Connor McDavid and head coach Mike Babcock may open camp knowing Stan Bowman still plans to reshape the Edmonton Oilers.
Bowman is entering this season with something Edmonton rarely had during his first two years running the front office: room to maneuver under the salary cap.
That changes the way the Oilers can attack the trade market. Instead of needing every dollar accounted for immediately, Bowman can wait until another club creates an opportunity.
Speaking with OilersNOW 880, Bowman admitted he had been “handcuffed” in several situations because Edmonton was operating so close to the ceiling.
The important part now is that Bowman isn't rushing to spend the flexibility Edmonton has created. The Oilers appear willing to carry room into training camp and see which players shake loose.
That strategy puts Edmonton in position to react when another team needs to move a useful player strictly for financial reasons.
Bowman can finally wait for the right deal
Bowman used a $2.5 million contract as an example of the type of player Edmonton couldn't simply absorb before. This season, that kind of opening could become realistic.
It also means the Oilers don't have to make their biggest move in August. A roster crunch elsewhere in the league could create a better option in October, December or closer to the trade deadline.
That's the biggest signal from Bowman. Edmonton isn't protecting cap space because management wants to finish the season with money unused.
The expectation is that the roster will change before the playoffs. Bowman wants the freedom to strike when the right player becomes available rather than forcing a move before puck drop.
Patrik Laine and Vladimir Tarasenko have already been connected to Edmonton in offseason speculation, but Bowman's comments point toward patience instead of chasing the most obvious names available right now.
For McDavid and the Oilers' core, that could mean starting the season with one lineup and entering the playoff push with another.
And after years of cap pressure dictating Edmonton's options, Bowman finally has the flexibility to wait until the market comes to him.
Should Stan Bowman save his cap space for a major in-season trade?
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