Oilers GM makes eye-opening admission on roster changes after second straight Stanley Cup heartbreak

Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman made a stunning revelation as he said changes will be forthcoming this offseason.

During the end-of-season assessment conducted by Bowman and coach Kris Knoblauch, Bowman made it clear that the Oilers will look different next season.

Bowman stated:

“We're not going to bring the same group back. How many is tough to say right now… so that work will play out over the next 10 days, to find out what other teams are looking to do, what players we want to change out.”

The comments point toward changes driven by free agency and salary cap constraints. The Oilers have four UFA forwards, one UFA defenseman and one big-ticket RFA, Evan Bouchard, on the board.

But if fans are worried about a scorched-earth approach, they can rest assured there won’t be a roster overhaul.

Bowman added on the matter:

“We're not going to have nine or 10 new players, but I do think we are going to have some changes.”

The changes in question will be aimed at providing the team with enough depth to make a third straight Stanley Cup run next season.

Looking at positional changes for Edmonton Oilers next season

Questions surround Skinner's continuity in Edmonton next season - Source: Imagn

Bowman indicated which areas are likely to undergo the most changes. He began by addressing the club’s forward situation:

“I think up front, we need some, some different players, you know, and we're going to look at we're going to look at everything.”

The Oilers’ bottom six could look significantly different next season. Jeff Skinner, Connor Brown, Kasperi Kapanen and Corey Perry are UFAs. That means the team could have as many as four to five new forwards next season to round out the lineup.

Daily Faceoff shows holes at right wing on the second line, fourth-line center and fourth-line left wing, assuming players like Viktor Arvidsson and Mattias Janmark hold onto their roster spots.

Bowman also stated there would be changes in goal. He said:

“So, we'll have to look at, probably more likely, the forwards and the goalies are the ones we're going to evaluate the most."

While not explicitly stating that Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard will leave, the team will be looking to find a replacement for one or both. Skinner and Pickard are entering the final year of their respective deals.

Check out Bowman’s comments from the 5:50 mark onward:

As such, it would seem evident that the Oilers will be in the market for at least one new goaltender this summer.

About the author

Nestor is an NHL and MLB writer at Sportskeeda with over 10 years of experience. Growing up in Toronto, he became an avid Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, but also admires the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Dodgers for their dominance in the 80s. Holding an Economics and Education major, Nestor’s passion for writing and sporting events led him to take up reporting about the sport professionally.

Nestor credits the Leafs’ playoff runs in the early '90s as having a lasting impact on him. His favorite players are Doug Gilmour and Mike Bossy, as he feels they were tough, talented leaders, while Pat Burns is his favorite coach of all time for always preaching a fast-paced game.

Growing up in Canada, it was natural for Nestor to become interested in ice hockey and he played Minor Hockey as a teenager, which has given him a unique perspective on the sport. Nestor has mastered the art of how to best present facts and he also has a knack for knowing which sources can be trusted, and which can't for stories.

When he is not writing about Canada’s national passion, Nestor enjoys running and hiking.

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Edited by Nestor Quixtan

Oilers GM makes eye-opening admission on roster changes after second straight Stanley Cup heartbreak - "Not going to bring same group back"

Looking at positional changes for Edmonton Oilers next season