The Edmonton Oilers have $16.74 million in projected cap space this offseason with nine forwards, five defencemen, and one goalie on the active roster. They also have a few pending restricted free agents (RFAs) under team control, including Colton Dach and Spencer Stastney, but those two players shouldn’t cost much to sign.
However, the Oilers have seven pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), not including goaltender Connor Ingram. They don’t have the cap space or roster spots to bring them all back, especially if they want to acquire a top-six forward via trade. So, general manager Stan Bowman has some difficult decisions to make. This article ranks Edmonton’s seven pending UFA skaters from the least important to re-sign to the most important.
Seventh: Adam Henrique
Last on this list is Adam Henrique. The Oilers acquired Henrique at the 2024 Trade Deadline, and he was brought in as the third-line centre. He was a pending UFA when he was acquired, but the Oilers inked him to a two-year, $6 million contract extension.
He has had an up-and-down run in Edmonton, and he has significantly regressed this season. The 36-year-old veteran has slowed down, and his age is showing. He has a measly two goals and 13 points this season and has been demoted to the fourth-line centre.
The Oilers don’t need him anymore and have younger internal options to replace him, like 24-year-old Josh Samanski. Samanski has been a regular in the lineup since the Olympic break, and he could be the full-time fourth-line centre next season. Therefore, the organization should let Henrique walk to free agency.
Sixth: Max Jones
Max Jones is a depth piece, but he has found his way into the lineup because of injuries. While it’s imperative to have depth, re-signing Jones shouldn’t be a priority. They could likely sign him to a league minimum contract. He would probably spend most of the season on the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League (AHL) and step in when needed.
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He’s a hardworking, energetic, and physical forward, which this team lacks. However, the emergence of Connor Clattenburg could make Jones expendable. Clattenburg had a cup of coffee in the NHL this season before he got injured. He plays a similar style to Jones but is much younger. If the Oilers want to prioritize youth, then Clattenburg should get Jones’ roster spot.
Fifth: Curtis Lazar
Curtis Lazar was brought in as a depth piece, but he has played 38 games as the fourth-line centre, more than expected, until an injury derailed his season. He has three goals and five points on the campaign. The Oilers could look to bring him back for league minimum as the 13th forward, but he shouldn’t be an everyday player. Samanski should be the primary fourth-line centre, and Lazar shouldn’t take ice time away from him. Therefore, bringing him back isn’t necessary, but it could be an insurance marker.
Fourth: Kasperi Kapanen
The Oilers claimed Kasperi Kapanen off waivers in Nov. 2024, and he has been a solid addition to the forward group. He’s a speedy middle-six forward who can play a defensively responsible role on the third line or second line alongside Leon Draisaitl. Unfortunately, injuries have limited him to just 32 games this season, but he has seven goals and 15 points in that time. He has been productive, but he also goes through long stretches of inconsistent play.
He found a solid role on this team, but he’s also expendable, especially if he asks for too much money in free agency. They have his replacement in the organization, who is currently on his entry-level contract. Isaac Howard should be on the Oilers full-time in 2026-27, so where does that leave Kapanen? There’s only so much money to go around, so Edmonton should choose the younger and cheaper option.
Third: Jack Roslovic
Unfortunately, Jack Roslovic may have priced himself out of Edmonton. He’s having a great season after inking a one-year deal with the Oilers. He has 19 goals and 31 points in 61 games and should be seeking a nice contract in the offseason, which the Oilers should be hesitant to offer. Like Kapanen, he also has stretches of inconsistency.
Last offseason, it was reported that Roslovic turned down a contract from the Oilers, but he circled back to them after he didn’t get what he was looking for. He signed for $1.5 million in hopes of raising his value for his next deal. He did just that, so don’t expect him to sign a discount to stay in Edmonton. Some team will offer him a multi-year deal with a higher cap hit, and that team shouldn’t be the Oilers. They have more important areas to address.
Second: Jason Dickinson
Bowman should strongly consider bringing back Jason Dickinson at the right price. He was acquired at the trade deadline and has been a great addition. The Oilers finally found their third-line centre. He’s a defensively responsible centre who excels on the penalty kill. He won’t light up the score sheet, but he doesn’t need to. The organization has needed help defensively for years, and Dickinson fits that bill. He knows his role and embraces it. He’s a great fit on this team, and at 30 years old, he still has more to give.
First: Connor Murphy
The top priority should be bringing back Connor Murphy. He is exactly what the Oilers required on the back end. He’s a defensive defenceman who’s good at breaking up the cycle and is a great shot blocker. He has 30 blocked shots in 11 games since joining the Oilers and 117 blocked shots in 58 games on the season.
He’s a legitimate top-four defenceman, and if he walks in free agency, the Oilers will have another hole on the roster that needs to be plugged. The 33-year-old has been the perfect addition, and he fills a need that has been lacking for quite some time.
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