As the July 1st 2026 NHL free agent market opens, many are calling it one of the weakest free agent classes in a long time. It could become a class that goes down in infamy for the number of poor contracts that get handed out.
Despite this, the Edmonton Oilers have the chance to grab some impact players to fill out their roster and address positions of need like their secondary scorers and goaltenders. The focus right for this article is a player that could help their secondary scoring.
Jonathan Drouin
Announced Tuesday on the eve of free agency opening that the St. Louis Blues intended to buy out the contract of Jonathan Drouin. He played just nine games with the club after being acquired at the trade deadline in a deal that saw Brayden Schenn go the other way.
Drouin, 31, had one season left on his two-year contract, paying him $4 million annual average value. He has played 671 career NHL games having scored 111 goals and 287 assists for 398 points. Drouin is just two seasons removed from a career high season that saw him score 19 goals and 37 assists for 56 points in 79 games played. This past year he played in 64 games for the New York Islanders and Blues, scoring four goals and 20 assists for 24 points.
Drouin was once one of the most highly touted prospects in the NHL, being selected third overall at the 2013 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has had some up and down seasons throughout his career with some years lacking the production but he has also struggled with injuries which has limited his productivity and availability.
Even still, he has scored at a 0.50 points per game pace or better in nine of the past ten seasons, with the only year below being this past season between the Islanders and Blues. If he was given a top-nine spot with the Oilers, playing alongside players such as; Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard, it is conceivable how he could easily get back to his scoring ways.
Regardless of the likelihood of Drouin's bounce back, it must be admitted there is risk to signing him. It can be assumed that the Blues explored trade opportunities and had no takers. Given this, it is likely that Drouin would not cost as much and could be a decent value addition depending on the AAV.
If the Oilers can get him in on a one or two year 'prove it' deal, they should pursue it. If he can produce 50 points or more, it would make him the most productive forward not named McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, or Hyman since Jordan Eberle in 2016-17.
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