For the first time in recent memory, the Edmonton Oilers are grappling with a problem born of success rather than necessity: they have too many NHL-caliber players. As a host of injured regulars near their return, the front office faces a complex puzzle of waivers, salary cap implications, and asset management.
Also on the EDGE – Winning Ugly: Deconstructing the Edmonton Oilers’ Unfamiliar Slow Start
With the team currently carrying 26 players, at least three will need to be moved to become compliant with the 23-man roster limit once Zach Hyman, Jake Walman, and Mattias Janmark are activated. The impending return of Alec Regula from the blue line only adds to the pressure. This isn’t just about trimming fat; it’s a strategic exercise in preserving depth for a team with championship aspirations.
Musical Chairs Up Front: Weighing Youth, Waivers, and Roles
The most significant logjam is among the forward group, where a mix of promising youth and established veterans are on the bubble. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, a clear “pecking order” for the cuts is already taking shape, starting with the path of least resistance.
The first and most straightforward move will almost certainly involve Isaac Howard. The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner is waiver-exempt, meaning the Oilers can reassign him to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors without risk. While his transition from the NCAA to the pros has been highly anticipated, Howard has looked like a player still finding his footing. Averaging just over 10 minutes of ice time per night and still searching for his first NHL point, a stint in the AHL is not a demotion but a necessary step in his development. Forcing him into a limited role on the fourth line does little for his long-term growth.
The next decision point becomes significantly more complicated. Veteran Curtis Lazar appears to be second on the departure list. The 30-year-old, signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, dressed for his first game – and scored a goal – on Saturday. However, unlike Howard, Lazar requires waivers to be sent down. This presents the risk of losing a serviceable depth player for nothing.
This is where the calculus becomes intricate, primarily due to the emergence of Noah Philp. The organization is reportedly determined to avoid placing the 27-year-old center on the waiver wire, believing he is a strong candidate to be claimed by another team. Management sees a legitimate future for Philp as a fourth-line pivot, and they are not keen on losing that asset. This creates a fascinating dilemma: does the team risk losing Lazar for nothing, or do they opt to send down another waiver-exempt player like Matt Savoie to keep the veteran depth? While Savoie was projected to be a regular, his defined role on the penalty kill appears to have given him a longer leash for now. The next few games will be critical in determining his immediate future.
The Defensive Squeeze
The logjam isn’t confined to the forward group. Once Jake Walman and Alec Regula are healthy, the Oilers will have eight defencemen on the roster. In today’s NHL, most teams carry seven, meaning at least one blue liner is destined to be the odd man out. The two names at the center of this conversation are Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher.
At first glance, the 31-year-old Stecher would seem the more vulnerable. Despite being a reliable option, he has only appeared in four of the team’s first six contests. Management has shown a clear preference for Emberson, who has suited up for all six. However, the decision may ultimately be driven by economics. Emberson carries a $1.4 million cap hit, whereas Stecher comes in at a more palatable $788,000.
The Oilers may look to proactively trade Emberson rather than risk losing him or Stecher on waivers. Clearing Emberson’s larger salary would provide valuable cap flexibility heading into the trade deadline. Shedding his contract offers a more significant financial advantage than moving Stecher, making him the more logical trade piece if the Oilers are looking to maximize future cap space.
Wild Cards and the Ticking Cap Clock
Looming over all these decisions are two key variables: the contract of Jack Roslovic and the return of Zach Hyman from Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR). Roslovic, signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal, is safe for the moment. His contract includes a full no-move clause that expires on Oct. 31. This date is not arbitrary. It aligns almost perfectly with the expected timeline for Hyman’s return.
As long as Hyman is on LTIR, the Oilers receive cap relief equivalent to his salary. The moment he is activated, that relief disappears, and the team must be fully cap compliant. This turns Roslovic’s situation into a “trial” period. The Oilers can use him for top-nine depth while Hyman is out, and on Nov. 1, his contract converts to a modified no-trade clause with a four-team list. This structure suggests a potential plan: use Roslovic as a stopgap and then trade him to a team on his approved list to solve the impending cap crunch created by Hyman’s return, regardless of his on-ice performance.
Also on the EDGE – Oilers Betting on Roslovic’s Speed & Scoring Upside
The return of Janmark further complicates the forward picture. Given his struggles in a depth role, an argument could be made that trading Janmark is a more prudent move than risking a valuable asset like Philp on the waiver wire.
The Final Pecking Order
When the dust settles, the most probable scenario sees Howard reassigned to Bakersfield, with Lazar and Stecher placed on waivers. It is the cleanest, albeit riskiest, path to roster compliance. However, the front office’s high valuation of Philp is the true wild card. If the fear of losing him—or Lazar and Stecher—is too great, management could pivot and reassign a waiver-exempt player like Savoie instead.
These are the difficult decisions that separate contenders from the pack. It is a testament to the organization’s improved depth that they are forced to make them. How Stan Bowman and his staff navigate this roster crunch will not only shape the team for the coming weeks but will also dictate their flexibility to make crucial additions down the stretch.
Created with the aid of Gemini AI