We are four weeks away from free agency in the NHL. Recent history would suggest the Edmonton Oilers need to adjust their scouting on July 1. They’ve focused mainly on smaller forwards the past few July 1sts, and it hasn’t panned out.

Last year, they signed Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year deal with a $3.6m AAV. It didn’t work out. He was traded to Chicago, along with a first-round pick, for Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach. The Oilers also signed Curtis Lazar to a one-year deal at $775K. He was a fine 12-13th forward.

They were much busier on July 1, 2024.

Victor Arvidsson, two years at $4 million AAV.

Jeff Skinner. One year deal at $3 million AAV.

Josh Brown, three years at $1 million AAV.

Troy Stetcher, two years at $787.5K.

They also signed three of their own free agents.

Adam Henrique, two years at $3 million AAV.
Mattias Janmark, three years at $1.45 million AAV.
Corey Perry, one year at $1.4 million AAV (base of $1.15 million and $250,000 in bonuses).

Perry was a great signing. He scored 19 goals in the regular season and added 10 in the playoffs. Amazing production for $1.4m.

Stecher was a solid signing. He played 66 games in 2024/25 and eight in the playoffs. He gave the Oilers great value for his AAV.

Arvidsson scored 15 goals and 27 points in 67 games. He dressed in 15 playoff games. It didn’t work out for him in Edmonton, I’m not sure why, but he scored 25 goals and 54 points in the second year of the deal, albeit as a member of the Bruins. The Oilers got a 2027 fifth-round pick for him in the deal. They’d have been better off keeping him at $4m and not signing Mangiapane.

Skinner didn’t fit in Edmonton. He did score 16 goals, but his footspeed had clearly slowed down. He signed a one-year deal with San Jose last year but only played 32 games before he and the Sharks mutually agreed to terminate his contract. No team signed him and he is essentially retired.

Josh Brown played 10 games for the Oilers in 2025, and he played zero games this past season. His salary didn’t count against the cap, so he never impacted their cap, but they didn’t give him three years at $1m with the expectation he’d play almost exclusively in the minors. And he didn’t sign here thinking he’d be in the AHL. He bought a house the summer he signed, but he didn’t make the team, and he had to go to Bakersfield, while his wife remained in Edmonton. It wasn’t a great situation overall, but their evaluation of his talent was clearly off.

Henrique had an okay first year with 12 goals and 27 points while winning key faceoffs, but he only scored three goals last season. They missed him in the playoffs, and I think he can still contribute as a fourth line centre, but likely not on a Cup-contending team.

Janmark has battled shoulder issues the past two seasons. In hindsight, he should have had surgery last off-season on his shoulder. He only scored three goals in 123 regular-season........

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