Suddenly, it’s summer 2031. In this reality, the Jetsons’ aerial vehicles are here, there’s a four-day work week and the Edmonton Oilers have finally won their sixth Stanley Cup.What next?Five seasons from now, Leon Draisaitl will be 35, just two years from free agency. Connor McDavid will be 34 and under a new deal, since he reached free agency in the summer of 2028. Older players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Mattias Ekholm and Frederik Andersen will likely be retired or in other NHL cities.Here’s a look at what may come for the Oilers in the next five seasons.The captainThe nature of McDavid’s value to the Oilers goes beyond wins and losses on the ice. The franchise value has skyrocketed during the McDavid years, and owner Daryl Katz has a significant interest in keeping the captain in Alberta. For McDavid, every interview he has ever done on free agency includes winning the Stanley Cup with the Oilers. The team’s success in the 2027 and 2028 playoffs will impact the decision, but the smart bet has the captain signing another deal with the Oilers after the conclusion of his current contract.Leon DraisaitlAs mentioned above, he’ll still be playing under his current contract, but there’s evidence Draisaitl will age well. The big centre turns 31 in October, but last season his max foot speed was in the 92nd percentile, according to NHL Edge. He is one of two unicorns on the current team. Expect an Evgeni Malkin-level romp through his 30s.Evan BouchardEvan Bouchard’s contract expires in the summer of 2029. If he continues to impact offence and five-on-five outscoring at his current pace, Bouchard will receive a substantial increase from his $10.5 million cap hit on the next contract. Bouchard is an easy player to project, as he plays 81 or 82 games per season (over the past five years) and is delivering some of the most impressive scoring campaigns for a modern defenceman (95 points in 2025-26). He’s in the 61st percentile in foot speed, and that will eventually impact his playing time, but Bouchard will be a productive player deep into his 30s. Even after his offence fades, Bouchard’s ability to move the puck out of the zone will have high value.Aging veteransHyman will be 36 in the summer of 2028 when his deal expires. His utility and non-stop motor (87th percentile max speed) may still be on display, but the injuries will be more common, and the goals won’t come as often. The decline for Nugent-Hopkins (36 in the summer of 2029 when his contract ends) will continue as well, although it’s possible both men could be productive enough to remain in the league five years from now. Their presence on the Oilers roster may depend on how competitive the team will be during those seasons. Veterans often pursue Stanley Cup rings later in careers.Defencemen are a different matter, as NHL teams value experience at the position heavily and are more forgiving in regard to lost foot speed at the position. Ekholm is 36, Connor Murphy is 33 and Jake Walman is 30. There’s a chance all three will still be playing in the NHL five years from now. Ekholm is especially aging like fine wine.