The Edmonton Oilers are approaching the 2026-27 NHL season with a financial cushion they have not enjoyed in recent years. Stan Bowman has deliberately kept part of the team’s salary cap space available rather than committing every dollar before the season begins.
This approach gives Edmonton more options if its roster needs to change during the year. The unused space could become particularly important when trade opportunities emerge.
Stan Bowman Explains Why Oilers Are Holding $4.7M in Cap Space
Edmonton currently projects to have $4,725,834 in cap space under the NHL’s $104 million ceiling, with a full 23-player roster in place. Bowman views that room as an important change after spending his first two seasons operating with almost no flexibility.
Speaking on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer, Bowman explained why the organization wanted to enter the season with room instead of immediately using its entire allowance.
“It’s sort of the ideal situation,” Bowman said. He pointed to the difficulty of operating through previous seasons when Edmonton had little room and relied on LTIR, limiting the team’s ability to make moves.
Bowman also highlighted an overlooked benefit of having available money when another team wants to move a contract. “Sometimes it’s not even broadcast, but you talk to managers, and there’s players available,” he said. “You probably don’t even have to pay an asset price to get them, but you’ve got to take the contract on.”
That flexibility could matter if a useful player becomes available during the season. Bowman used a hypothetical $2.5 million player as an example, noting that Edmonton previously would not have been positioned to absorb such a contract.
The Oilers’ current payroll already carries major commitments. Leon Draisaitl has a $14 million cap hit, while Connor McDavid carries $12.5 million and Evan Bouchard $10.5 million. Edmonton also has $2.6 million in dead cap tied to Jack Campbell’s buyout.
Rather than viewing the remaining space as money that must be spent, Bowman wants Edmonton to preserve it for a meaningful opportunity.
“We want to leave some money available,” Bowman said, adding that the team should maintain flexibility without simply accumulating cap space indefinitely.
He also expects the roster to change before the playoffs. “The team that we have to start the season, it’s not going to be the exact same team in the playoffs,” Bowman said.
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For Edmonton, that makes the $4.7 million more than the unused payroll room. It gives Bowman the ability to respond to injuries, roster weaknesses, trade opportunities, or deadline needs without first having to clear salary.
