Edmonton Oilers have lost five players in free agency so far
The Edmonton Oilers have been busy bringing in players to start free agency, but they’ve also lost quite a few.
There was no way that GM Stan Bowman was going to keep every pending UFA or RFA going into next season. A team that has lost in the Stanley Cup Final for two straight seasons is bound to make some changes, and that has come to fruition through the first two days of free agency.
While the Oilers have brought in players like Andrew Mangiapane and Curtis Lazar to help aid next year’s roster, they have also lost a total of five players to different NHL organizations. Some of those players were regulars in the Oilers’ lineup last season, while others made their mark down in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors.
Here are the five Oilers players who opted to sign contracts elsewhere so far:
1. Corey Perry
New team: LA Kings
New contract: One year, $2 million AAV
Not many people expected Corey Perry to become a fan favourite in Edmonton, but the 40-year-old somehow made that happen.
There was mutual interest in bringing Perry back to the Alberta capital for another season, but a tight salary cap situation ultimately forced him out. He landed a one-year contract with the Kings, reuniting with former Oilers GM Ken Holland.
At first glance, the $2 million AAV doesn’t look too bad, but it’s got about $2 million in bonuses attached to it as well. There was no way the Oilers could have justified a potential $4-million price tag on Perry.
2. Connor Brown
New team: New Jersey Devils
New contract: Four years, $3 million AAV
Connor Brown had plenty of fans in Edmonton, and there is disappointment among Oilers fans that a deal couldn’t be reached.
The main problem between the two parties was presumably the term. The 31-year-old Brown was looking for some longer-term stability after signing two consecutive one-year deals with the Oilers. With Edmonton looking to get younger, that just wasn’t on the table.
It also didn’t help that Brown enjoyed a bounce-back season, upping his price as well. He got what he wanted on a nice deal with the Devils.
3. John Klingberg
New team: San Jose Sharks
New contract: One year, $4 million AAV
John Klingberg was an unlikely hero for the Oilers in the playoffs, but one who was never really rumoured to be returning.
Edmonton gave the Swedish defender a second chance in the NHL midway through the season, and things didn’t appear to be looking all that great. However, he rebounded in the playoffs and wound up forming a formidable pairing alongside Jake Walman.
With his value now higher than it has been in years, he signed on a pricier-than-expected deal with the San Jose Sharks, who are trying to reach the cap floor.
4. Phil Kemp
New team: Pittsburgh Penguins
New contract: Two years, $775,000 AAV
Originally a seventh-round pick from 2017, defenceman Philip Kemp has been in the Oilers organization for eight seasons, predominantly in the AHL.
Though he has put up good results with the Condors, he has only ever managed to appear in a single NHL game with Edmonton, coming back in 2023-24. He will now get a better chance to show his worth with a Pittsburgh Penguins team that is not expected to be very good next season.
5. Lane Pederson
New team: Philadelphia Flyers
New contract: one year, $775,000
The AHL journeyman will be adding another organization to his list.
Lane Pederson first arrived with the Oilers in the summer of 2023, signing in free agency. Since then, he has played two full seasons in the AHL, putting up 40 and 20 points respectively. Pederson always seemed like a good call-up option, but never got it during his time in Edmonton.
He’ll try to do that in Philadelphia now.