This is arguably a too early look at potential rentals or upgrades for the Edmonton Oilers. But since we know what the 2027 unrestricted free agent class could look like (excepting in-season extensions), we can do a little guesswork on how the team might add depth and scoring to ready itself for a deep playoff run.
July 1st, 2027 has the potential to see a number of big National Hockey League stars hit free agency. Some, such as Cale Makar and Nikita Kucherov, are virtually guaranteed to be extended by their current clubs, removing them from any conversations as deadline acquisitions. But there are some aging players with gas in the tank, potentially disgruntled stars looking for a change of scenery, and injured players potentially ready for a comeback.
The Oilers' pro scouts should be banking massive Air Miles as they assess who the best fit might be, and then it will be up to general manager Stan Bowman to get the right player(s) for the right price.
Long shots
Jason Robertson seems to want something that isn't a roster spot with the Dallas Stars. He turned down big money from a couple clubs, before signing his one year, $12 million deal to stick around in Texas. If he doesn't get an extension mid-season, the Stars may move him to avoid losing such a key asset for nothing next summer. The Oilers would need salary gymnastics and retention to make the math work, but Robertson would add significant scoring to the Top 6.
Quinn Hughes would be a huge addition to any NHL club, but his preference to play the United States, and Minnesota's likely contender status means even if he doesn't get a new contract during the season, he won't be truly available to Edmonton.
Nice adds
Alex Debrincat would be an incredibly good pick up if Bowman could make it happen. The Detroit Red Wings are likely to be a lottery club once again, making the odds of Debrincat's availability relatively high. This is a player that Oiler fans have long believed should have been their draft pick in 2016. A linemate of Connor McDavid's on the Erie Otters the year prior, Debrincat managed a 100+ point season after McDavid had moved on to the NHL as well. He went in the second round, likely due to his small frame, but a look at Debrincat's career point totals shows that he should have gone higher. At 29 years old, Debrincat can be considered late-prime, and feels like a perfect fit.
Vince Dunn from the Seattle Kraken would be high on my list of defensive additions if his team is once again sellers at the deadline. Dunn played an underrated role on the Stanley Cup winning St. Louis Blues team back in 2019, leading to his selection by the Kraken in their expansion draft. Dunn has been a steady piece over the past few years on Seattle's back end. Capable of decent offense from the blue line, he'd be great in a second pairing with Connor Murphy, where Dunn would be the one jumping up in the play while Murphy covers against turnovers.
Jordan Binnington could be the answer to the question: What if all the Oiler goalies perform poorly? His name has circulated before as a potential solution in net, and at 34 years old, he is certainly capable of a Dwayne Roloson-esque playoff run. In spite of sunk cost (the Oilers have nearly $7 million of salary tied up at the position), they need to keep working on a goaltending solution until something sticks. Binnington has the experience and résumé, and while he fell just short in the Olympics, we can all remember his heroics at the 4 Nations tournament a couple years ago.
Add us as a preferred source on Google