This in from Edmonton Oilers Bob Stauffer, host of Oilers Now, his salary estimates for key Edmonton free agents Connor Ingram, Connor Murphy, Jason Dickinson, Kasperi Kapanen, and Jack Roslovic
Stauffer, a top NHL insider, started out by saying he expects the Oilers to retain restricted free agents Colton Dach and Spencer Stastney, estimating the team was going to need four new forwards, one new defenceman and one goaltender.
“I could see Connor Ingram, a two-year extension maybe, two (million per year) or low twos. Connor Murphy… He made $4.4 (million) last year. My guess is $3.5 (million) to $4 million on a three-year term. Dickinson, he got paid well by Chicago. They also had to get to the (salary cap) floor. I think somebody is going to step up and pay him to be a 3C. I would think that he could probably get $3.75 to $4.25 (milllion per year) on a four-year deal. Kapanen, for me, $2.0 to $2.5 (million per year) on a three-year deal. Roslovic, not sure it’s going to be in Edmonton. I think somebody will sign him at least three years at $3 million (per year) bucks. So those are some of the guys we might end up seeing getting signed here.”
As for the future of goalie Tristan Jarry, Stauffer said, “I think we got to see either you flip Jarry (in a trade), or conversely you give him the opportunity to come back with vengeance. I’m going to tell you this right now. He’s going to be staying around (this summer), and he’s going to be training here in Edmonton under the watchful eye of Chad Drummond. I would expect Jarry to be a good bet for a bounce back.”
Stauffer also addressed speculation from NHL insider Frank Seravalli that the Oilers were likely going to replace coach Kris Knoblauch.
“I can confirm Frank Seravalli said that,” Stauffer said. “Again, I’d say that on-going evaluation (is happening of the coaches) and I did not envision that the full coaching staff would be back as is. It’s different what I’m saying. But Frank is entitled to his opinion.”
Final
My take
1. First off, the multitudes of fans hoping for a new Oilers head coach might well be displeased that Stauffer or the Oilers themselves failed to announce a coaching change.
But why would we expect such confirmation until a new coach has worked out a new deal with Edmonton? There’s no use in replacing Knoblauch unless the Oilers are certain they can bring in someone better.
That said, with all the speculation, Edmonton would do well to move quickly here before the issue becomes unsettling for the franchise.
2. Ingram would be well worth the two-year deal at $2.0 million per, as Stauffer mentioned. Ingram was solid in the regular season and wasn’t the primary culprit in the playoffs. Injuries and the team’s rancid defence were the main culprits.
As for Jarry, he was never the same after his December injury. He needs to strengthen his body and sharpen his movement in net. A full summer of work can only help, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see him moved in a goalie-for-goalie trade, even for Jordan Binnington of the Blues, who appears to have worn out his welcome in St. Louis.
3. I don’t mind the Oilers paying Connor Murphy $4 million per year. He’s worth it, based on how well he played in the 2026 playoffs, one of the few Oilers d-men who successfully cleared the front of the net and willingly and ably blocked shots. He was also safe with the puck, which is more than we can say with most Oilers d-men in the playoffs.
But a four-year term for Murphy? Hmm.
Murphy would be 37 in his final year. He’s not a fast or agile player now. And most NHL d-men, even the best ones, fall off a cliff in terms of their performance by age 35, with almost none of them left in the NHL at that age.
That said, the Oilers need Murphy and Murphy was a great fit on the Oilers. The Oilers especially need Murphy in the two-year term of McDavid’s latest contract. He’s a decent bet to play solid hockey next year and maybe for another year or two.
4. Jack Roslovic is a solid attacker, but he got little done in the playoffs, he’s not a solid defender and he’s moving out of his peak years. At the price of $3 million per season, the Oilers would do well to pass and instead bet on Ike Howard, Quinn Hutson and/or Viljama Marjala, three much younger and highly skilled attackers. Colton Dach and Max Jones could also be around to add size and aggression.
5. Kasperi Kapanen played his best hockey for the Oilers in the playoffs. It would be great to retain him, but he’s been inconsistent so not betting the bank on him also makes sense. The three-year deal suggested by Stauffer is reasonable for both sides.
6. Jason Dickinson will be 31 this coming season. He’s a solid player but that’s a steep price to pay for a player who regularly gets fewer than ten goals a season. Perhaps at that price and that term he’ll go elsewhere as well. The Oilers have a younger replacement in Josh Samanski.
The better bet is on Samanski, at least if that’s the price for Dickinson.