Edmonton Oilers PTO options ahead of training camp

NHL training camps are just around the corner. With that in mind, now is the time to add any potential last minute additions to the final roster. The Edmonton Oilers’ defensive core and goaltending are all set, but there could be some options to upgrade on the forward front.

It was reported that Frederik Andersen and Matthew Savoie will miss all of training camp. With Devon Levi as the third goalie, the Oilers should be fine in net. However, this could be a late opportunity to bring someone in on forward, especially if Savoie will miss any time.

Let’s take a look at some potential PTO options for the Oilers going into training camp.

Vladimir Tarasenko

Arguably the most notable name on the market right now is Vladimir Tarasenko. The 34-year-old Russian forward is mainly known for his time with the St. Louis Blues. Here, he had multiple mid-to-high-thirty-goal seasons and one where he hit the forty-goal mark. He was an All-Star on multiple occasions, was the cover of NHL 17, and helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup in 2019. Tarasenko is a pure sniper. His goal-scoring abilities are the standout factor in his play. Even as he pushes 35 years of age, he can still bury over 20 goals a season.

After his time in St. Louis, Tarasenko bounced around between five teams in four seasons. Over this time, he played for New York (Rangers), Ottawa, Florida, Detroit, and most recently, Minnesota. His best all around season came in 2025–26 with the Wild. He scored 23 goals and 47 points last year, helping the Wild advance to the second round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, no teams really seem to have any interest in the aging winger. An affordable deal or a PTO may be the only shot he has at making an NHL roster.

On his latest deal, Tarasenko made $4.75M a season. This is likely too expensive for him at this point, but I could see him getting something in the $2M to $3M range. The Oilers currently have just under $2M in cap space, so they would need Tarasenko to take an affordable deal to snag him.

Patrik Laine

Another goal scorer whom the Oilers could look at is Patrik Laine. At one point, Laine was one of the best goal scorers in the entire NHL. He has become one of those players cursed with injuries year after year. The forward was held to just five games last season with the Montreal Canadiens. Laine has not been fully healthy since the 2019–20 season, which was impacted by COVID-19. Since then, the most games Laine has played were 56 in 2021–22 with the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is a likely reason as to why he remains unsigned.

Laine had some dominant seasons as a Winnipeg Jet. He was a top scorer in the league and helped the Jets reach the 2018 Western Conference Final. After he was dealt to the Blue Jackets, he continued to produce at a consistent rate. The forward had one point-per-game season in Columbus and two where he scored over 20 goals. In the summer of 2024, Laine was traded to the Canadiens, where his falloff really started to settle in.

In his first season with Montreal, he appeared in 52 games and only scored 33 points. The final really important games that Laine played came during that season, with Team Finland at the Four Nations tournament. Laine had three assists in three games with Finland before injuries continued to disrupt his play. The forward was unable to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics due to his most recent season-ending injury.

After looking over Laine’s profile, it makes sense why no one has taken a chance on him. However, I think he still has the skill to score 30 goals in a fully healthy season.

Michael Bunting

A more depth forward kind of option available is Michael Bunting. Bunting is a depth grinder who can bring some physicality and edge to the team. His most notable years were with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he exploded offensively and became a very valuable player. Unfortunately, Bunting has been known for taking very bad penalties and bringing a bad attitude to the team. This makes a firm case as to why he remains unsigned.

Even with the bad penalties, there is no doubt that Bunting could thrive in a place like Edmonton. He is a quick forward who can bring some physicality while producing more than guys like Frederic or Joseph. It has always been rumoured that Evander Kane had attitude problems, but he put together some awesome seasons with the Oilers.

While Bunting may be a big risk, I think he would be a more affordable option than guys like Tarasenko and Laine. He has not performed as well as he did with the Leafs, but he was still a solid third liner with Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Nashville. A PTO could be a good option, just to see how he looks.

Line combinations with additions

With Tarasenko

Tarasenko – McDavid – Hyman

Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Savoie

RNH – Dickinson – Kapanen

Joseph – Samanski – Frederic

With Laine

Howard – McDavid – Hyman

Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Savoie

RNH – Dickinson – Laine

Joseph – Samanski – Kapanen

With Bunting

Howard – McDavid – Hyman

Podkolzin – Draisaitl – Savoie

RNH – Dickinson – Bunting

Joseph – Samanski – Kapanen

Do you think that any of these three players would be worth signing to a PTO?

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