Now that Connor McDavid has shown that he wants to win with the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Edmonton Oiler</a>s, and win soon, how will the team repay him with the cap space they will have in the near future?

Earlier this week, the Oilers&#8217; captain <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-connor-mcdavid-extension-two-years-no-increase-cap-hit">signed a two-year contract extension</a> that&#8217;ll see the first-overall pick be paid $12.5 million through the 2027-28 season. Without a doubt, McDavid left money on the table, giving general manager Stan Bowman an avenue to acquire more talent to inevitably help Edmonton get to the promised land.
On Thursday, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/how-edmonton-oilers-spend-cap-space-mcdavid-ekholm-contract-trades-free-agency-goaltending">Daily Faceoff&#8217;s Matt Larkin</a> wrote about what the Oilers can do with the money as the cap will continue to rise over the next couple of years.
One of the biggest things Bowman could do is go after a marquee forward in the trade market. While McDavid and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Leon Draisaitl</a> will do their thing, a little bit more scoring prowess could pay dividends in the playoffs.
Among names like San Jose Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli and Jared McCann of the Seattle Kraken, there are a couple of <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-able-make-splash-becase-connor-mcdavid-contract-discount">proven scoring weapons worth pursuing.</a>
<blockquote>&#8220;One that comes to mind is the Nashville Predators’ Filip Forsberg,&#8221; Larkin wrote. &#8220;Who has four seasons remaining on his deal from 2026-27 onward, carrying an $8.5-million cap hit. He does have a no-movement clause and would be moving away from a no-tax market, but perhaps the trade would be worth it if Forsberg simply wants to chase a championship. The Oilers could also look at a proven winner in 2022-23 Conn Smythe Trophy recipient Jonathan Marchessault, who earns $5.5 million annually from the Preds through 2028-29.&#8221;</blockquote>
Larkin also mentioned the idea of waiting until the offseason to go after some well-known scorers, as players like Artemi Panarin and Alex Tuch, who are subject to becoming unrestricted free agents next summer.
Goaltending is always a talking point in Edmonton. With both Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard heading into the final year of their respective contracts, there is a possibility the Oilers will look at revamping the team&#8217;s outlook between the pipes entirely. Larkin gave a list of goaltenders who are pending UFAs who could be hot commodities next year, as well as a potential trade target.
<blockquote>&#8220;Jacob Markstrom, who has lots of experience playing in Western Canada as a former Vancouver Canuck and Calgary Flame,&#8221; Larkin writes. &#8220;Frederik Andersen, who has his own big-game shortcomings but would still be an upgrade&#8230;If the Oilers want to rectify the problem via the trade market, the New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin should top the wish list. &#8230; Sorokin’s $8.25-million AAV is a bargain relative to his skill level, and he still played very well last season on a sinking team. He does have a no-movement clause, but would he waive it if he’s sick of losing?&#8221;</blockquote>
All this to say that, even with a few guys making over $10 million for the next few years, the Oilers will have options in order to bolster their roster in hopes of lifting Lord Stanley&#8217;s Cup.

Now that Connor McDavid has shown that he wants to win with the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Edmonton Oiler</a>s, and win soon, how will the team repay him with the cap space they will have in the near future?



Earlier this week, the Oilers' captain <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-connor-mcdavid-extension-two-years-no-increase-cap-hit">signed a two-year contract extension</a> that'll see the first-overall pick be paid $12.5 million through the 2027-28 season. Without a doubt, McDavid left money on the table, giving general manager Stan Bowman an avenue to acquire more talent to inevitably help Edmonton get to the promised land.

On Thursday, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/how-edmonton-oilers-spend-cap-space-mcdavid-ekholm-contract-trades-free-agency-goaltending">Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin</a> wrote about what the Oilers can do with the money as the cap will continue to rise over the next couple of years.

One of the biggest things Bowman could do is go after a marquee forward in the trade market. While McDavid and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/">Leon Draisaitl</a> will do their thing, a little bit more scoring prowess could pay dividends in the playoffs.

Among names like San Jose Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli and Jared McCann of the Seattle Kraken, there are a couple of <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-able-make-splash-becase-connor-mcdavid-contract-discount">proven scoring weapons worth pursuing.</a>
<blockquote>"One that comes to mind is the Nashville Predators’ Filip Forsberg," Larkin wrote. "Who has four seasons remaining on his deal from 2026-27 onward, carrying an $8.5-million cap hit. He does have a no-movement clause and would be moving away from a no-tax market, but perhaps the trade would be worth it if Forsberg simply wants to chase a championship. The Oilers could also look at a proven winner in 2022-23 Conn Smythe Trophy recipient Jonathan Marchessault, who earns $5.5 million annually from the Preds through 2028-29."</blockquote>
Larkin also mentioned the idea of waiting until the offseason to go after some well-known scorers, as players like Artemi Panarin and Alex Tuch, who are subject to becoming unrestricted free agents next summer.

Goaltending is always a talking point in Edmonton. With both Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard heading into the final year of their respective contracts, there is a possibility the Oilers will look at revamping the team's outlook between the pipes entirely. Larkin gave a list of goaltenders who are pending UFAs who could be hot commodities next year, as well as a potential trade target.
<blockquote>"Jacob Markstrom, who has lots of experience playing in Western Canada as a former Vancouver Canuck and Calgary Flame," Larkin writes. "Frederik Andersen, who has his own big-game shortcomings but would still be an upgrade...If the Oilers want to rectify the problem via the trade market, the New York Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin should top the wish list. ... Sorokin’s $8.25-million AAV is a bargain relative to his skill level, and he still played very well last season on a sinking team. He does have a no-movement clause, but would he waive it if he’s sick of losing?"</blockquote>
All this to say that, even with a few guys making over $10 million for the next few years, the Oilers will have options in order to bolster their roster in hopes of lifting Lord Stanley's Cup.

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