Every NHL off-season is a chance for the general managers to overhaul the roster, create a new identity and forge a path for their team that may sooner or later lead to the ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup. With the exciting additions and changes, the teams must also say goodbye to some of their beloved players and teammates.
This was no different for the Edmonton Oilers this off-season and today, we will explore those departures and where they are now.
Offence
Ryan McLeod
Drafted by the Edmonton Oilers 40th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Ryan McLeod was coming off a great year with Mississauga Steetlheads, putting up 70 points in 68 games. This center forward got his first crack with the Oilers in the 2020–21 campaign where he played in 10 regular season games and four playoff games, putting up one assist across all contests. McLeod became a staple in the Oilers’ lineup the following season and had his best offensive season in 2023–24 when he had 12 goals and 30 points in 81 games.
McLeod was certainly someone who was making the most of his opportunities as a third-line player. His speed was incredible and he was fun to watch flying into the offensive zone. He had responded favorably to becoming a healthy scratch during the playoffs, providing four goals in 24 games. His goal kickstarted the Oilers’ Game 4 comeback against the Dallas Stars which concluded with Oilers winning the series in six.
Earlier this summer, McLeod was traded along with Tyler Tullio to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Matthew Savoie. Savoie, a St. Albert product, is an exciting youngster who The Oil Rig ranked as the #1 Oilers prospect. His speed and passing abilities are among his best traits and these will only continue to improve with time. As it stands, McLeod is slated to be the third-line center for the Buffalo Sabres, a role that he is all too familiar with in Edmonton. His speed will be missed dearly.
Sam Carrick
Sam Carrick’s tenure with Edmonton was a brief one. He was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks, along with Adam Henrique, in a three-team trade with Anaheim and Tampa Bay. He contributed five points in 16 regular season games followed by one assist across 10 playoff contests. He is known to be more of a defensive forward and can certainly play with an edge that gets under his opponents’ skin.
This summer Carrick signed a three-year, $3M contract with the New York Rangers, where he is currently slotted as a fourth-line centre.
Warren Foegele
Coming off three full seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, which included a stand-out playoff performance in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoff where he put up nine points in 15 games, Warren Foegele joined the Edmonton Oilers on a three-year contract after being traded for Ethan Bear in July 2021.
Foegele was particularly known for his strong and effective defensive play and good speed. Despite being more a third-line role player, he had the opportunity to join Leon Draisaitl’s second line throughout this past season and his production showed. Foegele took more shots and has had his best statistical career season, putting up 20 goals and 41 points in 82 games with three goals and eight points in 22 playoff contests. This includes a beautiful saucer pass finish from Draisaitl to open the scoring in Game 6 against the Florida Panthers.
Los Angeles Kings are a gritty team and Foegele will be a great addition to their mix. Joining them on a three-year, $10.5M pact, he will potentially slot into the second line on the right wing alongside Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala, switching from his traditional left wing play. While his speed and defensive responsibility will certainly be missed, the Oilers’ additions of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson will provide some improvement in scoring and physicality.
Dylan Holloway
Perhaps the most shocking departure this off-season on the offensive front is the offer sheet saga of Dylan Holloway. Drafted 14th overall in 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Holloway had continued to split his time between the Oilers and their AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors. While his regular season performance left more to be desired, his break out came in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoff which included five goals and seven points across 25 games. He had phenomenal speed when entering the opponents’ zone, which combined with his puck handling abilities were on display as he opened the scoring in Game 6 against the Vancouver Canucks.
Holloway was slotted to be either a second- or third-line left-wing option this upcoming season and given his clutch playoff showing, he was poised to have a breakout season. Instead, the St. Louis Blues had other ideas when they tendered offer sheets to both Holloway and Philip Broberg mid-August. Holloway is currently slotted on the third line, alongside Radek Faksa and Mathieu Joseph. If he indeed has a breakout campaign this year, I would not be surprised to see him moved up to the second-line to play alongside Pavel Buchnevich.
While Holloway still has a lot to prove this upcoming season, it is his potential that the Oilers will miss the most.
Defence
Vincent Desharnais
Gone are the days of Vinny Skinny Winny celebrations. At 6’7”, Vincent Desharnais was a towering presence on the Oilers’ blueline. Drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Desharnais became a full-time staple on the back end this past season. He played 16 games in the playoffs, contributing one assist during the run.
Desharnais contributed to both 5v5 play as well as on the penalty kill. He was known for his shut down abilities, not being afraid to get into the traffic lane and demonstrate some physical presence. For a team whose penalty kill was already middle of the pack statistically, he will be missed.
Desharnais joined the Vancouver Canucks this off-season on a two-year, $4M contract where he will likely slot as their third-line, right-sided defenceman. Desharnais will add to the physical Canucks blueline which already includes a 6’8” Tyler Myers.
Cody Ceci
Cody Ceci has been a staple on Edmonton’s defense since signing the four-year, $13M contract in the 2021 off-season. Ceci rarely missed a game for the Oilers and he had his best season in 2021–22 when he put up 28 points in 78 games. Ceci played largely on the second defensive paring with Darnell Nurse. Though he may not have been the dominant two-way player he once was in juniors, Ceci demonstrated sound two-way play during the Oilers’ Stanley Cup Run. This includes a blast in Game 7 against the Canucks that opened the scoring as well as a phenomenal long-pass to Mattias Janmark for a goal that tied Game 7 against the Panthers.
Ceci is a right-shot defenceman who was traded this summer to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Ty Emberson. At this time, he is slotted as a top-pairing right-sided defenceman. His current spot seems to be higher than where I think he would fit on most NHL lineups, but his experience should certainly provide meaningful leadership and guidance to a young team that is in the midst of a rebuild.
Philip Broberg
Similar to Holloway’s departure on the offence, Broberg represents the most surprising departure on the defensive side of the puck. Drafted eighth overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Broberg had high expectations coming out of Sweden. At 6’4”, he had a solid defensive frame but has still largely found himself playing for the Bakersfield Condors. Broberg had a break out performance in these playoffs where he scored two goals and three points in 10 games. His first playoff goal came in Game 5 against the Stars, making the score 3-0.
Given his performance, especially his confidence with puck movement and possession, Broberg was likely to be a regular season starter this coming campaign. However, St. Louis had a different idea when they tendered an offer sheet that ultimately went unmatched. He is currently slotted to be second-line linemate to an NHL veteran Justin Faulk who is known for his strong offensive abilities and will serve as a mentor to Broberg’s development.
Broberg is yet to prove himself as a regular season player and only time will tell how this move to St. Louis will pan out. However, it is hard to deny that his potential will be greatly missed on an Oilers’ blueline, which is already the biggest question mark heading into the season.
Other honorable mentions:
Jack Campbell
Soup, as he was affectionately known, was brought in summer of 2022 on a five-year deal to replace Mike Smith and be the Oilers’ starter between the pipes. While he was loved by the fans, unfortunately his play on the ice left a lot to be desired. His poor stretches of play thrust Stuart Skinner into the spotlight which have ultimately allowed Skinner to become the Oilers’ starting goalie.
Jack Campbell was assigned to Condors in November 2023 where he put up respectable numbers. However, his contract was bought out this summer and he has since signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings.
Jesse Puljujarvi
Drafted fourth overall, Puljujarvi certainly seemed like a steal when Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall. Puljujarvi had a tumultuous time with the Oilers which included a stint back in Finland but despite it all, the Oilers faithful always had a soft spot for the Bison King.
Puljujarvi fought his way back to the NHL after a PTO with the Pittsburgh Penguins as well as their affiliate AHL team, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2023. This ultimately resulted in him getting a two-year contract in February of 2024 with the Pittsburgh Penguins where he is currently playing.
Kailer Yamamoto
After a phenomenal preseason performance in 2017, Yamamoto cracked the opening day lineup with the Oilers, playing nine games before returning to Spokane Chiefs. He split parts of next two seasons between the Condors and the Oilers, which included putting up 26 points in 27 games with the Oilers in 2019–20 season. Yamamoto would spend the next three seasons with the Oilers, making the most of his opportunities despite a number of injuries.
He was dealt to the Red Wings with Klim Kostin in June 2023 and signed with the Seattle Kraken this past season. He is currently on a PTO with the Utah Hockey Club.
Tyson Barrie
A right-shot offensive defenceman, Tyson Barrie was a consistent presence in the Colorado Avalance line-up over the better part of 2010s. He was eventually traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a deal that featured the Avalanche receive Nazem Kadri. Barrie played only one season in Toronto before signing with the Oilers in 2020 which included re-signing the following season to a three-year term.
While Barrie put up impressive offensive numbers, his defensive play was lackluster at times and the Oilers traded Barrie to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Mattias Ekholm. Barrie spent the past season with Nashville Predators before signing a PTO with the Calgary Flames this off-season.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
