The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2024-25 season with one goal in mind: to hoist the Stanley Cup after falling just short last season. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, two of the most dominant offensive forces in the NHL, leading the way, the Oilers are in a prime position to challenge for the Cup once again. Both McDavid and Draisaitl are in the peak of their careers, capable of taking over games on any given night. Their dynamic play gives the Oilers an edge against most opponents, making them one of the most feared teams in the league. However, as electrifying as their top talent is, Edmonton’s road to the Stanley Cup requires more than just relying on its star duo.
To win a championship, depth matters. In today’s NHL, successful teams boast not just elite scorers but also strong defensive units, reliable goaltending, and a supporting cast that can step up in key moments. For the Oilers, surrounding McDavid and Draisaitl with the right supporting players is essential to turning their playoff hopes into reality. However, this is where Edmonton finds itself in a challenging position. Despite their high-flying offense, the Oilers have struggled in recent years to build a balanced roster capable of withstanding the grind of a full NHL season and a deep playoff run. And one of the primary reasons for this difficulty lies in the team's salary cap situation.
In the salary cap era, every dollar counts. Teams must be strategic in allocating their resources, ensuring that they get the most value out of each contract. Unfortunately for the Oilers, they are saddled with several large contracts that are limiting their flexibility and preventing the team from fully addressing key areas of need. Some of these contracts were signed with high expectations, reflecting the belief that the player would continue to perform at an elite level for years to come. However, as often happens in sports, injuries, inconsistent play, or simply aging have led to a decline in the value of these deals. The result is that Edmonton now finds itself up against the salary cap, with less room to make necessary improvements to its roster. (Editor's note: As per PuckPedia, at the time of writing the Oilers have just $945,833 of cap space for the upcoming regular season.)
For the Oilers, this season represents both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity is clear: McDavid and Draisaitl are in their prime, and the window to win a championship is wide open. However, the challenge lies in overcoming the obstacles presented by the salary cap. Edmonton’s ability to navigate this cap crunch while still fielding a competitive, well-rounded team will be the key to their success. If they can find a way to make these contracts work for them, or at least minimize the damage they cause, the Oilers could be in position to finally bring the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton. If not, they risk squandering the best years of their two superstars, and that would be a missed opportunity no one in Oil Country wants to see.