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3 Most Defining Moments of 2024 for the Oilers

With 2025 right around the corner and the Edmonton Oilers looking to make another run toward the Stanley Cup, looking back at 2024 is important. Lessons can be learned not only from how close the Oilers got versus the Florida Panthers but also from some key moves that might make or break the team’s efforts to get back to the Final again and overcome the last big hurdle. Here are the three most defining moments from the Edmonton Oilers 2024 year.

Oilers Chose Not to Match Holloway and Broberg Offer Sheets

This offseason, the Oilers made some big moves, signing the whole of the third line that was so instrumental in last season’s playoff run but also bringing in Jeff Skinner, Josh Brown, and Viktor Arvidsson on free agency deals. The Oilers, specifically Jeff Jackson, were declared early winners in free agency, and then the other shoe dropped.



Having spent all the way up to the salary cap, the St. Louis Blues tendered dual offer sheets to forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg. The Oilers waited too long to sign both players and ultimately chose not to match big paydays from the Blues, who knew that Edmonton was in a bind financially. The Broberg deal at $4.58 million was likely not ever in the cards for the Oilers, now under the management of Stan Bowman. The Holloway deal at $2.29 million was a fairer value. Holloway has also delivered to St. Louis.

Holloway has 13 goals and 24 points in 37 games. Had Edmonton known he’d have broken out in this way, they would have matched.

Oilers Traded Ceci for Ty Emberson

To clear cap space, the Oilers moved well-liked defenseman Cody Ceci. In return, they got the relatively unknown Ty Emberson. It took a few games for Emberson to find his footing with the Oilers, but he’s settled in and become a very useful depth asset on the team’s blue line. Emberson is steady, reliable, and willing to fill whatever role the team requires. He’s not afraid to be physical, he can make a good pass, and he’s become central to the success of the penalty kill. The last attribute is essential since the Oilers lost a huge chunk of a record-breaking PK that found wild success during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The trade has turned out to be a massive win, as Ceci hasn’t done much in San Jose. There is talk that the Oilers are already looking to get Emberson signed to an extension in 2025.

Oilers Signed Leon Draisaitl to 8-Year Extension

The Oilers inked superstar Leon Draisaitl to a massive eight-year contract extension. One of the best players in the NHL committed to staying with the team long-term. While it doesn’t guarantee Connor McDavid will sign, it certainly ups the odds.

Leon Draisaitl Oilers MVP leads vs Wild - NHL Trade Talk
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers potential MVP signed an eight-year extension in 2024

Edmonton gave Draisaitl $14 million per season. That number is going to be debated for years. Can he live up to the contract? Will it matter if the salary cap jumps to $100 million? Can the Oilers build around his salary and whatever deal McDavid signs? How important is it that the Oilers win the Cup this season?

It’s great news that Draisaitl decided to stay, as it sends an incredible message that one of the best players in the world doesn’t want to go anywhere. This, despite the fact the team didn’t win. It also starts what will inevitably be a domino of financial hurdles the team will have to navigate.

Next: Scribe Takes Oilers Goaltending Rumors With “Grain of Salt”

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