Sitting in third place in the Pacific Division standings, the Edmonton Oilers are going to make the playoffs for now. However, the margin for error at this point is slim. A misstep or two could jeopardize the team’s odds of making the postseason. Moreover, Edmonton does not have enough cap space to be extravagant over the summer.
The Oilers could certainly be expected to offload a big contract or two for some breathing space, cap-wise. In fact, a veteran forward verging on free agency is almost sure not to return to the lineup.
Report Claims Adam Henrique Unlikely To Return to Edmonton Oilers Next Season
Connor McDavid’s trip to Milano-Cortina ultimately ended with the worst kind of heartbreak. After all, nothing could sting more than facing defeat at the hands of your arch-rivals on the biggest international stage. It was a loss so harsh that even the Olympic silver must have felt like a consolation prize. A return to the NHL ice could have been the opportunity for McDavid to secure consecutive wins, but unfortunately, that was not the case.
Before the Olympic break was set in motion, the Oilers were on a three-game losing streak to close out their pre-break schedule, and after play resumed, the team was dealt a damning defeat by the Anaheim Ducks. Overall, despite the Oilers clinging to the upper rungs of the standings, this season has been rough. It took the team a while to get on a three-game winning streak.
Edmonton has several issues to deal with: the problems plaguing goaltending and defense have yet to be addressed, and the team’s depth remains questionable to this day. To make matters worse, the Oilers are short on cap space.
The management needs to reassess contracts and make decisions accordingly. According to Allan Mitchell writing for The Athletic, Adam Henrique, who is currently in the final year of his two-year, $6 million contract, is unlikely to return next season.
In his tenure with the Oilers, Henrique’s numbers have certainly taken a dip. Moreover, the veteran forward has also significantly struggled with injuries this season. Offensively, Henrique has not contributed much either, with 10 points in 48 games in the 2025-26 season. But when it comes to him, he would want to play a more valuable role on the ice.
“So, as much as I want to score, I have to make sure my complete game is there. I have to be good defensively and be on the defensive side of the puck. And the penalty kill’s a big part of that,” Henrique said in a recent interaction with Jason Gregor.
It is not just Henrique; the Edmonton front office might also need to have a difficult conversation with Darnell Nurse, asking him to waive his no-movement clause. Nurse’s massive contract has a cap hit of $9.25 million, and lately, the 31-year-old has not been doing nearly enough to justify it.
