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NHL Insider Reveals Oilers to Join Sweepstakes for Star Player in Free Agency

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 5:23 PM ET

NHL insider David Pagnotta has revealed that the Oilers could now be one of the teams joining the race to land a star player of the Canucks hitting the market.

The Edmonton Oilers are already rebuilding their roster following another disappointing end to their Stanley Cup aspirations, and more moves could be on the horizon.

With Evander Kane's $5.1 million cap figure now off the books after being dealt to the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton has more cap space and could potentially be on the lookout for a substantial offensive upgrade.

As David Pagnotta of 'The Fourth Period' writes, the Oilers have their eye on the situation with Canucks winger Brock Boeser, who will hit the open market.

'If the Edmonton Oilers clear more cap space, I wouldn't be shocked if they entered the Brock Boeser race come July 1,' Pagnotta wrote.

Boeser wants at least $8 million a year and Vancouver won't pay that

Vancouver and Boeser's talks broke down over valuation disagreements, reported sources say. Rick Dhaliwal says Boeser sought an eight-year deal for $8 million annually, a number that deflated the Canucks' interest.

'Brock is looking for eight times eight,' Dhaliwal said. 'The Canucks don't want to do that. I'm sorry. They're just not going to do it.'

Boeser, 28, had a comparatively quiet 2024-25 season with 50 points in 75 games, a notch back from his 40-goal, 73-point campaign the year before.

He is coming out of a three-year, $19.95 million deal that had a $6.65 million AAV. 'Daily Faceoff' projects his next deal at about six years and $51 million.

For the Oilers, who are thin on depth scoring behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Boeser could be a quality top-six and an upgrade immediately from the loss of Kane.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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