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Confirmed Oilers departure is raising eyebrows across Edmonton

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Vincent Carbonneau
May 12, 2026  (8:20)
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Dec 31, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) celebrates a gaol with left winger Zach Hyman (18) and center Connor McDavid (97) against the Boston Bruins during the first period at Rogers Place.
Photo credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images

Jack Roslovic and Kris Knoblauch now look headed for a split as Edmonton starts trimming its roster after another short playoff run.

That is the new read around the Oilers. The word making the rounds is that Roslovic will not be offered a new contract, which turns him into one of the first clear exit files of Edmonton's summer.

It fits the mood around this team. The Oilers are not walking into the offseason looking for tiny touch-ups. They are looking at real changes, and support forwards are always part of that first wave.

Roslovic gave Edmonton usable production in the regular season. He played 69 games and scored 21 goals, which is enough to make this more than a throwaway roster decision.

But production alone does not settle these calls. In Edmonton, every depth piece gets judged by one bigger question: does he help enough around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl when the games get tight?

That is where Roslovic's file likely got harder. He finished the playoffs with 1 point in 6 games, and when a team goes out early, those numbers get looked at fast.

The decision also says something about how the Oilers want to rework the middle of the lineup. Letting Roslovic walk would open a spot, open some money, and push management toward a different kind of winger or center.

Oilers officially moving on from player amid growing questions in Edmonton

That does not mean Roslovic failed in Edmonton. It means the fit may not have been strong enough to survive a summer where the whole roster is being re-examined.

Knoblauch is still the head coach, and how his staff sees the bottom six matters here. He signed a 3-year extension in October 2025, so these next roster calls are tied directly to the group he will coach moving forward.

Roslovic is 29, shoots right, and still has enough speed and offense to draw interest elsewhere. A player with 296 career points and playoff experience is not going to sit on the market without calls.

From Edmonton's side, this feels more like direction than drama. The Oilers seem to be deciding that decent is not enough anymore from that part of the roster.

And that is the real takeaway. Jack Roslovic gave the Oilers something, but not enough to lock in another deal when the franchise is under this much pressure to get sharper around its stars.