new names on the roster this fall. The loud noises are there (Nurse out, Kyrou in) but the heavy work will come one year from now.
On the Lowdown today, Bagged Milk from Oilers Nation and Lou Korac (who covers the St. Louis Blues for NHL.com) will be our feature guests. Plenty of Oilers and Elks talk, we’ll preview the SCF too. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
That was one nasty hit on Bouchard this morning, jeebus. Take Lindgren’s number for next season.
Usually I’m not for vengeance, but that concussion looked similar to some that have derailed careers.
I find it comical that anyone believes the Oilers will/can trade Darnel Nurse.
This is absolute fantasy.
History has shown that Nurse will not accept a trade, specifically to a team that’s going backwards not forwards.
What happens if you do trade Nurse?
First, you’ll most likely have to retain salary.
Then, you have to find a top 4 Dman to replace him, not an easy thing to do.
In the end, you’re at the same or out of pocket for more than Nurse is currently.
Oilers have better assets to trade than Nurse for far better returns, the Oilers GM’s are passive and cowards.
— I’d be curious what others think Darnell is the gap between what he’s paid and what it should be (a million, 2 million ?)
— 31 years old rarely misses games,
—good for 30-40 points
—logs a lot of minutes
—rarely partnered with a healthy complement D —cash costs of 8mm this year going down to 7 going forward
— a draft and develop part of a core.
— had a down year
— lousy goaltending
— Whatever the repackaged roster looks without him I’m skeptical that getting rid of Nurse net creates significant surplus “war”
— better goaltending, more suitable partner, better coaching systems better use of his strengths and mitigation of his weaknesses
— regardless he isn’t being moved this year
You’re not trading Nurse.
Full Stop.
There seems to be some smoke around both Nurse and Morgan Reilly.
The media has been down on Reilly (like Marner), but I see a guy who still averages 40 points, well above Nurse who had just 24 last year. Reilly has always been the better offensive player and is still relied on to be that team’s best defender. He would be a #3-4 on the Oilers.
A bit older. A bit cheaper. A bit better?
Cheaper and better I have time for. And the buyout is actually manageable too.
The biggest tell to how the summer and future roster building is going to go is Nurse. There is so much going for him to get significant value back – 6’4 great skating D that eats minutes and puts up 30+ EV points are very rare. He gets paid a TON but that literally doesn’t matter if there’s tons of surplus cap out there and not many ways to spend it on July 1. That is the narrative to sell to teams desperate for a top 4 upgrade and want to hold up in the playoffs when teams with smaller D got pushed out.
*by all these arguments, the Oilers should also value him similarly but ideally could trade him for a Kyrou type and pick up a Zellweger to replace him who should be able to grow into a top 4 D.
Bruce Cassidy wants to work.
Last offseason we didn’t hear anything about a Kulak extension so he was on the outs and doubt they have interest in bringing him back
He will want to cash in on this contract, he was underpaid the last few years. I hope he gets the Ceci deal from someone not us
Expectations: Jake Debrusk, and Cossa.
Stan is not gonna be able to get a Kyrou.
Why Debrusk and for what price? Why not Bourque, P Kane, Mikeheyev (PK) or even Roslovic?
hat tip to LT for the Nirvana references!
what are the chances of AIC next?
LT just casually throwing his Nirvana knowledge arount with the Pat Smear reference!
They won’t be able to move Nurse this summer. if it happens, it will happen next year. Last dance for Connor and friends. If no success, then big moves next summer.
This summer is about adding a top 6 winger (i am on the Kyrou train as well) and getting a higher end young goalie (Cossa as well). I like Stauffer’s view of it. because it doesn’t involve them dealing one of Connor’s best friends who also has a full no movement clause in Nurse. If he made $7 million, we would like him. Nurse and Murphy is a solid 2nd pair. He is staying. We need to accept it.
Howard, 2nd this year or our first next year, plus one other prospect (Whatever D they want or whatever non nhl player they want). Does that get Kyrou?? Because getting Kyrou means no Dickason.
So the question is would you rather have:
Kyrou and Nuge as 3C and Jarry and Cossa at G
or
Howard and Dickson as 3C, with Jarry and Ingram at G
No way the Blues move Kyrou for Howard (a B prospect) and a second and the Oilers don’t have a first round pick next year.
If you can move him, then you absolutely move him and improve your team. If you sit around until next year you will most likely be moving Mcdavid
Not sure what you’ve used to acquire Kyrou.
STL has been adamant they want to move up in the draft and the Blues have no need for Nurse with Broberg, Cam Fowler (at $3 million less than Nurse at 2LD) and Theo Lindstein at 3LD.
There’s plenty of speculation that San Jose is willing to entertain the possibility of moving the second overall pick and could do so by acquiring Kyrou, the 11th overall pick and possibly Colton Parayko and Adam Jiricek from the Blues.
That clears about $15 million in cap space for the Blues while San Jose satisfies a dire need for D with Parayko and whomever they draft at #11 as well as adding a dynamic winger to play with Celebrini and allowing Will Smith to slide down to play with Michael Misa.
San Jose can easily accommodate the increased cap hits and would have vastly improved their D with one major swing at the draft.
The Blues, meanwhile, could use the second overall pick to select RD Chase Reid or Keaton Verhoff to serve as a long term solution in their retool to replace Parayko at #1RD.
My buddy is a St. Louis Blues fan and season ticket holder. He says Kyrou will not go to the hard areas. I’m not sure about that but he sees a lot of games in person. If true that won’t help us out come playoff time.
Perhaps a three-way deal would be the solution. For me, Kyrou is a great fit for Edmonton and the Blues are open to dealing him. Sending Nurse to (say) San Jose for young assets and then completing a deal with St. Louis would seem to be in the realm of possible.
That wouldn’t satisfy St. Louis’ desire to move up in the draft nor the Sharks need for RD.
With Dimitri Orlov at 1LD, Nurse would be blocking Sam Dickinson at 2LD.
Under those circumstances the Sharks might just as well hang on to the #2 pick and select the top RD themselves.
Yeah St Lou will want a first plus for Kyrou i think. They got that for Faulk and Schenn and Kyrou is a better asset than both IMO
Lots of speculation the Blues are laser focused on Ivar Stenburg who is deemed to be the most NHL ready player in the draft and would be an immediate replacement for Kyrou with huge upside.
Not coincidentally, the Blues picked his brother Otto with the 25th pick in the 2023 draft. The 20 year old played 32 games for the Blues in the most recent season.
From all the narrative in STL, he is almost the exact same asset as Nurse is. A valuable asset that the team/fans have turned on due to being owed a large chunk of money for a long time and seemingly underperforming their contract. Kyrou was even healthy scratched which never happened to Nurse.
If were viewing Nurse the same way, he should also go for a 1st plus too as a 20+ minute a night huge, great skating D that puts up 30+ EV points a year
While Kyrou had a down year, let’s not forget he has three straight seasons where he scored 30+ goals on a poor Blues team.
How many do you think he would score with Celebrini setting him up?
Kyrou is a heckuva player, I agree.
Nurse over the same time period averaged 9G 27A 36P +13 with 23 minutes played
Looking at stats only, those are also quite good especially when factoring quality of competition and wearing an A
In a bidding situation the Oilers don’t have to move Nurse to fit Kyrou. They could offer Howard and the 28 1st. Then it’s up to what other teams are offering and what the Blues prefer.
Stauffer is carrying the water on his show, as usual. You can’t listen for 5 minutes without him talking about distressed assets and Cossa. Kyrou and Cossa. I would love to see them get another Evander Kane type
And a Vinny Desharnais type
Kane and Desharnais ARE both UFAs this year… Just saying
Kane seems like he burned another bridge based on the tidbits I’ve heard. Not necessarily obliterated but charred to the extent it’s not going to happen. Desharnais would suit me fine if the price is right
Des doesn’t suit the Oilers. Remember how he struggled in playoffs? His style is based on reach, and reaching in was getting him called too much. He’s also not very mobile and Bowman wants a puck moving D in his own words, and what the Cup Hawks had
I think Vinny is a viable, low-cost third pair guy, who has been a stellar PK guy, and was well liked by the team. While I don’t think they need to go hard after any guy to play bottom pairing minutes, I think he’s a good choice for at least during the season, maybe beyond, depending on who the coach will be.
I don’t disagree. Maybe Connor Murphy will fit the bill but only if they actually sign him. I’d like another tree back there for the playoffs
I also would like more size on third pair. But not semi puck optional, has to be able to handle a hard forecheck, most teams will use that against us
Kane isn’t the player he was but I would still have interest. He was dissatisfied with bottom 6 before though and that’s the position he would have with the Oilers, also I’d want a value contract. Doubt there is a fit but if he is still in shape, humble and wants another crack with Oil Country I’d happily have him back.
Desharnais is cool but I wonder why he didn’t stick with other teams. I liked him when he was here plenty and would take a look but we only one 7D slot and Emberson is our 3RD, would we move out Statsney to take Desharnais? Doubtful. If he’s going to the Bake as a call up, sure great.
Kesselring is probably available. I’d like another opportunity with him.
Looks like Evan Bouchard may have been badly concussed on a hit to the head by Ryan Lindgren in the World’s. Hope he’s ok.
Yeah it was predatory and Bouch was out cold briefly. Glad he has the entire summer to recover now at least.
Oh dear. Best vibes from us to Evan.
Jeez, this is awful. Wish the best and doesn’t become more susceptible to concussions later on
The main concern with concussions is basically not getting multiple in short succession, allowing each to fully recover, so him having the whole summer ahead bodes very well for his recovery going forward.
Bouch and the Dul have to start taking self protection more seriously. There are things that happen, and there is knowing who is on the ice and not getting in a position to get hurt, turning off hits. It’s typical for top players to do that so they can keep playing, as in always
Bouchard is actually very good at avoiding hits.
He is, but this is significant injury 2 in a couple of months. Bouch isn’t alone, but teams and or players go after the talent. Makar was affected again. For me rolling the dice that they can stay healthy is too reliant on luck. I would being trying to mitigate somehow
Ideally he doesn’t play at the Worlds. I thought it unusual that so many Oilers went over, this is a team running on fumes, at least at the Bouchard/Nurse end.
I didn’t think it was unusual. With the exception of Samanski, none of the players were chosen for the Olympics, so a chance to compete for country. Also, perhaps a way to wash out the bad taste of how the season ended? And for Bouchard, the bad taste of the Norris miss —and to show his stuff away from McD.
I would have thought Worlds a safe place to play; sad for Bouch that he got hurt. Head injuries are strange, and profound, especially for cerebral athletes, like him. This is, literally, about unplugging the controller. May his summer be gentle, and his fall, too.