The Edmonton Oilers current free agency landscape this offseason

Player	Position	Role
Adam Henrique	C/LW	Middle-six forward
Kasperi Kapanen	RW	Speed/depth winger
Jason Dickinson	C	Defensive matchup forward
Connor Ingram	G	Goaltending depth
Calvin Pickard	G	backup goaltender?
Connor Murphy	RD	Veteran defencemen
Samuel Poulin	LW	Internal depth forward
Jack Roslovic	RW/C	Offensive depth
Max Jones	LW	Physical depth winger
Curtis Lazar	C/RW	bottom-six depth
Cam Dineen	LD	AHL/NHL depth defencemen

Pending restricted free agents

Player	Position	Role
Colton Dach	LW/C	Physical forward depth
Spencer Stastney	LD	Defensive depth
Owen Michaels	RW	Development forward
Josh Bloom	RW	Development winger
Matvei Petrov	LW	Offensive upside winger
Roby Järventie	LW	high-upside project winger

Priority Decisions

Kasperi Kapanen

Among Edmonton’s pending unrestricted free agents, Kasperi Kapanen represents one of the cleaner fits to return.

At 30 years old next season, Kapanen still brings a combination of speed, versatility, and lineup flexibility that fits several of Edmonton’s needs moving forward. While consistency has followed him throughout much of his career, there were stretches during the 2025–26 season where his impact was noticeable, particularly in transition and alongside skilled players higher in the lineup.

Kapanen finished the season with 17 points in only 41 games and six points in six games in the playoffs this year, while moving throughout Edmonton’s middle-six. At different points throughout the year, he fit naturally alongside Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin. His speed added another layer to the line’s transition game, while also complementing Podkolzin’s heavier forechecking style.

The Oilers do not necessarily need every returning player to become a major offensive driver. In Kapanen’s case, the value comes more from pace, versatility, and overall roster fit relative to cost.

A reunion is far from guaranteed, and contract terms will still matter. But compared to several of Edmonton’s pending UFAs, Kapanen feels like one of the more logical players to keep moving forward.

Jason Dickinson

Jason Dickinson’s value to Edmonton goes beyond offence.

Throughout his short tenure with the Oilers this season, Dickinson regularly handled difficult defensive assignments, penalty-kill duty, and harder matchup minutes at the bottom of the lineup. His game brought structure and reliability to areas the Oilers have continued trying to improve around their offensive core.

Much of his impact was felt more through usage than raw production. He consistently handled defensive-zone starts, penalty-kill responsibility, and heavier minutes against stronger competition—the kind of role that often becomes increasingly important during playoff hockey and tighter games.

Dickinson’s ability to play a heavier, defensively responsible style also gives Edmonton another layer of lineup flexibility. Players capable of moving throughout the bottom-six while still handling difficult minutes are not always easy to replace internally.

There is also a larger roster-building argument for keeping him.

With Adam Henrique also reaching the end of his contract, Dickinson could represent a younger long-term option for Edmonton’s third-line centre role moving forward. While the two players bring different styles, Dickinson’s age, defensive reliability, and ability to handle tougher minutes may make him a more sustainable fit within Edmonton’s current roster timeline.

Health may ultimately become part of the discussion as well.

If Edmonton believes Dickinson can remain healthy and continue filling those matchup roles consistently, there is a strong argument for keeping that type of stability within the lineup. But with younger forwards pushing internally and cap space remaining limited, management still has to be selective about which veteran depth pieces it prioritizes moving forward.

Still, Dickinson feels like one of the more difficult roles to replace internally right away, which likely increases his value heading into the offseason.

Tough veteran decisions ahead

Adam Henrique

Is it time to move on? While he still brings several qualities that contending teams value.

When healthy, his versatility allowed Edmonton to move him throughout the lineup, while his defensive reliability and experience helped stabilize difficult stretches during the season. Henrique finished the year with 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) while continuing to handle multiple roles throughout the lineup.

Players capable of handling centre responsibilities, penalty-kill minutes, and middle-six usage without creating major matchup concerns are not always easy to replace.

But this offseason may force Edmonton into a larger conversation about roster fit, age, injuries, and long-term flexibility.

Henrique will be 36 next season, and injuries became a more consistent factor throughout the year. For a team already operating within a tight salary structure, management has to determine how much term and money can realistically continue being committed to aging veterans while younger players continue pushing internally for opportunities.

There is also the question of where Henrique realistically fits within the lineup moving forward.

If Edmonton prioritizes re-signing Jason Dickinson as a younger long-term third-line centre option, Henrique’s role becomes less clear. Curtis Lazar also provided steady fourth-line centre depth during stretches of the season, potentially leaving Edmonton with fewer natural lineup openings down the middle if management decides to get younger in supporting roles.

That does not necessarily diminish Henrique’s value or what he brought to the roster. Veteran versatility and experience still matter for contending teams. But compared to some of Edmonton’s younger free agents, Henrique’s situation feels far more complicated heading into the offseason.

Connor Murphy

Connor Murphy represents one of the more difficult decisions facing Edmonton this offseason.

Despite his relatively short tenure with the Oilers, Murphy brought stability and experience to the blue line when healthy. His defensive style fit naturally into tougher matchup situations, while his veteran presence added another layer of reliability to a defensive group that dealt with injuries and constant adjustments throughout the season.

Much of Murphy’s value was tied more closely to defensive usage, penalty killing, and harder matchup minutes than offensive production. For a team still trying to contend, there is obvious value in keeping dependable veteran defenders capable of handling difficult minutes without needing sheltered usage.

There is also the reality of Edmonton’s overall defensive depth chart.

The Oilers currently have significantly more left-shot defencemen throughout the organization than right-shot options, which increases the value of players capable of playing reliable minutes on the right side. That positional imbalance may ultimately become an important factor in how management evaluates Murphy’s future.

At the same time, Murphy will be 33 next season, and Edmonton cannot realistically commit long-term money to every veteran player approaching their mid-30s, especially with cap flexibility remaining limited.

That is what makes this decision difficult.

A short-term reunion could still make sense if both sides are comfortable with the role and financial fit. But compared to some of Edmonton’s other free agents, Murphy’s future may depend heavily on how management views the overall direction and balance of the blue line heading into next season.

The goaltending discussion

Connor Ingram and Calvin Pickard

The Oilers’ goaltending decisions this offseason extend beyond simply choosing between Calvin Pickard and Connor Ingram.

Edmonton suddenly has several goaltenders at different stages of development throughout the organization, including Tristan Jarry, Samuel Jonsson, Connor Ungar, Matt Tomkins, and Nathaniel Day. Not all of them project as immediate NHL options—although Ungar could potentially begin seeing NHL time sooner rather than later—but the overall depth chart has become increasingly crowded compared to previous years.

That creates an important organizational question: what exactly do the Oilers want their goaltending structure to look like moving forward?

Pickard brought stability and professionalism during his time with Edmonton, finishing the season with a .871 save percentage and 3.68 goals-against average. His familiarity within the organization still carries value, particularly for a team trying to maintain consistency in net. He is also widely viewed as an important personality within the dressing room, something that can still matter for veteran depth players on contending teams.

Connor Ingram presents a slightly different discussion.

At 29 years old, Ingram fits Edmonton’s competitive timeline more comfortably than some of the older veteran options available. He finished the season with a .876 save percentage and 3.86 goals-against average, and there is still an argument that his upside and overall fit within the organization may be worth exploring further, particularly if Edmonton wants to become younger and more flexible at the position.

Ultimately, this discussion may become less about choosing one individual goalie and more about determining the direction Edmonton wants its overall depth chart to take moving forward.

Does Tristan Jarry return to a larger NHL role? Is Connor Ungar ready to begin seeing NHL time? How quickly does the organization want to transition younger goaltenders into larger opportunities?

Those questions may ultimately shape Edmonton’s offseason approach in net more than any single contract decision alone.

Value and depth decisions

Not every free agency decision will revolve around major lineup changes or headline moves. Some of Edmonton’s offseason choices will come down to depth, flexibility, and determining which supporting pieces still fit around the roster moving forward.

Curtis Lazar

Curtis Lazar quietly provided solid depth value for Edmonton throughout the season. Despite dealing with a few injuries, he finished with six points (four goals, two assists) in 45 games while continuing to contribute on face-offs and the penalty kill.

His versatility and defensive reliability made him a dependable fourth-line option, particularly during stretches where injuries forced lineup adjustments. If the contract remains affordable, there is still a reasonable argument for keeping that type of stability lower in the lineup.

Jack Roslovic

Jack Roslovic brings a different skill set to the discussion. At his best, he still offers offensive ability and transition speed that can help secondary scoring. Roslovic finished the season with 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists) in 69 games, showing he can still contribute offensively in the right role.

But consistency remained a question throughout different stretches of the season, and Edmonton may ultimately decide those roster spots are better used on players who fit more clearly into the lineup’s long-term direction. With younger options pushing internally and other priorities throughout the roster, Roslovic feels like one of the more likely players the Oilers could move on from this offseason.

Max Jones

Max Jones likely becomes one of the more uncertain decisions among Edmonton’s depth forwards.

Injuries impacted much of his season, limiting him to 21 games where he recorded five points (three goals, two assists). The physicality, forechecking, and energy remain appealing, particularly for a fourth-line role, but availability and lineup consistency will likely factor heavily into any offseason decision.

At 28 years old, Edmonton may also begin looking at whether younger left-shot wingers internally could start competing for those same bottom-six opportunities moving forward.

Cam Dineen

Cam Dineen’s value comes more from organizational depth than everyday NHL certainty. Players capable of moving between the NHL and AHL while providing reliable defensive depth still carry importance over the course of a long season, particularly for teams dealing with injuries and constant lineup adjustments.

At the same time, Dineen is not the only left-shot defenceman within the organization pushing for opportunities. Players like Atro Leppänen also factor into Edmonton’s longer-term depth picture on the left side, which could make cost and roster flexibility significant factors in any decision moving forward.

This may ultimately come down to determining which depth options provide the best overall value while still leaving room for internal competition.

Samuel Poulin

Samuel Poulin remains an interesting internal option moving forward. While he may not yet have fully established himself as an everyday NHL player, he still fits the larger conversation surrounding younger players beginning to push for opportunities internally.

Poulin has continued to find success at the AHL level, while he also gained some NHL experience before being traded to Edmonton this past season. His size, physical style, and ability to contribute lower in the lineup could make him a realistic depth option for Edmonton moving forward, particularly if the organization wants to become younger and less reliant on veteran stopgaps throughout the bottom-six.

That larger organizational shift may become increasingly important this offseason.

With several veteran depth players also reaching free agency, Edmonton may finally begin creating more room for internal competition throughout the roster rather than continuously relying on short-term external solutions.

Creating room for internal competition

While much of Edmonton’s offseason attention will focus on unrestricted free agents, several restricted free agents could quietly play an important role in the organization’s longer-term roster planning.

The Oilers cannot indefinitely rely on veteran stopgaps without eventually creating opportunities for younger players to push into larger roles.

Matvei Petrov

Matvei Petrov remains one of the more intriguing offensive upside bets within Edmonton’s system. The 23-year-old finished the AHL season with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 38 games, and while consistency still remains part of his development, the offensive tools continue to stand out.

For Edmonton, players like Petrov represent the type of internal upside worth continuing to invest in, particularly if the organization wants to gradually become younger and more flexible throughout the bottom-six moving forward.

Roby Järventie

Roby Järventie’s development path has been slowed at times by injuries, but the combination of size, skill, and offensive tools still makes him an important long-term project.

Spencer Stastney

Spencer Stastney may not generate the same attention offensively as some of Edmonton’s forward prospects, but defensive depth throughout an organization still matters.

The 25-year-old defenceman appeared in 30 NHL games with Nashville before joining Edmonton and played another 36 games within the Oilers organization, giving him his first extended season of professional NHL experience. 

For Edmonton, Stastney could represent the type of younger depth defenceman who could potentially compete for NHL minutes while still likely remaining relatively affordable to keep moving forward.

Colton Dach

Colton Dach still fits into the category of a younger forward trying to carve out a larger role internally. His physical style, size, and overall profile give Edmonton another potential depth option moving forward, particularly within the bottom-six.

The 2025–26 season was also Dach’s first full NHL season, split between Chicago and Edmonton, where he recorded 13 points (five goals, eight assists) across 61 games. While he may not project as a major offensive piece, players who can bring physicality, forechecking, and lineup versatility at a younger age still carry value for teams trying to balance competitiveness with long-term roster flexibility.

Josh Bloom and Owen Michaels

Josh Bloom and Owen Michaels remain more developmental pieces at this stage, but both still represent part of the broader internal competition picture developing within the organization.

What Edmonton still needs

Even with several important free agency decisions looming, Edmonton’s offseason will not simply be about deciding who stays and who goes. It will also be about identifying which areas of the roster still need improvement moving forward.

5v5 consistency likely remains near the top of that list. While the Oilers still possess one of the league’s most dangerous offensive cores, there were stretches throughout the season where generating sustained offence outside of the power play became more difficult. Finding players who can contribute speed, defensive reliability, and secondary scoring without creating additional cap strain will remain important.

Depth and lineup balance also continue to matter. Whether through internal progression or external additions, Edmonton still needs reliable supporting pieces capable of handling harder minutes throughout the lineup. The blue line presents similar questions, particularly surrounding veteran stability, roster flexibility, and right-side depth.

Goaltending may also become one of the organization’s biggest long-term discussions. With uncertainty throughout the depth chart moving forward, Edmonton has to determine what direction it wants to take in net over the next several seasons.

Ultimately, the Oilers’ offseason may not be defined by one massive move, but rather how effectively the organization balances continuity, cap efficiency, internal development, and roster flexibility while still trying to remain firmly within its competitive window.

What should the Oilers do?

The Oilers’ offseason will likely be defined less by one major move and more by a series of smaller decisions surrounding roster fit, cap management, and long-term flexibility.

Players like Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Dickinson feel like logical fits to return because of how clearly their games still address areas Edmonton needs, while veterans like Adam Henrique and Connor Murphy present more complicated conversations tied to age, injuries, and term.

Goaltending also remains an important part of the discussion. With multiple developing goaltenders now within the system, Edmonton eventually has to establish a clearer long-term direction in net rather than continuously relying on short-term veteran depth solutions every offseason.

The same pressure exists throughout the rest of the roster. Younger players like Matvei Petrov, Roby Järventie, Colton Dach, and Samuel Poulin are beginning to push for larger opportunities, making internal competition and inexpensive depth increasingly important for a team constantly navigating cap limitations.

That is what makes this offseason significant.

The challenge for Edmonton is no longer simply finding NHL players. It is determining which players still fit the team’s competitive window, which veteran roles remain worth prioritizing, and where younger internal options can realistically begin taking larger steps forward.