3 major changes Edmonton Oilers need to make for 2024-25 NHL season, including finding a new GM

By Cole Shelton

Modified Jun 27, 2024 04:47 GMT

The Edmonton Oilers lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers on Monday. It was a heartbreaking result for Edmonton who had rallied to win three straight games to force a Game 7.

Unfortunately for the Oilers, they came up short, losing 2-1 to give away the series. Entering the offseason, Edmonton has plenty of questions to ask about its roster and its front office.

3 major changes Edmonton Oilers need to make

#1. Finding a new GM

Ken Holland has been the Oilers' general manager since 2019, but his contract is up at the end of the year.

There have been reports that Holland may look to go elsewhere or potentially retire. Regardless, the Oilers should make a change in general manager.

Although Holland helped build a team that made it to the Stanley Cup, he has signed plenty of players to questionable contracts, including Jack Campbell and Darnell Nurse. Edmonton needs to find a GM to get out of cap hell and round out the depth.

#2. Trade Darnell Nurse if possible

Darnell Nurse is signed until 2030

Darnell Nurse is a solid NHL defenseman, but Ken Holland overpaid for him. Nurse signed an eight-year contract extension on Aug. 6, 2021, which pays him $9.25 million per season through the 2029-30 season.

Nurse is not worth $9.25 million, and with Edmonton needing to create cap space to give Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid extensions soon, trading Nurse makes sense. However, Nurse has a no-movement clause, meaning he cannot be traded, assigned to minors or waived without his permission.

Edmonton also has Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm and Philip Broberg as solid defensemen, so it is a position of strength for the Oilers who could deal Nurse for some depth forwards.

#3. Get younger in the bottom six

The Edmonton Oilers are set to have seven unrestricted free-agent forwards and one RFA come July 1, and the team should let most of them walk.

Six of the seven UFA forwards are above 30, and the Oilers need to get faster and younger at the bottom of their lineup. The likes of Corey Perry, Sam Gagner, Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick should all be gone.

Edmonton should look to promote some of its prospects who will be cost-effective or sign younger players who can add some more skill and speed to the bottom of the lineup.