‘Jeff Jackson is on absolute fire’: Edmonton Oilers fans thrilled with July 1 signings

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Not only did Oilers hockey boss Jeff Jackson, the interim GM of the team, bring back numerous key players from the Stanley Cup Final run of the Edmonton Oilers on July 1, he signed two new top forwards, Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner.

The moves left the Oilers over the $88 million salary cap for the time being, but also left Oilers fans in such a state of joy over player transactions that I haven’t seen since Edmonton won the McDavid Lottery.

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That was a more ecstatic moment, but right now Oilers fans are overjoyed on social media with the number of players taking Stanley Cup Discounts, less salary and/ less term, to change their Stanley Cup dreams with the Oilers.

In one day Jackson brought back Adam Henrique, Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark on value contracts, but also added Skinner and Arvidsson on value contracts.

The day was a slow boil, but just kept better. Here are highlights as things climaxed on social media, starting with a tweet from Oilers insider Bob Stauffer just before the day’s final signing of Henrique:

Edmonton Oilers insider Bob Staffer:
To recap the Edmonton Oilers signings today at forward:
Arvidsson- 4M x 2
Skinner- 3M x 1
Janmark- 1.45M x 3
Perry- 1.15 M (250K Bonus) x 1
C. Brown 1M x 1
I have a sneaking suspicion EDM is not done at FWD!

TSN’s Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Henrique returns to Edmonton on two year deal at $3 mil per. He was offered more by other clubs. Edmonton circled back and closed.

The Athletics reporter on the Canucks beat Harman Dayal @harmandayal2
The Oilers are signing Viktor Arvidsson, Adam Henrique and Jeff Skinner for a combined $10M cap hit, without going longer than 2 years of term on any of them. That’s very strong value to net on July 1

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Stauffer
I can 100% guarantee you that Adam Henrique was true to his word and turned down more money to return to the Edmonton Oilers and be a part of a team that has a legit chance to compete for the Stanley Cup. Smart, solid versatile forward can play top 6 LW or 3rd line Center.

The Cult of Hockey’s Kurt Leavins @KurtLeavins
Hey Jeff Jackson…
Are you really, REALLY sure you don’t want to be the G.M.?

U.S. hockey commentator DJ Bean (Oil Man) of the What Chaos podcast @DJ_Bean
How the f*ck is this happening????

Ex-Oilers d-man Jason Strudwick (when Ryan Rishaug told him live on the Got Yer Back pod that Oilers had signed Henrique)
What?! Don’t even tease me. Even if you are teasing me I will never come on this podcast again. Adam Henrique? Wow! I have no idea how they are going to fit him in cap-wise but that is a lot of depth up front. That is more than a wish list than you can ask for if you are an Oilers fan.

Oilers fan Karman Gill @Kgill39
That is another amazing deal by Jeff Jackson. How is he pulling this off

World Hockey Report @worldhockeyrpt
Adam Henrique back to Edmonton? What is this day.

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Oilers fan Walton @StevenGWalton
The NHL pacific division so far Oilers got better. Adds plus experience from the SCF run.
Vegas got worse
Vancouver TBD
LA got worse
Division is there for the Oilers taking

Allan Mitchell of The Athletic @Lowetide
Question for the group: Have the Edmonton Oilers forgotten they are the Edmonton Oilers?

Hockey scout Dan Tencer @dantencer
Jeff Jackson says he’s gonna hire a GM, so I’m sure he will.
But – where I sit – he sure doesn’t need to.
I’m guessing I could speak for most of the fan base when I say we’re pretty glad to have him leading the charge.
Arvidsson, Skinner, Henrique, Janmark and Brown coming in below 12.5 combined with very limited term.
Clinic.

Oilers fan Rob Soria @Oil_Drop
Holy sh*t!!! Jackson is on absolute fire. Would’ve loved for this to happen but never expected it in a million years. I’m stunned and thrilled about it 🙂

Oilers fan _@MissFit_
Jeff Jackson (not a GM) just did the greatest GM’ing job maybe ever for this team.
Wouldn’t you agree all of you Holland apologists?

Oilers fan Shaedon @Shae_Nuge93
Best forward group in the league.

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Oilers fan Trent Wilhauk @TheMrWilhauk
What a day for Jeff Jackson and the Edmonton Oilers

Oilers Access @oilersaccess
Adam Henrique was offered more money by other teams, per Darren Dreger. Edmonton circled back and he left money on the table to win.

Oilers fan Patty B @KtownPB
Jeff Jackson to UFAs today:

“Hi, it’s Jeff. We’re heading back to the final. Wanna come?”

Oilers fan Trey Lutyck-Neufeld @treyneufeld6
That’s a master class July 1st. Wow🤯

Oilers fan Raja Dhami @gretzkytokurri
That is great value. JJ is having himself a day. Doesn’t want to be GM, but doing a better job than the 4 previous GMs combined. He should stay as GM.

Oilers fan My Corsi says im good @Jfmj93
Too bad NHL video games are garbage now, cause the Oilers would be a cheat code to play with.

Hockey fan Spud McKenzie @SpuddyMcKenzie
Jeff Jackson: “I don’t want to be GM”
Proceeds to have one of the best free agencies of any Oilers GM.

Oilers fan Tyson Munro @Tys35
Kris Knoblauch made multiple comments throughout playoffs about Draisaitl’s inferior linemates. He and Jeff Jackson were clearly on the same page and that issue was addressed with flying colors today

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Oilers commentator Preston Hodgkinson @NHLHodgkinson
There is still a hole at RD… but my goodness has Jeff Jackson ever rehauled the team up front.
A very real case that the Oilers are the winners on day 1 of this year’s FA… just incredible work by the management today.
We’ll see if they can keep the momentum…

Oilers fan Jeremy McKain @jeresells
I love free agent day today I was golfing and checking it up expecting the oilers to stand pat. The top six is awesome and having henrique, brown and janmark signed is unbelievable. I am pumped for 2025 !

Oilers fan RG3 @rascalgas
Oilers’ Jeff Jackson cleaning up unfinished business today like Michael Corleone at the end of “The Godfather”

Oilers fan STC @stevetycon
Insane forward group

Oilers Nation writer Sid @NHL_Sid
Wow. Arvidsson, Skinner, Henrique, Brown, and Janmark all signed for below $12.5M is really nice value.
Now, I would keep McLeod. He’s limited offensively, but this group of forwards has plenty of offence, and I would like to keep his speed and defensive value in this lineup.

Oilers fan Ally @MrsLethal
K guys, think back to the decade of darkness, would you have ever thought players would be picking Edmonton? For LESS money???

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Hockey Economist @Hockeconomics
When I logged the June 30 Cup odds for 2025, Oilers-Panthers-Stars were all +900. Now Oilers are +850, Panthers +900, Stars +1100. 🤔 #NHLFreeAgency

Oilers fan Mathew Panchyshyn @mathewjdp
WTAF JACKSON, YOU MAD MAN

Oilers fan Paul Almeida @AzorcanGlobal
Don’t forget that the #Oilers still need to sign Broberg & Holloway to contracts plus Janmark.
They can go over the cap by 10% if required during the summer but have to be cap compliant by game 1.

NHL salary cap site PuckPedia @PuckPedia
With Henrique signed 2 * $3M per
@TSNRyanRishaug
, #LetsGoOilers now $2.5M projected over cap w/ 22 active (13F/7D/2G)
RFA: Broberg, Holloway
Teams can be 10% ($8.8M) over cap in summer
Could:
-Send guys down (Ryan, Stecher, Brown)
-Trade
-LTIR

Edmonton Journal hockey writer Jim Matheson @jimmathesonnhl
Another shoe has to drop with all these Oilers signings. If they decide Ceci is too expensive in third D pairing Stecher who also shoots right and has 500 NHL games might take his spot

Oilers fan WheatNOil @WheatNOil
Probably the best July 1st in recent memory for EDM. Didn’t go long or high with anyone. Biggest cap hit was Arvidsson, who has injury risk but also the most upside… Aggressive but not screwing up the cap for 97’s renewal.

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Oilers fan Chad Mackie @chad_mackie
I need a Jeff Jackson jersey.

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Oilers fan speeds @hockeysymposium
I have a hard time remembering a better first day of free agency since the salary cap was introduced roughly 20 years ago? Were the Pronger and Peca trades both day 1 of free agency back then?

Oilers fan Goodfella @DhillonSteve
EVERYONE who signed took a discount to play with the Edmonton Oilers.. EVERY SINGLE ONE,,

Oilers fan James Gronau @JamesGronau
Quick check on deals today. Seems we have dudes who want to win all on board. 👍

Oilers fan Crowevechkin @KnobLOCKTheGOAT
JJ TAKING US TO THE PROMISED LAND
Ruthless. He’s filling guys positions before he’s even trading them leaving them with limited options
WE TAKING OVER THE WORLD. LABAMBA FOR LIFE. F*CK YOU VANCOUVER! (Just cause)
Meet your 2025 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS

Oilers insider Bob Stauffer @Bob_Stauffer
One week ago the Edmonton Oilers suffered a heart-breaking defeat in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Today Interim GM Jeff Jackson and his staff dug-in, grinded away and made the team deeper and better! Happy Canada Day Oil Country.

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