The Edmonton Oilers have secured the services of forward Mattias Janmark for the upcoming season, signing him to a one-year contract worth $1 million. Janmark, known for his reliability as a bottom-six forward and his penalty-killing abilities, expressed mutual interest in staying with the team and agreed to take a discount compared to his previous contract.
During the 2022-23 season, Janmark appeared in 66 games for the Oilers, recording 10 goals and 25 points. Despite averaging less than 15 minutes of ice time per game, he made a significant impact on the penalty kill, becoming one of the team’s go-to players when shorthanded. Janmark logged the second-most short-handed minutes among Oilers forwards and even scored three short-handed goals, ranking him among the top 10 in the league in that category.
In the upcoming season, Janmark is expected to once again slot into the Oilers’ bottom six, providing steady defensive play and contributing to the penalty kill. He will be relied upon to handle around two minutes of ice time per game in short-handed situations and will aim to excel in defensive zone draws. Additionally, in the event of injuries or other circumstances, he could serve as a candidate for a healthy scratch, ready to step into the lineup when needed.
The Oilers Still Have Work To Do
With the signing of Janmark, the Oilers’ attention in free agency now turns to signing Evan Bouchard and Ryan McLeod, while also finding a top-six right-winger and a fourth-line center in NHL free agency. The team currently has approximately $8 million in remaining salary cap space to work with as they pursue further additions to their roster. It is expected that around $1 million of that will go to Connor Brown, who is rumored to be heading to Edmonton if the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t stand in the way.
As the offseason progresses, the Oilers will continue their efforts to strengthen their lineup and address key needs in order to position themselves for a successful campaign in the upcoming season.
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