Oilers Sign Spencer Stastney

The Edmonton Oilers have worked out a new deal with restricted free agent Spencer Stastney. The defenseman has signed a one-year, $1.525MM deal per PuckPedia. Edmonton acquired Stastney as part of a pair of trades that also landed the club goaltender Tristan Jarry.

Stastney played through his first full season in the NHL this season. He split the year between 30 games with the Nashville Predators and 36 games in Edmonton. Stastney totaled 10 points and a minus-11 in those appearances – including just one point and a minus-10 in Edmonton. He also chipped in 13 hits and 63 shot blocks. It was a quiet performance in what seemed likely to be a breakout season for Stastney. He climbed the ranks of the Predators’ minor-leagues and earned strong attention with 17 points through 26 games of the 2024-25 AHL season. That scoring came spread across three stints in the minor-leagues, separated by tenures on the Predators’ bottom-pair.

While Stastney didn’t vindicate his climb to the NHL in 2024-25 with a breakout in 2025-26, his momentum through both seasons is encouraging after the defender considered retirement during the 2023-24 campaign. He stepped away from the Nashville organization through parts of that season to enter the NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program and address his mental health. Stastney returned in time for the 2024 postseason and played in both the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Calder Cup Playoffs. That return grew into strong footing in the pro ranks, then the first trade of Stastney’s career.

A new deal north of $1MM will be a bode of confidence in Stastney’s ability to stick in Edmonton’s lineup. The Oilers are now carrying eight defensemen at the NHL level, following the acquisition of Shakir Mukhamadullin as part of the trade that sent Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks. Stastney will be in direct competition with Mukhamadullin for the role of extra left-defender, behind the recently acquired-and-extended Ryan Shea.