The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the NHL’s best teams since the coaching change back in November, and it shows in their record since Kris Knoblauch took over. Edmonton has been so good that they lead the league in points since November 12th, and they have also been one of the league’s highest-scoring teams with 207 goals, good for roughly 3.8 per game.
Their plus-68 goal differential is also the best in the league as of March 22nd, and they also boast a top-five power play unit that has converted 27.3 percent of its opportunities since mid-November.
The Oilers know they have one of the better chances to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup Final this year, so it’s no surprise that they brought in a respectable haul at the trade deadline earlier this month. And there is a good chance they look to make some serious moves during the offseason to make another run for the Cup, or ideally, to win another Cup.
Oilers have a few prospects who could become role players in 2024-25
The Oilers are in a prime position to be annual contenders for the foreseeable future, so it would be smart for general manager Ken Holland to do all he can to field a winner.
But another reason Edmonton could be active in the free agent market this offseason stems from the fact they will have a lot of pending unrestricted free agents. Some players, like Warren Foegele, should stick around. Others, like recent trade acquisitions Adam Henrique, Sam Carrick, and Troy Stecher, could be another story.
While Holland could sign some talent in free agency, he would also be wise to look to his prospects pool and realize there are a few players worth giving an extended look next season. That said, he would do well not to block their path into a full-time, or at least a part-time role with the big club.