The Oilers need to sign both Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard to long-term deals this summer, but could they also fit in Mikko Rantanen?

Connor McDavid scored in his return from a three-game suspension, Mattias Janmark scored for the first time in 38 games, and Mattias Ekholm scored into an empty net.

This in from NHL insider Andy Strickland of St. Louis, his prediction on the Cam & Strick podcast that the Edmonton Oilers will sign Mikko Rantanen this summer. Rantanen, who is in the Top 10 NHL players, was recently traded from Colorado to Carolina, essentially for forward Martin Necas. Rantanen is an Unrestricted Free Agent this summer.

According to Puck Pedia, the Oilers will have $11.61 million of cap space next year, assuming the salary cap will be $88 million. Some say the cap will increase to at least $95 million, but potentially more, which would give Edmonton ample room to get some signings done.

One advantage for the Carolina Hurricanes extending Rantanen is they can now go eight years with other teams only seven. The Hurricanes might also propose deferred payments as they did for Seth Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin. Rantanen has the same agent, Andy Scott, as Leon Draisait; and they didn’t go for the Edmonton Oilers offer of deferred payments.

After the Hurricanes shocked the hockey world over the weekend, Mikko Rantanen still may elect for free agency. Would this make the trade not worth what they gave up?

Rantanen has been an essential member of the Avalanche's core since arriving in 2015-16, having won the Stanley Cup in 2021-22. Widely regarded as one of the NHL's premier offensive talents, he stands among the league's top five scorers over the last five seasons.

Elliotte Friedman reports that money was one significant factor (perhaps the biggest) in the Colorado Avalanche’s decision to trade Mikko Rantanen.

Marc-Andre Fleury, playing his final game in his home province, recorded his 76th career shutout as the visiting Minnesota Wild beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 on Thursday.

Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby was named captain of Team Canada on Thursday afternoon. His alternate captains will be Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar.

Evan Bouchard scored with 6:55 left and the surging Edmonton Oilers overcame a three-goal deficit to beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 on Thursday night.

The Colorado Avalanche trading star Mikko Rantanen signifies a change in their team-building approach from front-loading their squad to improving their depth.