Edmonton’s two latest offseason moves — signing 27‑year‑old defenseman Riley Stillman and veteran goaltender Matt Tomkins — and why they matter for the Oilers’ 2025‑26 campaign.
—
1. ✅ The Signings: Terms & Context
🛡 Riley Stillman – Two‑Year, Two‑Way Deal
Signed July 1, 2025, to a two‑year, two‑way contract worth $775,000 AAV
A 27‑year‑old left‑shot defenseman, Stillman appeared in 35 AHL games for the Chicago Wolves (3 G + 6 A) and saw five NHL games with Carolina last season .
🥅 Matt Tomkins – Two‑Year, Two‑Way Contract
Also inked July 1 to a two‑year, two‑way deal with a $775,000 AAV
Edmonton native (born June 19, 1994) with six NHL appearances for the Tampa Bay Lightning (3‑2‑1, .892 SV%, 3.33 GAA) and a solid AHL record, including three shutouts and a .907 save percentage over 26 games .
—
2. 🧠 Player Profiles & Potential Impact
2.1 Riley Stillman – The Gritty Defender
Experience & Numbers:
Career total: 163 NHL games (4 goals, 22 assists, 26 points); solid AHL track record .
2024‑25 AHL: 3 goals, 6 assists in 35 games; 5 NHL appearances last season .
Defensive Style:
Known for physicality and defensive reliability. Not an offensive driver, but a steadier, penalty‑kill capable option.
Roster Fit:
Expected to spend majority of 2025‑26 with Bakersfield Condors (AHL), providing depth. NHL readiness makes him a valuable call‑up option .
Left‑shot depth is always at a premium; Stillman’s size (6’2”, 207 lbs) and speed can complement Edmonton’s bottom‑pair defensive rotation.
2.2 Matt Tomkins – The Local Goaltending Veteran
Career Overview:
Drafted 2012, played in AHL/ECHL/SHL before breaking into NHL with Tampa Bay .
2023‑24 NHL: 6 games (3‑2‑1, .892 SV%, 3.33 GAA), showing flashes of potential .
Recent AHL performance: 12‑10‑5 record, 2.55 GAA, .907 SV%, 3 shutouts in 2024‑25 .
**Team Depth & Local Hero:**
Serves as reliable backup in Bakersfield, ready to fill in for the NHL club in case of injury.
Edmonton native — local roots bring leadership and fan engagement to the organization.
—
3. 📊 Strategic Value & Organizational Fit
3.1 Two‑Way Deals = Cap Flexibility
Both players’ contracts are two‑way with modest salaries—allowing easy shuttling between NHL and AHL without cap strain. They’re ideal depth pieces under the 50‑contract limit strategy.
3.2 Reinforcing the Pipeline
Bakersfield Depth:
Stillman and Tomkins deepen the Condors lineup, critical for sustaining performance across injury stretches and call‑ups .
**Emergency Call‑Ups:**
Both carry NHL experience to step into Edmonton’s lineup sans flash but with steadiness and reliability.
3.3 Culture & Continuity
Tomkins, as a hometown product who’s represented Canada internationally, brings pedigree and leadership.
Stillman, son of former NHLer Cory Stillman, brings hockey IQ and grit.
Both are styles – steady, workmanlike – that fit Edmonton’s blueprint of mixing elite stars (McDavid, Draisaitl) with dependable, character‑driven supporting casts.
—
4. 🔍 Broader Roster Context
4.1 Offseason Moves Recap
Curtis Lazar (1‑year deal) added depth and character
Andrew Mangiapane bolstered scoring wing
Riley Stillman and Matt Tomkins fill depth at D & G
Evan Bouchard extended, other free agents in/out
4.2 Filling the Bench & Insurance
Recent departures (e.g., Perron, Arvidsson) opened up cap room and depth slots. Edmonton has consistently aimed to maintain sandwich lists of dependable depth players alongside elite core talent.
—
5. 📈 Outlook for 2025‑26
Riley Stillman
Likely spends most of season in AHL, but will be among the first choices for defensive call‑ups.
His physicality and penalty‑kill sense give him upside as a reliable plug‑and‑play defender in Edmonton.
Matt Tomkins
Positioned as AHL starter heading into camp and preseason.
NHL backup call potential if team faces goalie injuries; his experience and local ties add intangible value.
—
6. ✅ Final Take
Edmonton’s acquisition of Riley Stillman and Matt Tomkins is emblematic of its deliberate, stability‑focused strategy: modest contracts, tested players, organizational depth, and culture alignment. Both men are not flash signings—they are building blocks.
Stillman is a physical, dependable left defense option who can step up from the AHL if needed.
Tomkins offers more than goaltending depth—his leadership and Edmonton roots provide meaningful organizational continuity.
This doesn’t shift playoff expectations by itself, but it strengthens the internal structure. In a long NHL season—especially one that likely includes playoff hockey—this type of depth can be the difference between surviving mid‑season injuries and building up stamina toward another deep run.
Those watching closely will appreciate the thoughtfulness behind such depth signings. On paper, they look small. But in practice, when the starting goalie is stretched, or a defensive forward gets hurt in February, players like Stillman and Tomkins become invaluable. Put simply: Edmonton’s not just building a roster—they’re building resilience.
—
Curious
what this spells for Bakersfield’s season, or how these moves compare across the Pacific Division? Let me know—I’d love to dive into it more.