David Pagnotta reveals what's next for Stan Bowman after his latest move

Stan Bowman isn't blowing up the Edmonton Oilers roster this summer. According to a new report, he's not rushing anything either.

David Pagnotta said on Inside Sports on 880 CHED Monday night that Bowman and the Oilers plan to stay patient. The GM will wait for an opportunity to fall into his lap rather than force a trade.

That's notable given where this team just finished.

David Pagnotta on Inside Sports on 880 CHED tonight says the Oilers will be patient and take advantage of any opportunity that falls into their lap rather than forcing a move.

Edmonton closed the season 41-30-11 with 93 points, second in the Pacific. Good enough for a playoff spot, not good enough to survive round one.

The Oilers lost their first-round series to the Anaheim Ducks in six games. They dropped Game 6 on the road 5-2 after fighting back to force it.

So what's Bowman waiting on exactly? Nobody's saying, and that's the point.

His two biggest contracts aren't going anywhere regardless. Leon Draisaitl carries a cap hit of $14 million, and Connor McDavid sits at $12.5 million. Evan Bouchard adds another $10.5 million on the back end.

Here's the thing about "patience" as a strategy. It only looks smart in hindsight if the opportunity actually shows up. If it doesn't, Bowman spent a summer standing still while a two-time Cup finalist window keeps ticking.

New coach already in place before Bowman's next move

Mike Babcock was hired as Edmonton's head coach on June 23, so the bench is settled even if the roster isn't. That's one variable off the table heading into camp.

The core still produced when it mattered. Draisaitl put up 10 points in six playoff games. McDavid managed six points in the same stretch but finished at a minus-8 rating, a number that tells its own story about where this series slipped away.

Waiting for the right deal is a bit like fishing without bait. You might still catch something, but you're mostly hoping the fish swims into the hook on its own.

Depth pieces like Matthew Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin remain cheap and controllable, which gives Bowman flexibility even without an aggressive July.

But patience has a shelf life in a market like Edmonton. Fans watched Anaheim eliminate this group and they're not exactly in a mood to hear "we'll see what falls into place."