Nearly two weeks into the 2026 free agency period, the Edmonton Oilers still have room to make a move, and the market still has a few names that could help them add scoring depth.
That matters because the Oilers are sitting on a projected $5.9 million in cap space for next year, with only Colton Dach left to sign as a restricted free agent. They may not have the kind of spending power some other teams do, but they do have something that can still sway players: a chance to line up with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as they chase their first Stanley Cup.
That kind of pitch could land, especially if Edmonton follows the same playbook it used last year with Jack Roslovic, who signed a one-year deal worth just $1.5 million. A similar low-cost swing could make sense again, and there are still a handful of forwards who fit the bill.
Patrick Kane is one of the biggest names still out there. The 37-year-old has continued to look like a legitimate offensive threat, capable of driving play in a top-six or top-nine role. He is not expected to return to the Detroit Red Wings, where he spent the last three seasons, and his production last year showed he still has plenty left: 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points in 67 games, a pace that would have put him just shy of 70 points over a full 82-game season.
Kane has also shown a willingness to sign in that mid-range price band, with his last three contracts coming in at $2.75 million, $4 million, and $3 million. If the only issue is dollars, Edmonton could absolutely meet that number. The question is where Kane decides to go next.
Eeli Tolvanen is another name that fits what the Oilers need. Once viewed as a high-skill winger, he has settled in nicely with the Seattle Kraken as a skilled, physical middle-six option after being claimed off waivers during the 2022-23 season. He has topped 35 points in each of the last three years, including 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points this past season.
Tolvanen’s career high is 41 points, which he reached in 2023-24, and at 27 he still looks like a player with more growth ahead. If Edmonton can slot him into almost any spot in the top nine, he should have a better runway to produce.
His previous contract came in at $3.475 million over two years after that career-best season, and based on caphit percentage, that would translate to about $4.13 million now. The Oilers have the space to make that work if Tolvanen’s asking price lines up.
There are other possibilities too. Vladimir Tarasenko could be a strong fit.
James Van Riemsdyk is another veteran option still on the market. And Michael Bunting also stands out as a depth scorer who could give Edmonton a useful secondary punch.
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Andersen also brings fresh credibility after a strong playoff run that helped his previous team win the Stanley Cup, which is exactly the kind of resume Edmonton needed to consider. What makes the move even more interesting is how close the Oilers may have come to missing out entirely, with the path to Andersen changing late in the process before he landed in Edmonton. [Read more 🡒]