**“Edmonton Oilers Ranked 8th in NHL for Smartest Spending, Says The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn, Citing Future Value Over Past Performance”**
The Edmonton Oilers have often been at the center of debates surrounding roster construction, cap management, and whether their high-end talent justifies the spending strategies employed by the front office. However, a recent analysis by Dom Luszczyszyn of *The Athletic* has placed the team in a surprisingly favorable position when it comes to maximizing financial efficiency. According to his findings, the Oilers rank eighth across the entire NHL in terms of spending their money wisely. That ranking is not a reflection of past accolades or past production—it is an analysis firmly rooted in projections, future performance, and value-for-dollar based on modern analytics.
Luszczyszyn’s model strips away the sentimental aspects of hockey evaluation. As he explained, “What players have already done holds no merit. This is about the future value of the deal with age effects based on player comps taken into account, while accounting for expected salary growth.” It’s a sophisticated and ruthless approach to assessing contracts—one that demands a focus on what a player will do, not what they’ve already done. That nuance is critical in understanding why the Oilers, a team with some very expensive contracts and an elite core, still find themselves in the top 10.
The Oilers’ current salary structure centers around a core that includes Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and Darnell Nurse, among others. McDavid and Draisaitl are no longer on their rookie deals and are commanding top-tier salaries, and yet the model still rates the team’s contract management favorably. That alone speaks volumes. It highlights that even though McDavid and Draisaitl are making significant money, their projected future output more than justifies the investment. There are few players in the league who can tilt the ice like McDavid, and fewer still who can match Draisaitl’s blend of size, skill, and scoring ability. When factoring in expected salary cap increases and age-related performance curves, both players still rate as major value contributors.
An underrated aspect of the Oilers’ strong showing in Luszczyszyn’s model is the performance of their mid-tier and emerging players. Evan Bouchard, for instance, is rapidly developing into a cornerstone defenseman. His current contract, in comparison to his projected upward trajectory, is one of the most efficient deals on the roster. The same can be said for forwards like Ryan McLeod and Dylan Holloway, who offer speed, upside, and two-way ability without commanding major cap hits. These kinds of contracts often become the glue holding together elite rosters in the cap era.
Another feather in the Oilers’ cap is their ability to get reasonable production out of veterans without massively overpaying. The acquisition of Zach Hyman, although a pricey deal at the time, has aged better than many expected. His consistent work rate, defensive responsibility, and offensive support to the core stars give the Oilers excellent balance. Hyman’s contract is not just about goals and assists—it’s about cultural fit, leadership, and consistency in the toughest parts of the season. All of these attributes translate well in future value metrics, especially when the deal is not expected to age poorly within the next few years.
The front office under Ken Holland has faced a mix of criticism and praise over the years. While some moves, such as overpaying for depth players or slow-moving trade deadlines, have drawn ire from the fanbase, the broader structural decisions seem to be more sound than they’re given credit for. Luszczyszyn’s model supports that view—not through opinion, but through a numbers-based analysis of value projection. Holland’s conservative approach may not always make waves on social media, but it has slowly built a roster that, from a contract-value perspective, is highly efficient.
One of the primary reasons teams fall short in models like Luszczyszyn’s is overpaying for declining veterans or failing to maximize the financial efficiency of young assets. The Oilers, through a combination of patience and strategic decision-making, have managed to avoid the most damaging pitfalls. Their blend of high-end contracts, moderate mid-tier deals, and cheap, effective young talent results in a well-rounded structure that points toward sustained competitiveness rather than a quick boom-and-bust cycle.
The cap flexibility provided by expiring contracts also positions the Oilers well going forward. With Draisaitl’s deal nearing its end, much speculation has centered around what his next contract will look like and whether the Oilers will retain him at a cap hit that aligns with his future value. The organization appears to be well aware of the fine line between loyalty and pragmatism. While it’s hard to imagine the team without Draisaitl, any extension will likely be subjected to the same scrutiny that Luszczyszyn’s model applies. If the numbers don’t support it, the front office may be forced into tough decisions. However, their current standing in spending efficiency suggests they have both the awareness and the discipline to handle those crossroads.
The broader implication of the Oilers ranking eighth in this analysis is that the team is not only built to contend now, but is also positioned to remain a threat as the league evolves. This is especially important in a Western Conference landscape filled with teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars, who are also well-managed from a cap perspective. In that sense, staying near the top in financial efficiency isn’t just a statistical achievement—it’s a strategic necessity.
For fans, this ranking should be a cause for optimism, particularly because it comes at a time when the Oilers are knocking on the door of a Stanley Cup. It underscores that this is not a “win now or bust” window. Instead, it’s a carefully managed arc of contention that could span multiple years if the key pieces stay healthy and productive. The organization’s ability to remain competitive while avoiding the bloated contracts that have sunk other franchises—especially those trying to chase a cup too quickly—sets the Oilers apart.
The impact of the salary cap era cannot be overstated. Teams no longer have the luxury of stockpiling talent with impunity. Every dollar counts. Models like Luszczyszyn’s are valuable because they hold teams accountable to a standard of foresight and sustainability. And the Oilers, long criticized for their inability to capitalize on McDavid’s prime years, now appear to be making strides in aligning their spending with intelligent, forward-thinking planning.
Of course, financial efficiency doesn’t guarantee a championship. Injuries, coaching decisions, and plain old bad luck can derail even the most meticulously planned seasons. But what the Oilers have shown, according to this analysis, is that they are not putting themselves at a disadvantage in the ways that have doomed other teams. They are spending smarter, investing in players whose trajectories still point upward, and avoiding emotional decisions based solely on past glory.
For a franchise that endured years of frustration despite possessing generational talent, this shift toward smarter cap management represents a foundational change. The Oilers have moved from being a team that wasted assets and misallocated resources to one that is making data-driven decisions and aligning their spending with future value. In doing so, they are increasing the odds that the championship puzzle eventually falls into place.
In a sport often governed by gut instinct and tradition, models like Luszczyszyn’s offer a counterbalance—a reminder that numbers matter, especially in the era of salary caps and long-term planning. That the Edmonton Oilers are ranked eighth among all NHL teams in this regard should not be overlooked. It’s a validation of the quieter, subtler work being done behind the scenes. It’s a sign that the front office isn’t just chasing wins—they’re doing so with a clear understanding of cost, value, and sustainability.
And perhaps most importantly, it’s a sign that the Oilers are not only building for today, but for the years still to come.
