Oilers in 'win-now' mode with GM Holland in final year of contract

NASHVILLE --At this stage in his Hall of Fame career, Ken Holland said he does not invest in green bananas.

The Edmonton Oilers general manager has built a Stanley Cup contender during his four seasons with the team, and with one year left on his contract, the 67-year-old wants to finish the job.

So, going into 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Holland said he will do whatever he can to improve the team in order to make another run at the Stanley Cup. This season, Edmonton lost in the Western Conference Second Round to the Vegas Golden Knights, who went on to win the championship.

"I think you have to put yourself in that [contending] situation multiple times," Holland said Tuesday. "Along the way, you make changes, tweaks [to the roster], and I think the experience of being there multiple times over ultimately makes a difference. It was Vegas' fourth time in the final four. You look at the journey that [the] Tampa Bay [Lightning] went through, and certainly that's the journey that we went through [with the] Detroit [Red Wings] a long, long time ago.

"I don't know if it's ever going to change. You have to be there multiple times and you keep banging on the door, and that's what we have to do."

The Oilers will be returning the core of their roster next season, which is led by center Connor McDavid, who won the Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Art Ross Trophy and Rocket Richard Trophy this season after putting up 153 points (64 goals, 89 assists), the most in the NHL since Mario Lemieux had 161 points (69 goals, 92 assists) for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96.

McDavid has three years remaining on his eight-year, $100 million contract ($12.5 million average annual value).

"I think it was one of the greatest seasons in the history of a player," Holland said. "When you factor in the way the game is played today, a little tighter checking, the parity in the League, makes it even more remarkable. Certainly, he's the greatest player of his generation, and being around him for four years, that drive, motivation and determination takes him to another level."

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Edmonton has three selections in the 2023 NHL Draft, having traded away their other four, including their first-round pick (No. 24) to the Nashville Predators along with defenseman Tyson Barrie for defenseman Mattias Ekholm on Feb. 28.

The Oilers have the No. 56 pick (second round), the No. 184 pick (sixth round) and the No. 216 pick (seventh round) in the draft, and Holland does not anticipate making a trade to move up into the first round.

"I think we've got a good team. I traded the first-round pick at the deadline for Ekholm, and we've got him for three more years," Holland said. "Those are decisions we've made. We've traded picks and we're in the 'win-now' mode."

Holland has his top six forwards, top four defensemen and both goalies signed for next season. Forwards Klim Kostin and Ryan McLeod are restricted free agents, and Nick Bjugstad, Mattias Janmark and Devin Shore can become unrestricted free agents July 1.

Evan Bouchard, also restricted free agent, is the only defenseman on the roster not signed for next season. McLeod has received a qualifying offer from Holland, while Kostin's future in Edmonton is up in the air. NHL teams have until Friday (5 p.m. ET) to tender qualifying offers to restricted free agents.

"Not sure what I'm doing on Kostin, the reason being, him being a Russian player, he's had conversations with the KHL," Holland said. "I have to decide here within the next three or four days what I'm doing with him."

Holland said negotiations are ongoing with Bouchard, who had 40 points (eight goals, 32 assists) in 82 games this season and 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He is eligible to sign an offer sheet from another team, which the Oilers would have the option of matching.

"I can't say I don't think about that, if there is an offer sheet given, then we'll assess it at the time," Holland said. "Would we like to get him signed before? Would love to, but it has to work for both sides."

As far his own future, Holland is just focused on next season.

"I'm looking to win," Holland said. "I'm not worried about myself. Certainly, my juices are flowing because I think we have a good team and I want to win."