The Oilers Are Stuck In A Cycle Self-Correction
It’s no secret that the Edmonton Oilers are in win-now mode, and that mode has shifted to pure desperation as they enter the final two years of superstar captain Connor McDavid’s current contract. It’s completely understandable that the Oilers have spent years sacrificing future assets to win now, given the window they are in with the best player in the world on their roster. However, that desperation to win now has led Oilers management to make aggressive moves, many of which have been disasters. Their desperation has often forced them into awful trades or signings, sometimes to undo ill-advised moves or simply because they thought they had to fix a roster hole. This line of thinking has painted the Oilers into the corner they currently find themselves in, out of the playoffs in the first round, with an unhappy superstar and a fanbase left shaking their heads.
Edmonton has repeatedly paid a premium to plug holes in the lineup or to undo prior mistakes in player acquisition. This has been especially true for the Oilers’ depth, defensive reliability, and secondary scoring, where they’ve either ignored the problem or acquired players who created a hole. From the outside, it feels as though Edmonton is constantly chasing fixes, reacting to structural roster issues rather than building a roster with any semblance of a long-term plan. As mentioned, the Oilers sacrificed future assets to win now, but they’ve also repeatedly spent additional assets to fix the holes their prior aggressive moves often created. This type of thinking is often called the sunk cost fallacy, in which someone doubles down on a bad decision because too much has already been invested.
There are few better examples of Edmonton’s reactionary thinking than the Jason Dickinson trade with the Chicago Blackhawks prior to this year’s NHL Trade Deadline. The Oilers released a video of the team’s management group discussing the potential trade for Dickinson. Although the clips were just 2 minutes, they painted a picture of a management group with a relatively shallow, short-sighted understanding of the trade they were trying to make. Effectively, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman was trying to plug a hole on his roster that he thought he’d filled at last year’s trade deadline with the trade for Trent Frederic, only to see Frederic implode this season after signing an eight-year extension last summer. Simply put, the trade felt like damage control stemming from previous poor decisions with Frederic and the free-agent signing of Andrew Mangiapane, who was included in the Dickinson trade as a salary dump after a poor showing in Edmonton.
Mangiapane is a clear example of Edmonton’s mismanagement and inability to find the right pieces for the right roles. Signed to a two-year, $7.2MM deal, the Oilers hoped that playing alongside their skilled players would reignite the offensive side of Mangiapane’s game; however, that did not happen, and he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks less than one year into the deal.
As good an example as Mangiapane is, there is no better example than goaltender Tristan Jarry. Jarry was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in December, when the Oilers were in desperate need of better goaltending. The trade came less than three months after Bowman had stated that he “Liked where Stuart Skinner’s game was.” Bowman’s comments came on the heels of a summer with no movement in the Oilers’ crease, despite it being a clear area of weakness.
Skinner began the season with the Oilers, going 11-8-4 with an .891 SV% and a 2.83 GAA. At the time of the trade, Skinner was ranked 32nd in Goals Saved Above Expected, while Jarry was 22nd. Edmonton hoped that moving Skinner for Jarry would be a massive upgrade and even included defenseman Brett Kulak and a second-round pick.
The trade was a colossal disaster for the Oilers, as Jarry reverted to his recent form, going 9-6-2 in 19 games with Edmonton, posting an .857 SV% and a 3.86 GAA. Jarry wasn’t just bad in Edmonton; he was among the worst netminders in the league after the trade.
Had Edmonton management simply addressed the issue last summer, they likely would have avoided a trade for Jarry, which will have repercussions for years, as Jarry has two years left on his contract, a deal that is effectively buyout-proof.
The Oilers’ asset recycling continued with the Jarry trade and has become an alarming trend for a team that is shutting its own contention window with each passing season. The Oilers had a clear need to upgrade their roster construction last summer, particularly their goaltending and defense. Instead, they prioritized adding toughness, veterans, and depth scoring, and the results this past season speak for themselves.
The team clearly (and correctly) has a mandate to win now because of the presence of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but that urgency has distorted management’s decision-making, prompting panic move after panic move in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. Management often overvalues urgency and undervalues patience, particularly in player development and salary-cap management.
A persistent narrative in Oilers fandom is that the team is one piece away, but for a team that constantly patches holes mid-season, that logic seems flawed and generally indicates poor organizational planning. You could certainly point to trades and moves in a vacuum and say they worked, but when you zoom out and look at the broader picture, a pattern starts to emerge.
The pattern is that the Oilers have rarely built forward and have spent most of the McDavid/Draisaitl era trying to escape the consequences of their past bets. If the Oilers want to finally bring a Stanley Cup back to Northern Alberta, some hard conversations need to be had among management to break this cycle.
Dallas Stars Issue Several Injury Updates
There’s no question that the Dallas Stars were severely impacted by injuries throughout the 2025-26 season. The Stars had the fourth-most injuries of any team this season, behind the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and New York Islanders. In today’s end-of-season media availability, the General Manager Jim Nill revealed a laundry list (via Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News) of specific injury information the Stars dealt with throughout the regular season and postseason.
Nill disclosed new injuries or details regarding 18 players on the roster, from the preseason to the present. Some injuries were already known, such as Tyler Seguin‘s ACL tear, Jamie Benn‘s collapsed lung, and Miro Heiskanen‘s torn oblique, but several others were also mentioned.
The biggest news is that star forward Mikko Rantanen suffered a torn MCL in the Olympics. Missing more than a month of action, Rantanen dropped from a 1.27 P/G average before the international tournament to a 0.80 upon his return. His point production went up mildly during the playoffs, but it was clear that Rantanen wasn’t his usual self.
Nill admitted that Rantanen came back as quickly as he could, which likely hurt his recovery process. Fortunately, the Stars aren’t expecting that he’ll need surgery this summer.
Both players that Dallas acquired at the trade deadline were also dealing with injuries. Nill alerted that both Michael Bunting and Tyler Myers were dealing with groin injuries in the regular season. That could be a key reason as to why neither player transitioned well to the team after being acquired by the Stars.
He also offered injury updates on those on the team who suffered longer-term injuries throughout the 2025-26 campaign. Matt Duchene was dealing with a concussion earlier in the season that cost him most of October and all of November.
Roope Hintz, who became ill at the Olympics, suffered a double hamstring tear in his first game back on March 6th. Unfortunately, as he was attempting to make another comeback, Hintz reaggravated the same injury. In a similar vein, Radek Faksa, who was also injured in the Olympics, apparently suffered a concussion. Additionally, while he was recovering from concussion symptoms, Faksa was stepped on by a skate and had a serious laceration in his foot that cut some ligaments. There’s a chance he’ll need surgery again this offseason.
Further down the forward corps, Nill shared that Oskar Back lost 10 games in October due to a wrist injury, Nathan Bastian broke his finger toward the end of the regular season, Adam Erne sprained his MCL in December, Arttu Hyry suffered a high ankle sprain in the playoffs, and Sam Steel endured a groin injury during the regular season.
On defense, the most notable news was the injury specifics to Thomas Harley and Lian Bichsel earlier in the season. According to Nill, Bichsel fractured his leg and ankle in late November, costing him nearly a third of the regular season. Nill added that Bichsel suffered a shoulder sprain in the playoffs, but that isn’t expected to have any long-term consequences.
Meanwhile, Harley, who lost 12 games of the regular season, suffered a broken foot in November. Nils Lundkvist, who hasn’t played since getting a facial laceration against the Minnesota Wild, was also suffering from concussion symptoms from the same play. Additionally, Nill shared that Lundkvist fractured his leg and ankle earlier in the year, costing him 30 games. Lastly, Nill told the media that depth defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin had a shoulder injury throughout the regular season.
Dallas has reached a point where losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in overtime is considered a disappointing year. Still, given the overwhelming amount of injuries the same faced during the regular season and playoffs, it’s impressive that the Stars managed to win 50 games this season and finish third in the league standings. They’ll want to emphasize rest and recovery for their players this offseason and look to get back for the 2026-27 campaign as a healthy group.
Photo courtesy of Perry Nelson-Imagn Images.
Utah Mammoth Sign Borikov to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract
The Utah Mammoth have signed forward Yegor Borikov to a three‑year entry‑level contract, the team announced today. The deal begins in 2026–27, bringing the 2025 fourth‑round pick officially into the organization after a strong season overseas.
Borikov, 20, is coming off his most productive year in the KHL, recording 16 goals and 14 assists for 30 points in 59 games with Dinamo Minsk. All three totals marked new career highs. He also finished among the team’s leaders in several categories, including four game‑winning goals and 78 hits, the latter ranking second on the roster. In the Gagarin Cup Playoffs, he added two goals in seven games before joining Metallurg Zhlobin on loan for the Belarusian Extraleague postseason. There, he posted eight points in four games, helping the club capture another league title.
Across 167 career KHL games, Borikov has produced 63 points (33G–30A) with a +24 rating. In the postseason, Borikov has totaled nine goals and 10 points in 18 games, including a standout 2025 postseason in which his seven goals tied Evgeny Kuznetsov’s record for the most scored in a single KHL playoff run by a player age 20 or younger.
Before turning pro, the Zhlobin native developed through the Belarusian junior system, including a 24‑point season with Dinamo‑Shinnik Bobruysk in the MHL and multiple championship runs with Metallurg Zhlobin.
Borikov was selected 110th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Rasmus Dahlin, Cale Makar, Zach Werenski Named Norris Trophy Finalists
As part of revealing the finalists for major league awards, the NHL announced the Norris Trophy finalists today. According to a league announcement, Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets are the three finalists to be named the “defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position.”
Although he’s earned multiple votes over the last three years, this is the first time that Dahlin, 26, has been named a finalist for the Norris Trophy. Throughout the first four years of his career, there were several questions regarding Dahlin, particularly if he was the top defenseman that the Sabres believed he would be when they drafted him.
Over the last four years, he has proven he is everything Buffalo hoped he would be, if not more. Since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign, Dahlin has scored 71 goals and 274 points in 379 games, topping out with a 19-goal, 74-point performance this season. Additionally, he’s averaged nearly 25 minutes a night over that stretch, showing he can play in every situation comfortably. He’s physical, he blocks shots, he puts a ton of them on net, and he has captained the Sabres to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.
Unlike Dahlin, Makar’s name has become synonymous with the Norris Trophy throughout his career. Throughout his career, Makar has been a finalist for the Norris Trophy six times, winning the award twice. Even when he wasn’t a finalist during his rookie campaign, he still finished top-10 in voting.
Still, it’s fair to argue that Makar took a step back offensively this season. After posting back-to-back 90-point campaigns in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, Makar dropped back to 20 goals and 79 points this season. Regardless, he sustained more than a point per game on average, blocked over 100 shots, finished with a +32 rating, and was the top defenseman on the top team in the league.
Meanwhile, Werenski finished as a Norris Trophy finalist for the second year in a row, at the very least. The Gross Pointe, MI native finished 22 goals and 81 points in 75 games, averaging over 26 minutes of ice time per night. Although he doesn’t block as many shots as Dahlin or Makar, and didn’t have a double-digit rating, Weresnki played in every situation and led the Blue Jackets in scoring by a 14-point margin, which is extremely uncommon for a defenseman.
Unfortunately, given that each of the finalists’ all-around game, it’s a toss-up who will ultimately come away with the award this season.
Although it’s difficult to argue either Dahlin, Makar, or Werenski out of being a finalist, there are a few other defensemen who easily could have found their way into the top three. Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers, who finished as the highest-scoring defenseman this season with 21 goals and 95 points in 82 games, has a case, as does Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens, who finished with 12 goals and 78 points in 82 games, with a +36 rating.
Capitals Sign Sikora To Three-Year Entry-Level Contract
The Washington Capitals have signed forward Petr Sikora to a three‑year entry‑level contract, the team announced today. The deal carries an average annual value of $995K and brings one of the organization’s more productive young prospects officially into the system.
Sikora, 20, was selected by Washington in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft and has spent the last several seasons developing within HC Oceláři Třinec’s structure in Czechia. He appeared in 24 Extraliga games this season, recording nine points (3G–6A) while leading all Třinec skaters under-25 in assists and points. Sikora added another two points in 10 playoff games and also produced six points in a brief four‑game stint with HC Frýdek‑Místek in Czechia’s second division.
His production has steadily climbed over the past three years. Sikora posted 15 points in 34 Extraliga games in 2024–25 and added four points in six playoff contests. At the junior level, he was a standout for Třinec’s U‑20 team, recording 40 points (13G–27A) in 30 games during the 2023-24 season and helping lead the club to a league championship.
Across 80 career Extraliga games, Sikora has totaled 27 points (11G–16A).
Internationally, Sikora has represented Czechia at back‑to‑back IIHF World Junior Championships, earning silver in 2026 and bronze in 2025. He captained the 2026 squad and finished the tournament with nine points in seven games, ranking among the event’s leaders in assists and plus‑minus. At the 2025 tournament, he posted seven points in seven games and was named one of Czechia’s top three players.
Sikora is expected to join Washington’s development pipeline next season, with the organization likely evaluating whether he begins his North American career in the AHL.
Penguins Sign Ilya Solovyov To One-Year Extension
The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Ilya Solovyov to a one‑year contract extension carrying a cap hit of $850K for the 2026–27 season. The deal keeps the 25‑year‑old in the organization for another year after he split the 2025–26 campaign between the Colorado Avalanche and the Penguins.
Solovyov appeared in 30 NHL games this season, the most of his young career. He opened the year with the Avalanche, recording three points (1G–2A) in 16 games before being acquired by Pittsburgh, where he added five assists in 14 contests while averaging 14:06 ATOI.
The extension comes after Solovyov set career highs across the board in games played (30), goals (1), assists (7), and points (8). He also made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, appearing in three postseason games for Pittsburgh and giving the coaching staff a first look at how his game translates in higher‑leverage situations.
Originally drafted by Calgary in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Solovyov has taken a gradual development path through the AHL. He has logged 232 career AHL games with the Calgary Wranglers and Colorado Eagles, producing 69 points (18G–51A) and establishing himself as a reliable, physical defender capable of handling heavy minutes. He has also appeared in 22 Calder Cup Playoff games, adding four points.
Before arriving in North America, Solovyov spent the 2020–21 season in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk, posting nine points in 41 games.
For Pittsburgh, the extension provides organizational stability and a cost‑effective depth option as the club continues to reshape its blue line. Solovyov’s size (6‑foot‑3, 208 pounds), defensive play, and ability to play either at the NHL level or anchor minutes in the AHL make him a useful, cost-effective piece for a team that relied heavily on call‑ups throughout the 2025–26 season.
Penguins Sign Connor Dewar To Two-Year Extension
The Pittsburgh Penguins are getting a head start on returning some of their depth players from this past season. According to a team announcement, the Penguins have signed forward Connor Dewar to a two-year, $4.5MM ($2.25MM AAV) extension.
There’s little argument that he doesn’t deserve the raise. Pittsburgh acquired Dewar from the Toronto Maple Leafs at last year’s deadline, and the team signed him to a one-year, $1.1MM contract last summer.
He took that opportunity and ran with it. Much like the rest of his peers, Dewar played a role in the Penguins’ rejuvination this season, finishing with the best individual performance of his career. In 78 games, Dewar scored 14 goals and 30 points with a +16 rating, averaging just under 14 minutes of ice time per game.
The closest he had ever come to that production was during the 2023-24 season with the Minnesota Wild and the Maple Leafs. In 74 games that season, Dewar tallied 11 goals and 19 points in 74 contests, though much of that production came in Minnesota. Typically in a bottom-six role throughout his career, Dewar proved that he could be a key tertiary contributor in a middle-six role this season.
Despite being eliminated by their intra-state rivals in Round One of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, Dewar kept up his solid play in the postseason. In six games, the Manitoba native scored two goals with 19 hits, averaging 13:49 of ice time.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Penguins can afford Dewar similar ice time next season. Pittsburgh already has 10 forwards signed through the 2026-27 campaign, and will likely attempt to promote more prospects to the NHL for a further injection of youth. The Penguins need to focus on reducing the number of bubble forwards on their roster. However, it’s already evident that they are pleased to keep players like Dewar, who displays a strong work ethic and can make valuable contributions to the lower lines of the forward group.
Washington Capitals Sign Theodor Niederbach
According to a team announcement, the Washington Capitals have signed forward prospect Theodor Niederbach to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season. Washington shared that Niederbach will be paid a $1.025MM salary in the NHL and an $85K salary in the AHL.
Niederbach, 24, was drafted 51st overall in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. He was generally regarded as a solid playmaking prospect at the time, recording 15 goals and 48 points in 40 games with the J20 SuperElit’s Frölunda HC’s program.
Since then, it’s been all SHL for the Bjästa, Sweden native. Bouncing between Frölunda, Rögle BK, and MoDo Hockey. It was during his second year with MoDo during the 2024-25 campaign that Niedberbach broke out as a prominent two-way center overseas, scoring 10 goals and 33 points in 51 games with a +5 rating. After MoDo was relegated to the HockeyAllsvenskan, Niederbach returned to Frölunda on a two-year deal that included an NHL opt-out clause.
It was much of the same for him this past season. He finished the 2025-26 campaign with 13 goals and 32 points in 52 games with a +10 rating. Given his back-to-back quality seasons in the SHL, relative youth, and the fact that the Red Wings let his signing rights expire two summers ago, Niederbach became a relatively prominent name on the international market. In late February, although the Boston Bruins were specifically mentioned, reports indicated that nearly half of the NHL teams had contacted Niederbach.
For his development, the Capitals organization is one of the best. Washington has a pair of bottom-six forwards that are scheduled for unrestricted free agency this offseason, giving Niederbach a path if he can earn a spot on the roster through training camp. Even if he doesn’t make the opening night roster, the AHL’s Hershey Bears are competitive nearly every season and will provide Niederbach with a great chance to transition to professional hockey in North America.
Latest On Darren Raddysh’s Pending Free Agency
The Tampa Bay Lightning appear to have found another internal success story on their blue line, as defenseman Darren Raddysh has played his way into a far more prominent role within the organization. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the NHL Insider noted reported that Tampa Bay now views Raddysh as a “key part” of its power play and a long‑term piece of its defensive group, which has become a notable shift for a player who entered the league as a depth option.
Raddysh’s rise comes after a breakout 22-goal, 70‑point season, one that has given the Lightning a much‑needed boost as their veteran core continues to age. His ability to move pucks efficiently and run the top power‑play unit has added an element that the team has lacked since the departure of several key contributors in recent years. Head coach Jon Cooper has leaned heavily on Raddysh’s poise and distribution, and the results have pushed him from a secondary option into a central role.
The timing is also significant from a roster‑building standpoint. Raddysh played the season on one of the league’s most affordable contracts at a meager $975k, but that situation won’t last long. If Tampa Bay intends to keep him, he is in line for a substantial raise. Friedman’s report suggests the Lightning are well aware of that reality and may look to secure an extension.
Tampa Bay is projected to have just over $14 million in cap space entering the 2026-27 offseason, but that number shrinks quickly once roster spots and other pending decisions are factored in. Any new deal for Raddysh would need to fit within a tight structure, particularly with the Lightning still trying to maintain a competitive window.
Even so, locking in a productive right‑shot defenseman with power‑play utility would address one of the organization’s most pressing long‑term needs. Raddysh’s single-season emergence gives Tampa Bay a cost‑controlled contributor in the short term and a potential fixture on the back end as the roster transitions in the coming years.
Morning Notes: Hedman, Rutherford, Owen Sound
A few days ago, it was announced that the captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Victor Hedman, had taken a leave of absence from the team for mental health reasons. Taking the absence on March 25th, Hedman missed Tampa Bay’s last 15 games of the regular season, and their Round One series loss against the Montreal Canadiens.
From a team perspective, it’s a bind in all honesty, as you’re stuck between wanting the best for the player and their long-term health, while also recognizing that your team is better when Hedman is on the ice. Furthermore, there’s no set timeline for how long it takes a player to recover, unlike more objective injuries.
Still, Hedman shared that he’s feeling much better, and there’s not much concern that he won’t begin the 2026-27 season on time. In fact, speaking on 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicated that there’s a “1000% chance” that Hedman plays next year. Given that there’s a distinct possibility that the Lightning lose defenseman Darren Raddysh in free agency this summer, having Hedman back for the whole year will make that pill go down much easier.
Additional morning notes:
- Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford provided more context behind his decision to step down from his role at the head of Vancouver’s front office. In an interview with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre, Rutherford said, “It was time for me before the season even started; I was trending in that direction. But I think we can put something together here in our hockey department that I can feel good about when I step down.“
- According to Greg Cowan of the Owen Sound Sun Times, the OHL’s Board of Governors is preparing to meet to finalize the sale of the Owen Sound Attack. Cowan indicated that an official announcement of the sale is expected in the next few days and that the new ownership group plans to hire a relatively young player agent to lead the hockey operations department.