It was a snub, pure and simple. But leaving Evan Bouchard off the top of the Norris Trophy ballot after a season in which he scored 1021 points (regular season and playoffs) requires a little more finesse to assess than we probably feel like granting.
9 Things
9. Roster Stability?
In GM Stan Bowman’s season-end availability, he said, “I don’t know if we’re going to have a dramatically different roster next year.” I agree that most of his guys have the ability to play better, and that too much changeover can be a bad thing (which we’ve seen here recently). But given that ticking sound coming from Connor McDavid’s locker, change may be inevitable.
8. Pickard’s Farewell
Did you see the “goodbye” post that Calvin Pickard posted this week? It was a “thank you Edmonton” message on Instagram alongside a clutch of photos with him in Oilers silks. This is a guy signed as an AHL veteran who saved the club’s bacon in successive playoff years, including a 7-1 run in 2025. If anyone ever outperformed their contract, it was him. Best of luck.
7. Knoblauch’s Regression
I have respect for Kris Knoblauch, and I hope he returns as Oilers Head Coach. But along with most of the team this season, Knoblauch’s performance regressed as well. There is an old saying in my business that “you don’t know what you don’t know.” My perception is that Kris Knoblauch was a much more stubborn, set-in-his-ways coach this season than last. That did not do him many favours. Might be worth reflecting on.
6. Cap Inflation
I have read a few articles projecting what the Oilers’ pending UFAs may earn from their new contracts going forward. I would say two things: One, most people are forgetting how much the cap is going up (8.9%). With the extra cash floating around the league, those estimates are likely low. Two, since most everyone’s price will also be going up, what may look pricey to you in relative terms probably is not. Inflation, in hockey as in life, costs everybody more.
5. Dickinson’s Value
A good example of the previous is Jason Dickinson, obtained from Chicago at the deadline. I keep seeing people thinking the Oilers should sign him for $3 million a season or let him walk. Dickinson is the closest thing this town has seen to a proper 3C in how many years, and you want to sign him for less than the $4.25 million Chicago previously signed him for? I can agree that there is an upper limit you can pay a guy like him, but get real. Dickinson is worth returning, as is Connor Murphy.
4. World Championships
A number of Edmonton Oilers are headed overseas to play at the World Hockey Championships. I mentioned Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse in this space last week, for Team Canada. Since then, Mattias Ekholm joined Team Sweden, Josh Samanski is with Team Germany, and Ike Howard Team USA. Some people mumbled about wear and tear on those players. My take: These guys are competitive and playing for their country matters. Taking that away from them would be taking away a piece of them. If you have never played, maybe it is harder to understand.
3. Hart Trophy Finalists
As you surely know by now, Connor McDavid is a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player. His two very worthy fellow nominees are Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov. I have never attempted to hide the fact that I am an Edmonton Oilers fan, and so I hope McDavid wins. But he is certainly keeping top-drawer company with those other two guys. The fact that the Oilers succeeded to the extent that they did down the stretch had a whole hell of a lot to do with Connor, which probably earned him some late votes. Yet, it is also a commentary on just how much better this roster needs to be: that on a team with Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, McDavid is still that critical in the eyes of the critics.
