The Edmonton Oilers have spent the offseason reshaping both their bench and their roster, and the changes keep piling up. Between the trade that sent Darnell Nurse away and cleared his full $9.25 million, plus the additions of Ryan Shea and Frederik Andersen, this is starting to look like a very different group.
Now the focus shifts to the blue line, where the Oilers have locked up two more defenders and created a real squeeze for one of their younger options.
The team announced two extensions on Sunday: Shakir Mukhamadullin is signed for two years, while Spencer Stastney got a one-year deal.
Serving up some Sunday signings ✍️
The #Oilers have signed Shakir Mukhamadullin to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $ 1.75 million & Spencer Stastney to a one-year contract extension with an AAV of $1.525 million. pic.twitter.com/m3fBjMoYyq
- Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 5, 2026
Mukhamadullin, 24, put up five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 50 games with the Sharks last season. Over 83 career games, he has seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points.
Stastney, 26, recorded two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 66 games split between the Oilers and Nashville Predators. In 117 career games, he has four goals and 15 assists for 19 points.
Both players figure to be in the mix for a regular role on the bottom pairing when the 2026-27 season begins.
That’s where Ty Emberson enters the picture. With Shea, Mukhamadullin, and Stastney all in the fold, the Oilers suddenly have more NHL-caliber defensemen than spots to hand out. Emberson could be the one caught in the numbers game.
Emberson, 26, had two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 72 games last season. In 178 career games, he has five goals and 30 assists for 35 points.
The Oilers now have a decision to make on which defender stays in the mix. They are unlikely to expose Mukhamadullin to waivers, which leaves Stastney or Emberson as the likely eighth defenseman on the depth chart.
There are reasons to keep either player in the lineup, but the team has time before it has to settle the question. For now, the choice appears to be whether to move one of them or risk losing one on waivers.
Andersen also offered his first public thoughts since joining Edmonton, and he made it clear why the move appealed to him. He said, “Edmonton has been knocking on the door for a while now…it would be awesome to be a part of the team to get over the hump.”
He also said, “I’m definitely happy to be part of a good goalie rotation. I think we can get a lot out of each other.”
Andersen joins Devon Levi and Tristan Jarry in a new-look goaltending group as the Oilers try to finally find stability in net. With a Stanley Cup as the only goal entering the season, the pressure is on to make this setup work.
In Other News...
Oilers Face A Costly Top Six Decision They Can't Delay
The Oilers are sitting on close to $6 million in cap space, which is enough to keep the conversation going but not enough to make the need disappear. A top-six winger remains the obvious target, and the list of realistic options is not exactly overflowing, which is why the front office has to weigh whether a move can be made now rather than letting the market tighten even further.
The names that keep surfacing point to the same kind of player Edmonton is after: a winger who can score and fit into a contenders top six without disrupting the rest of the lineup. With the free-agent path looking thin, the real question is whether the Oilers want to wait for the trade deadline dance or get aggressive before the asking price and the competition both climb. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Still Have One Roster Problem Fans Wont Ignore
The Oilers have room to maneuver, and that alone keeps the conversation around their roster from settling down anytime soon. With salary cap space available and a few defensive additions already in place, Edmonton has at least given itself options as it tries to round out a team that still looks a little light on the blue line after moving Darnell Nurse.
The bigger question is how the club balances those options at the start of the season, especially with a three-goalie plan hanging over the roster picture. There is a path for Edmonton to keep adjusting as the year goes on, and the cap flexibility gives it some breathing room if the front office decides the current mix still needs another jolt before the trade deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Blue Line Squeeze Could Force A Move Fans Saw Coming
The Oilers have spent the summer building depth on the blue line, but the math is starting to get awkward. After a run of trades and signings, Edmonton now has eight defensemen making $1.3 million or more, and it is hard to imagine the club carrying all of them when the season opens. For a team that has spent years trying to stabilize its back end, this is the kind of surplus that can look like a luxury right up until it turns into a roster decision.
What makes the situation interesting is that the likely move does not appear to involve one of the more established names. Edmontons choice seems to be narrowing around a pair of younger defensemen, with handedness and recent usage both part of the equation. One option has the cleaner fit on paper, while the other spent more time on the outside looking in, and the Oilers now have to decide whether they want to keep the extra insurance or turn that depth into something else before camp sorts it out for them. [Read more 🡒]