Ranking the Oilers’ top off-season priorities

We are four weeks away from free agency in the NHL. Recent history would suggest the Edmonton Oilers need to adjust their scouting on July 1. They’ve focused mainly on smaller forwards the past few July 1sts, and it hasn’t panned out.

Last year, they signed Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year deal with a $3.6m AAV. It didn’t work out. He was traded to Chicago, along with a first-round pick, for Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach. The Oilers also signed Curtis Lazar to a one-year deal at $775K. He was a fine 12-13th forward.

They were much busier on July 1, 2024.

Victor Arvidsson, two years at $4 million AAV.

Jeff Skinner. One year deal at $3 million AAV.

Josh Brown, three years at $1 million AAV.

Troy Stetcher, two years at $787.5K.

They also signed three of their own free agents.

Adam Henrique, two years at $3 million AAV.
Mattias Janmark, three years at $1.45 million AAV.
Corey Perry, one year at $1.4 million AAV (base of $1.15 million and $250,000 in bonuses).

Perry was a great signing. He scored 19 goals in the regular season and added 10 in the playoffs. Amazing production for $1.4m.

Stecher was a solid signing. He played 66 games in 2024/25 and eight in the playoffs. He gave the Oilers great value for his AAV.

Arvidsson scored 15 goals and 27 points in 67 games. He dressed in 15 playoff games. It didn’t work out for him in Edmonton, I’m not sure why, but he scored 25 goals and 54 points in the second year of the deal, albeit as a member of the Bruins. The Oilers got a 2027 fifth-round pick for him in the deal. They’d have been better off keeping him at $4m and not signing Mangiapane.

Skinner didn’t fit in Edmonton. He did score 16 goals, but his footspeed had clearly slowed down. He signed a one-year deal with San Jose last year but only played 32 games before he and the Sharks mutually agreed to terminate his contract. No team signed him and he is essentially retired.

Josh Brown played 10 games for the Oilers in 2025, and he played zero games this past season. His salary didn’t count against the cap, so he never impacted their cap, but they didn’t give him three years at $1m with the expectation he’d play almost exclusively in the minors. And he didn’t sign here thinking he’d be in the AHL. He bought a house the summer he signed, but he didn’t make the team, and he had to go to Bakersfield, while his wife remained in Edmonton. It wasn’t a great situation overall, but their evaluation of his talent was clearly off.

Henrique had an okay first year with 12 goals and 27 points while winning key faceoffs, but he only scored three goals last season. They missed him in the playoffs, and I think he can still contribute as a fourth line centre, but likely not on a Cup-contending team.

Janmark has battled shoulder issues the past two seasons. In hindsight, he should have had surgery last off-season on his shoulder. He only scored three goals in 123 regular-season games the past two seasons. However, in the playoffs he was much more effective and scored three goals in the 2025 playoffs. If he can return healthy, he should help the penalty kill, but he can’t stay in the lineup if he can’t add some offense. We’ll see if his shoulder is fixed and he can score 7-9 goals.

The Oilers’ best signing last year came in October, when they signed Jack Roslovic to a one-year, $1.5m AAV deal. He scored 21 goals and 36 points in 69 games. He was a stellar signing. He scored the second most goals, 15, at 5×5 among Oilers wingers last season and he only skated 400 minutes with Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl. He produced well away from them, and you can make a strong case he’s worth bringing back. But in a shallow free agent pool, he likely can command $3.5m to $4m after scoring 22 and 21 goals the past two seasons.

OILERS’ PRIORITIES THIS SUMMER…

The first priority has to be goaltending

Tristan Jarry is signed for two more years at $5.375m. They don’t have another NHL goalie signed. Matt Tomkins has one year remaining on his two-way deal, while Nathaniel Day and Samuel Jonsson each have two years remaining on their entry-level deals. Connor Ungar is an RFA, while Connor Ingram is a pending UFA.

The free agent goalie list includes Ingram, Sergei Bobrovsky, Stuart Skinner, Frederik Anderson, Cam Talbot, David Rittich, Daniil Tarasov, Eric Comrie, Vitek Vanecek, Laurent Brossoit, Petr Mrazek, James Reimer and Calvin Pickard.

Five of the 13 are current or former Oilers. Tarasov interests me the most, and I wonder if his camp is waiting to see what happens with Bobrovsky. Tarasov will want to play more, and if Florida re-signs Bob, I could see Tarasov testing the market.  None of the others intrigues me more than Ingram, so the Oilers’ best option might be to retain the goalie they know.

Their second priority has to be adding defensively aware players on defence

Connor Murphy is at the top of the list. The Oilers know him. He played well, and they need a second-pair right-shot defender. The other right-shot defensive D-men on the market include Jacob Trouba, Nick Jensen, Radko Gudas, Vincent Desharnais, and Erik Gudbranson.

Gudas doesn’t skate well enough. Trouba isn’t an option due to his wife’s work. Jensen isn’t as tough as Murphy. Desharnais is a solid third-pair defender, but I don’t see him as a second-pair guy, and same with the others. Murphy is the best option. There is interest from the Oilers and Murphy to find a deal, and I think there is a good chance he returns.

The third priority should be a right-shot, bottom-six centre who can kill penalties

Noel Acciari had a great year in Pittsburgh, but I wouldn’t expect that much offence from him. His 12-11-23 at 5×5 was the first time he had double-digit 5×5 assists in his career and only the second time he’s scored double-digit goals. He is good on faceoffs in the defensive zone, taking over 400 each of the three seasons, and he won 52.6%, 53.4% and 56.5% in those years. And he can kill penalties as he’s averaged over two minutes/game in five of the past six seasons.

Kevin Stenlund had a down year in Utah, after a decent first season with them. He won a Cup with Florida, and having playoff experience, and success is something the Oilers need. Stenlund is great on draws. I’d dig deeper to see what changed last year for him after a solid 2024 season with Florida and a good 2025 with Utah. He is great on defensive zone faceoffs. He was 57.5% last year winning 378 of 657 draws, and he was 62% in 2025, winning 365 of 588. The next closest centre in D-zone draws on Utah last season was Barrett Hayton with 275. Henrique led the Oilers with 310. Granted, Edmonton took 1,398 D-zone draws compared to Utah’s 1,622, but Stenlund took 40.5% of Utah’s D-zone draws while Henrique took 22.2% of the Oilers. Edmonton didn’t have one centre they relied on defensively. They need a right-shot centre.

Fourth priority would be a winger who can score 5×5.

Matt Savoie had a very good rookie season. He played the most minutes on the PK of any forward, and as he grew more comfortable, he started making more plays offensively. After the Olympic break, Savoie was third on the Oilers with 19 points in 24 games, and he was fourth on the team with five even-strength goals. He had a great developmental season, and he is capable of scoring 16-20 goals this year. Maybe more.

Isaac Howard scored 24 goals in 47 AHL games. He had the highest goals/game of any AHL rookie (minimum 40 GP). It is hard to score in the AHL. A similar, smaller, skilled forward had exactly 24 goals in 47 games in 2024. His name is Logan Stankoven. Stankoven scored 14 goals in the NHL in 2025, split between Dallas and Carolina, and he had 21-23-44 this past season. Could Howard score 14-15 goals for the Oilers this season? It is very possible. He played 29 NHL games last year, but mainly on the third and fourth lines. He played 10 minutes with Leon Draisaitl and 29 with Connor McDavid. He isn’t a lock to be a top-six winger this year, but I could see him being a regular on the second or third line. He is a shooter. They haven’t had a young shooter in many years.

I do think the Oilers should re-sign Kasperi Kapanen before searching out other players. He’s a good middle-six option, can kill penalties, can play with Draisaitl, and I don’t expect his cap hit to be as high as some of the free agents. But the Oilers should still sign Kapanen and look for another winger, if they have room after filling out the first three priorities. The list of free agent wingers who can score isn’t very long.

It has Alex Tuch (he will be too expensive), Anthony Mantha, Anders Lee, Michael Bunting, Mason Marchment, Bobby McMann, Andrei Kuzmenko, Jaden Schwartz, Arvidsson, Roslovic, and Mats Zuccarello.

Zuccarello is 38. I don’t think he’s an option.

Kuzmenko isn’t what they need. His best play comes on the power play, and the Oilers’ PP is set.

Bunting being scratched in the playoffs could lower his asking price, and he’d be an option. If he is looking for a similar $4.5m AAV that he currently has, I’d pass.

Schwartz had a down year with only 11 goals in 50 games. He is a smart player, has won a cup, but he’s only scored more than nine goals at 5×5 in one of his last eight seasons. Not who I’d look at.

Mantha scored 33 goals in Pittsburgh, but he has zero goals in 20 career playoff games. He has skill, but I wouldn’t overpay him. If he is still unsigned on July 4th, then I’d look at him, as you could get him on a more palatable contract.

McMann would be a great addition, but I think he will cost too much. He is 30 years of age, and this is his one chance for a big payday coming off a 29-goal season. He’s earned the right to get $4.5 million and term.

Lee is someone I’d consider. Only once (2022) in his last seven seasons has he had a SF%, GF% and xGF% below 50%. Every other year, he was above in all three categories. He’s a big, heavy forward with good hands. He turns 36 on July 3rd, so age is a bit of a concern, but he’s been very consistent in his career. His 19 goals last season was the second time he was below 20 in the last decade. The other season was in 2021, when he scored 12 goals in 27 games before being injured. Outside of that season, Lee has only missed a total of 24 games in 10 years. He is big, has good hands and has a record of staying healthy. He’s American, and has only played in New York, so he might not want to come out West, but he could be a very good value contract.

Marchment has the jerk factor the Oilers lack. He has scored 22, 22 and 19 goals the past three seasons. He missed 14 games last year and 20 the year prior, so health is a bit of a concern. Cost will be the challenge. He’s coming off a $4.5m AAV deal, and due to his unique agitating style, he will be sought after. His on-ice persona and skillset are something the Oilers lack. He probably will be too expensive, but he’s someone I’d look into.

Stan Bowman and the Oilers don’t need a great summer, but they need a solid, productive one when it comes to pro scouting and evaluating who they sign.

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