As we enter the month of September, that means that autumn is not far off and of course -- the National Hockey League (NHL) season is right around the corner. The Edmonton Oilers open their 2025-26 season just over a month away on October 8 at home in a classic Battle of Alberta showdown.
The season is right around the corner which means that we are officially nearing the end of the off-season, which has been quite a flop overall. We were promised offersheets galore and big trades and got basically none of it, instead there was a very weak trade market that was expected to be bustling.
However, the rumour mill has continued spinning and spinning and there is plenty of Oilers rumours and speculation right now. This is especially true with the recent McDavid media availability where he spoke on his looming contract extension.
Zach Hyman may miss time
When an NHL player misses time in the playoffs, especially the Stanley Cup Finals, you know there is a serious issue. That is why when the Oilers top line winger and former 50-goal scorer Zach Hyman sat out the entire seven game series, there was clear worries about how and if he would start the season.
Sitting down for an interview with NHL.com, Hyman definitely left the possibility of him starting the year up in the air saying "Will I be ready for the start of the season? I don't know. But I'm on the right track, which is good." Although not the most definitive answer, there are over five weeks until the Oilers start their regular season, which leaves plenty of time for things to change.
It is better to play it safe at this rate than possibly drum up concern if he were to sit out to start the year. At any rate, it is a little too early to tell one way or another so we will have to wait and see.
McDavid extension and bogus trade rumours
McDavid did a media availability to end off the Hockey Canada 2025 Team orientation camp ahead of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. He was immediately asked about what was on everyone's mind; his contract extension. This caused quite the stir as he gave a few non-answers, mainly stating that he would take his time. However, he did reassure Oilers fans saying "I have every intention to win in Edmonton".
The timeline has always been a largely speculated topic and the recent answers have caused prominent hockey rumour stirrers -- the 2 Mutts Hockey Podcast -- has had to walk back their strong claims that the McDavid deal will be done within the next week. This is because NHL insider John Shannon has claimed that the McDavid contract will not be signed by the start of the season.
All of this speculation has caused people to start playing armchair GM and come up with mock trades. At this point, there has been no credible evidence to suggest that the Oilers are looking to trade McDavid and until he refuses to come back, I do not think it would make sense for the team to entertain this at all. He is the best player in the league, he is a generational talent and 99/100 times, teams lose those trades.
Again, at this stage there has been no serious reporting that McDavid is being shopped by the Oilers, the trade speculation and rumours are all fake.
Oilers could still trade for a goalie?
Oilers media personality, Jason Gregor recently said on his DFO Rundown show "I'll be surprised if after the trade deadline...the same two goalies are in Edmonton”. This hints at a possibility of real information but the most likely scenario is that this is speculation on the part of Gregor.
Although, due to McDavid's noncommittal comments and refusing to say whether or not he approves of the roster shakeup that general manager Stan Bowman has done, this has pushed the goaltender conversation over the edge once again. The latest goalie that everybody is connecting the team to is Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins.
Just like with the McDavid trade discussion, there is a lot of speculation with very little actual reporting done on the topic. The best guess at this stage is that the Oilers are going to wait into the season and see how things play out and as Gregor said, may end up having to make a move at the deadline.
The Colorado Avalanche last year had to do a full makeover between the pipes but hopefully the Oilers are not forced to and that their goaltenders can at least keep their level of play. Either way, we will get the answer to whether or not the Oilers dropped the ball by not addressing their goaltending.