Oilers' mismanagement and neglect gets ripped apart by NHL analyst

The most noteworthy, and the one that has been getting the most media attention, of course, is Connor McDavid, whose contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season, at a cap hit of $12.5M.

Granted, though Connor's pending extension has management and fans feeling anxious because of its uncertainty, it is also the contract that is most likely to get done, as early as the end of August, according to some reports.

The sheer number of contracts alone warrants concern for Edmonton's front office, which is intent on building a Stanley Cup contending team. With the exception of its core [and McDavid's not signed], the Oilers could have a whole new supporting cast.

Both Skinner's and Pickard's contract expire July 1, 2026. The Oilers could potentially have two new goalies next season, though many analysts believe even that is too long to keep them.

The other notable expiring contracts are defenseman Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, and Brett Kulak. The first two are top defenseman that are not easily replaced. I expect they will sign extensions before the end on next season, while Kulak has proven to a valuable depth-defenseman on the left-side.

Adam Henrique is less of a concern for Stan Bowman, who at 35-years old, will likely not be re-signed. His $3M cap hit can be put to better use in the center, or LW position.

Kasperi Kapenin was signed on a one-year contract on June 30, and at the age of 29, it is unclear whether he will be re-signed at the end of next season. His contract will continue on a year-to-year basis, based on his production and value.

The following list are the remaining players whose contracts expire July 1, 2026: Cam Dineen, Jayden Grubbe, Max Jones, Curtis Lazar, Atro Leppanen, Jsmes Hamblin, Matvei Petrov, Noah Philip, Vasily Podkolzin, Troy Stecher, David Tomasek, and Connor Ungar.