Stan Bowman is making a huge mistake this offseason

The NHL offseason is a time when front offices are supposed to be getting their ducks in a row, locking up key pieces, and building toward the next campaign. Around the league, teams like the San Jose Sharks have already moved quickly to secure their young talent, with Macklin Celebrini getting his extension wrapped up. Meanwhile, in Edmonton, the silence surrounding one of the Oilers' most exciting young forwards is starting to get a little uncomfortable.

Matthew Savoie's agent, Gerry Johannson of The Sports Corporation, appeared on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer this week and dropped a detail that should have every Edmonton fan raising an eyebrow: there have been zero contract extension discussions between the Oilers and Savoie to this point. Not a single sitdown. No offer floated. Nothing.

Why the Wait is Risky Business for Edmonton

Let that sink in for a second. Savoie just played all 82 games for the Oilers, putting up 37 points with 18 goals and 19 assists. He chipped in five power play goals, two shorthanded tallies, and five game winners. Over his final 10 games of the season, he was still producing at a strong clip with five points, including three goals. The kid showed up, and he showed up consistently.

And he did all of that on an entry level deal carrying an $886,667 cap hit. That number is laughably small relative to what Savoie delivered on the ice.

Now, Johannson did offer some context that takes a bit of the edge off. He explained that Edmonton is in a "unique position" as a team firmly in win-now mode, and that focus has seemingly taken priority over locking up their young forward. "Matt really likes it here, and we'd love him to stay here," Johannson said. "I think in talking to Stan, that will come. But as we know, Edmonton is pretty focused on this year."

That's a diplomatic way of saying the front office has other things on its plate. And sure, Stan Bowman, who has been running the show since July 2024, has a lot to juggle. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl combine for north of $26 million against the cap. Evan Bouchard sits at $10.5 million on the back end. Those numbers are not going anywhere. Every dollar committed to Savoie has to fit around three massive contracts already on the books.

But that is exactly why dragging your feet on this is such a dangerous game. If Savoie comes back next season and takes another step forward, which is entirely possible for a player his age, the price tag is only going up. The salary cap is rising, and a breakout 2026-27 campaign would give Savoie and his camp all the leverage in the world. And while it is admittedly a long shot, the specter of an offer sheet looms if Edmonton lets this situation drift too far without resolution.

The Gamble Bowman is Taking

The way this appears to be playing out, the Oilers have chosen a wait-and-see approach. They want more data on Savoie before deciding what kind of commitment to make. On one hand, that is not entirely unreasonable. If Savoie's 37-point season turns out to be his ceiling rather than his floor, Edmonton would not want to be locked into an overpay. There is real risk in projecting a player's future based on one strong campaign.

But on the other hand, the cost of certainty is almost always higher than the cost of conviction. If Bowman waits until he has all the answers, he is going to be paying a premium for them. New head coach Mike Babcock, who was brought in during late June, is inheriting a roster where the young pieces need term and term costs real money. The longer this lingers, the more complicated it gets.

Johannson did say that Savoie is patient and still enjoys being in Edmonton, which is encouraging. But patience has its limits, and the hockey world moves fast. Right now, Savoie is waiting, Oilers fans are waiting, and the front office is apparently focused elsewhere. For a GM whose summer is defined by decisions like this one, the lack of urgency from Bowman's camp is hard to understand. Getting out in front of this deal while the price is still reasonable feels like the obvious play, and every day that passes without a conversation makes the eventual negotiation that much trickier.