Edmonton is going need more oomph from its forwards to keep winning in the playoffs, more speed, more aggression, more size, more tactical cunning.
The Oilers lack the cap space to bring in all those necessary ingredients, and team management has got some making up to do that regard, having made two terrible roster moves last summer, failing to lock up power forward Dylan Holloway and essentially choosing to bring in Viktor Arvidsson rather than retain Warren Foegele.
If Holloway and Foegele were now on Edmonton’s roster, the Oilers would be sitting pretty.
But not to be.
New GM Stan Bowman made up for the loss of those two key pieces somewhat with the addition of young, big and aggressive Vasily Podkolzin. He may or may not have another such piece in Kasperi Kapanen, depending on whether or not Kapanen can consistently bring the hitting, pace and sound enough defensive play he showed off in a handful of playoff games. Trent Frederic may also help fill the void, even as his playoff performance was marred by injury and marked by ineffective play. New signing Curtis Lazar may also help here.
But there’s one roster move that Bowman can make — that in retrospect should have been made and stuck with half-way through last season — where the Oilers can add, then add again, by subtracting one player and his contract and replacing him with another.
roster
Subtract Mattias Janmark
Janmark, 32, has been a useful Edmonton Oilers player for three seasons. He was a killer in the 2024 playoffs, excellent in the Final against Florida, brilliant on the penalty kill and plenty fast and aggressive at even strength. He was so good then he earned a new three year contract at $1.45 million per season.
He also used to be Edmonton’s best defensive winger, but no more. In each of the last three seasons, his defensive play has dropped off, going from great to good to just OK.
And just OK isn’t enough for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, not for a player who brings so little offensive thrust as Janmark. He scored 10 goals three years ago, four goals two years ago and just two goals this past season. It’s time to move on. In fact it was time to move on half-way through last season. Janmark’s play dropped through the season and the Oilers had a more than adequate replacement.
philp
Add Noah Philp
Philp, who will be 27 in August, is ready for NHL fourth line duty. He’s big, strong, with a hard shot and decent puck protection and skating skills. He’s sound defensively and can make plays.
Philp played 15 games in Edmonton last winter and had just two assists.
But if you dug into his game you’d notice he helped create a good rate of Grade A shots and made few mistakes leading to Grade A shots against. He was ready to step up into a bigger role, but the Oilers weren’t yet ready to move on, not when Janmark had played so well in the 2024 playoffs, and not when their was still hope Janmark might replicate that high level of play.
I get the calculation of the Oilers coaches last season. I get their hope when it comes to Janmark in the 2025 playoffs. But having seen Janmark fail to meet the mark in the 2025 playoffs, hope should no longer be the strategy.
Instead, Edmonton should work to move out Janmark, opening the door for Philp.
Add cap space
There’s an additional and massive benefit from moving on from Janmark to Philp, the addition of cap space.
Janmarks makes $1.45 million per year for the next two seasons, while Philp makes just $775,000, the NHL minimum. If the Oilers can find a buyer for Janmark now, and if they go with Philp over him, they will get $675,000 in cap space, money they can accrue and use at the trade deadline to bring in a goalie, or whatever need is most pressing in that moment.
Can Edmonton find a buyer for Janmark? Why not? He’s a solid veteran with Stanley Cup experience who can help kill penalties. He can provide leadership and defensive play for weaker team in need of such things.
GrA major wingers Oilers 2024-25
At the Cult of Hockey
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