We are just days away from the 2024 NHL Draft, which means we are also just days away from NHL Free Agency, which opens on July 1. And while the Oilers don’t have much draft capital this season, they do have a ton of questions to answer in free agency. The majority of the bottom of their roster is made up of projected free agents, and with just days unitl that opens, the team is going to be hard-pressed to ink contracts with some of the big names before that window opens.
Some of the free agents the team has control over, including Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, but many they do not. Here’s how it all shakes up.
Unrestricted free agents
Unless these players are signed by July 1, they are able to sign freely with any team.
Connor Brown
Brown was a “good in the room” acquisition this season, but didn’t add much on the scoresheet. He added just 12 regular season points and six in the playoffs. Depending on the number, there’s a chance that he comes back, but he is more likely off to a new home next season.
Sam Carrick
Acquired at the trade deadline, Carrick was a good centreman for the fourth line, but didn’t add much on the scoresheet. He’s probably going to be finding a new team this summer.
Warren Foegele
Foegele was a major addition to the team, particularly in the playoffs. He also elevated this season and had 41 points in the regular season. The priority should be to retain him if possible, but the question will be the number.
Sam Gagner
The former Oilers draft pick was decent for the team in 28 regular season games, but didn’t feature in a single playoff game. Now 34, the odds of him staying are low. He simply didn’t add enough to justify keeping him.
Adam Henrique
Acquired from Anaheim at the Trade Deadline, Henrique was a great middle-six player for the team. While he was injured through the playoffs, he had seven points in 17 games in that time. He also had nine points in 22 games in the regular season for the Oilers.
If the numbers work, the Oilers should try to retain his services. It won’t be cheap to keep Henrique, given he’s a centreman and had 42 points in 60 games for the Anaheim Ducks. His services are going to be widely sought after across the league, and being up against the cap is going to be an impediment for the Oilers. It would be great to keep him, but it’s unlikely they will be able to.
Mattias Janmark
The journeyman NHLer had 12 points in the regular season and had eight points in the playoffs as a handy depth add for the team. He also had a stunning breakaway goal in Game 7 against the Florida Panthers. If the numbers line up, it would be good to keep him in the system, but it feels somehow unlikely.
Corey Perry
The 39-year-old was inches away from lifting another cup, but was unable to this season. He also wasn’t great in the playoffs, hitting the ice in 19 games but adding just three points in that time. It feels like this may be the end of the road for Perry, who may be hanging up his skates after this season.
Vincent Desharnais
Drafted by the Oilers in 2016, Desharnais played really heavy minutes for the team in a second and third pairing role. While he didn’t add much on the scoresheet, he was a reliable addition to the blueline. It would be good to try and retain him and he likely won’t cost much.
Troy Stecher
The journeyman NHLer split his season between Arizona and Edmonton, but played just seven games for the Oilers before suffering a season-ending injury. He didn’t add much in that time, and will likely be heading to a new team next season.
Adam Erne
The 29-year-old former Detroit Red Wings forward had 12 points in 36 games for the Condors, and had just two points in 24 games for the Oilers. With the Oilers up against the cap, having Erne as AHL depth could be a win-win. The team gets depth and Erne, should he show himself, could find a way back to the NHL.
Greg McKegg
A handy AHL depth player, McKegg had 29 points in 63 games. AHL UFAs are tough to predict; he could go either way.
Restricted free agents
The Oilers do have the option to give these players a qualifying offer this summer, but they are by no means bound to do so. Qualifying offers are due on July 1, the first Monday after the NHL Draft.
Dylan Holloway
Holloway has emerged as an excellent middle-six forward for the team. He is due for a large increase this summer and will almost certainly be retained.
Philip Broberg
What a great addition Broberg was in the playoffs. He looked defensively sound and offensively strong, which is exactly what the Oilers wanted when they drafted him eighth overall in 2019. He is due for an increase from his ELC, but it should be a reasonable increase.
James Hamblin
Hamblin was quite good for the Oilers in the first half of the year, and played just 13 games for the Condors. However, he was noticeably away from the team for the rest of the year, with no information on him since. Hopefully he’s able to get back to the game next season and remain with the Oilers.
Raphael Lavoie
Lavoie was quite good for the Condors, putting up 50 points in 71 games. He also got a cup of coffee in the NHL, featuring in seven games but was unable to record his first NHL point. He is almost certainly back next season and should see more NHL games.
Noel Hoefenmayer
The former fourth-round pick was decent for the Condors this year, putting up 18 points in 47 games as a defenceman. He is almost certainly going to be retained by the Oilers, and it won’t cost much at all to do so.
Ryan Fanti
The ECHL goalie put up a very impressive 0.915 save percentage in 17 games for the Fort Wayne Komets. However, he was playing third fiddle in the ECHL behind two other netminders. The Oilers likely retain him, but need him to see more pucks next season.
Group 6 UFAs
Group six UFAs are former RFAs who have not hit the minimum number of games by the age of 25. They then become UFAs.
Cam Dineen
The Condors blueliner had 25 points in 58 games this season, which is decent. He was recently signed by the Oilers.
Markus Niemelainen
The Oilers third round pick played just 35 games this season and recorded five points in that time. Not great. He’s probably looking at a change of scenery as well.
10.2(c) RFAs
These are players who haven’t played enough NHL seasons to be deemed typical RFAs, and are not eligible for an offer sheet.
Carter Savoie
Savoie saw his point production this season, where he put up 22 points in 63 games for the Condors. Given he’s still young and with so much potential from his NCAA days, he’s almost certainly coming back next season.
What to expect on July 1
While the Oilers are not expected to be super active at the draft this year, there are a lot of questions circling around free agency. There are many players that are expected to become free agents this summer and that is going to change the look of this organization as we go into next season.
With a projected Leon Draisaitl extension around the corner, that is going to be a major consideration as free agency opens. The Oilers are definitely going to be one of the most interesting teams to watch this July 1.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
