We are 13 days from NHL free agency, and the Edmonton Oilers still don’t officially have a head coach, as they await the NHL’s decision from the Mike Babcock investigation.

Edmonton is the only team in the league without a head coach. It isn’t ideal as they try to prepare for free agency. Their own pending free agents are waiting to see if it will be Babcock or another coach. Who will be coaching is a major part of the decision process for coaches. It is great if the general manager likes you and wants you to sign, but ultimately, the head coach allocates ice time and opportunity.

The Oilers’ list of pending unrestricted free agents includes Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, Jack Roslovic, Kasperi Kapanen, Adam Henrique, Curtis Lazar, Max Jones, Connor Ingram, Calvin Pickard, James Hamblin, Cam Dineen and Samuel Poulin.

I expect Henrique, Pickard, and Lazar to sign elsewhere. Roslovic will undoubtedly test the market and should command a significant increase from his $1.5 million AAV deal last season. Edmonton likes Hamblin. He’s been a great leader and contributor in Bakersfield, but I wonder if he will look for a different opportunity elsewhere and see if he can become a regular NHLer. Dineen can fill in at the NHL level if needed, but he’d be down the depth chart, while Poulin is likely more of an AHL veteran at this stage of his career.

Murphy and Dickinson would be at the top of the list of players to sign. The organization has been searching for a second pair right-defenceman and a defensive-minded third-line centre for years. If either leave, the Oilers will be scrambling to fill those spots. Kapanen was excellent in the playoffs and shouldn’t........

© Oilers Nation