9 players Edmonton Oilers could target in free agency this week
The Edmonton Oilers still have a few roster holes to fix this offseason.
Re-signing both Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy was a good start for Oilers GM Stan Bowman, but he still has a lot of work left to do. With free agency set to open on Wednesday, this will be Edmonton’s best chance at filling out the roster without having to give up any assets.
The Oilers are set to have $7.4 million in cap space when free agency officially opens, meaning they will be limited in what they can do. That can obviously change if Bowman can pull off a Darnell Nurse trade at the last minute.
We’ve already covered the rather lacklustre goaltending free agent class, but Edmonton will be looking for more than just a new name between the pipes. The Oilers could use a few more forwards with all of Adam Henrique, Kasperi Kapanen and Jack Roslovic expected to hit free agency.
With Nurse expected to be moved, Edmonton could also look at bringing in another left-shot defenceman.
Here are nine free agent forwards/defencemen that the Oilers could target when free agency officially opens and their AFP contract projections…
1. Ilya Mikheyev, RW
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Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 18 G, 18 A, 36 PTS, 77 GP
AFP contract projection: three years, $3.5 million AAV
If the Oilers are looking for a middle-six forward who can help out on the penalty-kill and provide some offence, Ilya Mikheyev may be their guy.
He helped the Chicago Blackhawks form the NHL’s best PK last season, and he’d be reunited with defenceman Connor Murphy in an attempt to do that again.
2. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW
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Age: 34
2025-26 stats: 23 G, 24 A, 47 PTS, 75 GP
AFP contract projection: one year, $3.4 million AAV
Vladimir Tarasenko may not be the play-driver he was in his prime, but he doesn’t have to be that in Edmonton.
The Russian forward would be a perfect complement to Leon Draisaitl on the second line, and he showed last season that he still has what it takes to put up a 20-goal season in the NHL.
3. Patrik Laine, LW
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Age: 28
2025-26 stats: 0 G, 0A, 0 PTS, 5 GP
AFP contract projection: one year, $850,000 AAV (with bonuses)
Patrik Laine missed almost the entirety of last season due to injuries, but he may be a good low-cost bet this summer.
Similar to Connor Brown’s first contract with the Oilers, Laine could sign a cheap deal with built-in bonuses based on games played. He’s been a perennial 20-goal guy his whole career when healthy, so betting on Laine could be a shrewd move for Edmonton.
4. Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW
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Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 12 G, 20 A, 32 PTS, 80 GP
AFP contract projection: two years, $2.8 million AAV
Oliver Bjorkstrand fits the bill as a steady middle-six producer who you can plug-and-play wherever you please.
He is coming off a down year in terms of offensive production, but he remains a superb two-way forward. Oilers could easily pair him with Jason Dickinson and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to form a shutdown third-line.
5. Mason Marchmen, LW
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Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 19 G, 26 A, 45 PTS, 68 GP
AFP contract projection: three years, $5.7 million AAV
Mason Marchment might be the most annoying player to play against on this list.
His offensive production would make him an excellent option for Edmonton’s top-nine, but the Oilers may covet his ability to get under the skin of opposing players. That being said, he is sure to have a robust market and could wind up being a bit expensive.
6. Boone Jenner, C
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Age: 33
2025-26 stats: 13G, 25A, 38 PTS, 67 GP
AFP contract projection: three years, $5.2 million AAV
If there is one thing the Oilers love, it’s a veteran centreman who brings a bit of grit to his game.
Boone Jenner fits the description of that type of player, but he may not be needed with Dickinson inked to a long-term deal. Still, perhaps they sign him and move him to the wing just so they can bring along his intangibles to the team.
7. Corey Perry, RW
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images
Age: 41
2025-26 stats: 18 G, 20A, 37 PTS, 72 GP
AFP contract projection: one year, $2.2 million AAV
Corey Perry was a perfect fit during his first tour of duty in Edmonton, so why not give it another go?
He has evaded Father Time for quite some time and put up another excellent season, split between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the LA Kings. Perry proved that he can play just about any role that’s asked of him, and he could wind up being a cheaper option.
8. Carson Soucy, LD
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Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 5G, 7A, 12 PTS, 76 GP
AFP contract projection: two years, $2.2 million
Moving to defence, the Oilers will be looking for a veteran replacement for Nurse to play on the third pair this season.
Soucy would be a steady choice to fill that role and would bring quite a bit of experience to Edmonton’s blueline. He doesn’t bring much offence but seems to be a serviceable defensive defender at the right price.
9. Logan Stanley, LD
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Age: 28
2025-26 stats: 9 G, 17 A, 26 PTS, 76 GP
AFP contract projection: two years, $3 million AAV
The Oilers should know Logan Stanley well from his Winnipeg Jets days.
If the goal is to bring in another hard-nosed, big defenceman to round out the defensive corps, then Edmonton could look into the six-foot-seven Stanley. His underlying analytics, however, don’t paint a pretty picture, and he quickly fell out of favour with the Buffalo Sabres during this year’s playoff run.