10 ex-Edmonton Oilers players still looking for new contracts in free agency
The free agency market has moved a bit slower this summer than usual.
A week has passed since free agency opened on July 1, and there are still a few high-scoring options left on the board. Players like Anthony Mantha and Patrick Kane remain unsigned, despite putting up solid numbers this past season.
The market is also flush with former Edmonton Oilers players. As of Thursday, a total of 10 ex-players are still searching for new homes. Those range from players that Oilers fans should know well to some deep cut names that may surprise the fanbase.
Is a reunion possible for any of these names? Likely not, but it’s still interesting to take a look at the twists and turns that these players took throughout their careers….
1. Evander Kane
Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images
Age:Ā 34
2025-26 stats:Ā 13 G, 18 A, 31 PTS, 71 GP
Evander Kane still has a lot of fans in Edmonton, but it appears his NHL career is on the downswing.
The Oilers traded him to the Vancouver Canucks in a cap dump move last summer, and things went less than ideal for him on the West Coast. His offensive production took a dip, and his defensive metrics remained underwhelming.
With Vancouver headed into a lengthy rebuild, it looks like he will need to find elsewhere to play next season.
2. Connor Ingram
Perry Nelson/Imagn Images
Age: 29
2025-26 stats: 16-10-3, .899 SV%, +1.7 GSAx
Connor Ingram did everything he could to stabilize the Oilers goaltending last season.
He put up decent enough numbers and stole away the starting job from Tristan Jarry, but it wasn’t enough to earn a contract extension in the Alberta capital. Edmonton opted to acquire Frederik Andersen and Devon Levi instead.
It remains to be seen if Ingram can find a way to stick in the NHL somewhere else.
3. Jeff Petry
Age:Ā 38
2025-26 stats:Ā 0 G, 9 A, 9 PTS, 67 GP
Jeff Petry was once one of the Oilers’ most promising defencemen, but his career is nearing an end.
He’s bounced around the league in recent years, most recently splitting last season between the Florida Panthers and Minnesota Wild. His offensive production is nearly non-existent, and his advanced age might mean retirement is right around the corner.
4. Cam Talbot
Bob Kupbens/Imagn Images
Age: 39
2025-26 stats: 12-9-6, .883 SV%, -13.1 GSAx
There was speculation that the Oilers could bring back Talbot to help the goaltending, but that didn’t come to fruition.
That may have been the right decision, as the veteran goaltender is coming off a brutal season with the Detroit Red Wings that saw him post abysmal numbers. It was the first down season in a while for Talbot, signalling that his time in the NHL may be quickly coming to an end.
5. John Klingberg
Sam Navarro/Imagn Images
Age:Ā 33
2025-26 stats:Ā 10 G, 17 A, 27 PTS, 56 GP
John Klingberg is proving that he is still an NHL-calibre defenceman.
The Swede had himself an alright season with the San Jose Sharks last year, but it doesn’t appear to have been enough to earn a contract extension. His defensive metrics are a bit spotty, but there is certainly a team out there that will take a cheap flyer on him for next season.
6. David Perron
David Kirouac/Imagn Images
Age:Ā 38
2025-26 stats:Ā 13 G, 15 A, 28 PTS, 65 GP
A lot of players on this list are on retirement watch, and David Perron is no exception.
The Quebec native has long been a consistent 50-point guy in the NHL, but that hasn’t been the case for the past couple of seasons. Perron’s production is starting to falter as he starts to push 40, and he may have to hang up the skates sooner rather than later.
7. Adam Henrique
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images
Age:Ā 36
2025-26 stats: 3 G, 12 A, 15 PTS, 65 GP
Adam Henrique was once a savvy veteran for this Oilers club, but he faded this past season in a big way.
There were long stretches this past season where Henrique wasn’t noticeable at all. He found himself demoted to the fourth line for the most part and didn’t contribute much of anything in his playing time.
It was clear that the Oilers would be letting the veteran forward test the market.
8. Adam Erne
Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 6 G, 2 A, 8 PTS, 45 GP
Adam Erne finally found an NHL home with the Dallas Stars last season, but he’s having some issues trying to secure another contract.
After spending the past two seasons in the AHL, Erne spent the entirety of last season in the NHL with Dallas. His production wasn’t great, but it appeared the Stars were happy with his work as a depth forward.
So far this summer, no other teams have been eager to scoop him up.
9. Curtis Lazar
Age: 31
2025-26 stats: 4 G, 2 A, 6 PTS, 45 GP
There weren’t many expectations for Curtis Lazar in Edmonton last season.
Lazar was brought in to be a bottom-of-the-lineup player for the Oilers last summer, and he delivered on that promise. He didn’t score a whole ton, but he was a good foot soldier for the team and played a steady 200-foot game.
A return is possible, but the Oilers may be hoping to give his playing time to someone a bit younger.
10. Kevin Gravel
Age: 34
2025-26 stats: 2 G, 9 A, 11 PTS, 67 GP (AHL)
Do Oilers fans remember Kevin Gravel?
He had a short 39-game stint in Edmonton during the 2018-19 season and has since become a staple in the AHL. He’s been with the Nashville Predators organization since 2022 and most recently served as the captain of their AHL squad, the Milwaukee Admirals.
It appears his time there is over, and he’ll be looking for another team coveting AHL depth.