Will this be the Summer of Stan?

Prior to Stan Bowman being hired as the Edmonton Oilers General Manager, CEO Jeff Jackson was at the helm for Free Agency in the Summer of 2024. And he was busy, re-signing and adding multiple pieces to the roster.

At the time, the reviews were quite good. Even effusive by some. But time, events and circumstances have whittled away at some of the Jackson’s record. Part of that is coloured by the offer sheets to Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. But I digress…

Two of the players who arrived in Free Agency last Summer that do not appear to be headed back to Edmonton in 2025-26 are indeed Jackson hires: Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner.

Looking back with 20/20 hindsight, the Jeff Skinner buyout in Buffalo should have been seen as a cautionary sign versus an opportunity. Yes, he was a six-time thirty-goal scorer in the NHL. Perhaps the thinking was that, along side a guy like Leon Draisaitl, Skinner might bounce back into that range from twenty-four goals in 2023-24. But right from training camp the coaching staff seemed to have different ideas. It soon became apparent that Skinner did not fit. Never a Selke candidate, his defensive play seemed to be of primary concern. Now, to Skinner’s credit, his defensive details came around and he was much better in the second half. But the die was all but cast, it seemed. Skinner ended up at 16-13-29 in 72 GP. And he only played a few games in the post-season (1-2-2 in 5 GP).

Then there was the Arvidsson signing. I do not want to be disingenuous. I lauded the decision to bring him in. Arvidsson in all my viewings had always been that tenacious, difficult-to-play-against winger who five times had scored twenty goals. In both Nashville and L.A., he was effective. And while his play in Edmonton was solid enough…it never really rose above, despite considerable time on Draisaitl’s wing. Arvidsson ended up the year at 15-12-27 in 67 GP. The numbers were nearly identical to the afore-mentioned Skinner. Deeper into post season Arvidsson was twice a healthy scratch (ended 2-5-7 in 15 GP). And to my eye, Arvidsson ended up on his pants way more often in the heavy going than I had perceived him to be in the past. Like Skinner, the lack of fit became apparent.

I do not think either man will return. In fact, the reports have been many about how Arvidsson and the Oilers have agreed that a mutual parting would be best, and Stan Bowman is apparently looking for a potential taker for the final year of player’s No Movement Clause and $4m cap hit. Hall of Fame writer Jim Matheson at The Edmonton Journal has even mused whether it may take a “sweetener” to get that deal done. Skinner, on the other hand, seems destined to hit the UFA market once his $3m deal expires this week.

The Edmonton Oilers will have other options available to them on the wings. My take is that they will be looking for guys with a different dimension than Arvidsson or Skinner had. I think they will be looking for someone with size who can beef up the lineup but still produce a bit. Former 6’4 Oiler Klim Kostin comes to mind, who is a pending UFA after his unsuccessful time in San Jose. So does 6’5 Brett Leason, an Albertan who spent last season in Anaheim. He is an RFA. Both would probably cost somewhere between the league minimum and $1m-ish, Leason maybe a shade more.

The Oilers also have a couple other exisiting bodies in competition for those winger spots. Matthew Savoie is under contract for $886,666 and has the inside track but he would likely fit better in a Top 9 role. Max Jones has another year at $1m. Right-shot David Tomasek is more of a center as is Noah Philp. Josh Samanski seems more likely to start in Bakersfield.

My guess? Stan Bowman will fill a couple bottom-six slots with budget-buster players ($1m or less) and then re-assess after Christmas if it is not working out, they way he had hoped.

In the end, I believe Arvidsson and Skinner gave what they had and were good pros in Edmonton. Perhaps both were already past their best before dates as Top 9 performers.

And maybe they will prove me and the Oilers wrong, elsewhere.

Now on Bluesky @kurtleavins.bsky.social. Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at KurtLeavins@mstdn.social. This article is not AI generated.

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Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025.

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