Right now, it’s not looking good for the back-to-back Western Conference champions. Leon Draisaitl is out for the regular season and his status for the start of the playoffs is up in the air. That is if the Oilers even make the playoffs, as they have a four-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings, who have a game in hand.

Captain Connor McDavid had some interesting quotes following Saturday’s 5-2 defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Oilers just can’t seem to get anything going. Assuming they make the playoffs, it seems like they may not be in it for long, which will force the Oilers to make some changes in the off-season.

Who knows what those changes will be, but there are a handful of players who are set to become unrestricted free agents come July 1, and in this article, we’ll take a look at whether the Oilers should re-sign them.

Jack Roslovic

Jack Roslovic remained a free agent until the start of the season before the Oilers swooped in to sign him to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million. The 25th overall pick in the 2015 draft has been streaky this season, but has 17 goals and 29 points in 58 games this season, which is on pace for 24 goals and 41 points over an 82-game season.

He’s missed some time due to injury this season, so 82 games is out of the question, but his point-per-game pace is one of the best in his career, as 24 goals would be the best mark of his career.

Roslovic isn’t a perfect player by any means, but he’s shown adaptability playing up and down the lineup, providing middle-six scoring since joining the team. The Oilers should definitely look to bring him back, and Bob Stauffer reported in January that there could be a four-year term on his extension.

Jason Dickinson

The Oilers sent a protected 2027 first and Andrew Mangiapane to the Chicago Blackhawks for Jason Dickinson ahead of the 2026 trade deadline. They don’t need him to be like he was in 2023-24 when he scored 22 goals and 35 points, but they need him to be better than what he’s shown since joining the team.

Dickinson is a strong defensive centre who can chip in on the scoresheet every now and then, as he has a goal and two points through nine games since joining the Oilers. Their penalty kill has been fine since adding Dickinson, but again, it needs to improve, and fast.

He’s a solid third-line centre who is better suited as fourth line centre on a contender. If the Oilers can sign him to a cheap deal, I think there’s an argument to be had that they should do it, but they have to avoid giving out a deal like they did to Adam Henrique following the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals.

Edmonton Oilers Jason Dickinson Jack Roslovic

Mar 12, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Jack Roslovic (28) and center Jason Dickinson (16) skate off the ice after Dickinson scores a goal against the Dallas Stars during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Adam Henrique

Like they did ahead of the 2026 trade deadline, the Oilers dished out a first-round pick on a bottom-six centre. Before the 2024 trade deadline, Henrique had 18 goals and 42 points in 60 games with the Anaheim Ducks, but that dropped to six goals and nine points in 22 regular-season games with the Oilers.

That was to be expected given a decreased role, but he had a strong post-season alongside Mattias Janmark and Connor Brown, scoring four goals and seven points. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives stop, as the Oilers signed him to a two-year deal with a cap hit of $3 million. It also includes a no-move clause, which has handcuffed the team in the cap department.

Henrique was fine in 2024-25, scoring 12 goals and 27 points in 81 games, with four goals and seven points in 22 games. However, he declined in 2025-26, scoring just two goals and 12 points in 54 games, while losing a step. Henrique still provides solid defence at the position and is a strong penalty killer, but the Oilers need to find a cheaper and younger solution.

Kasperi Kapanen

In February, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Oilers are looking to find more players who’d accept a bottom-six role like Kasperi Kapanen. They found that in Dickinson, and just like Dickinson, Kapanen is set to be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

Drafted 22nd overall in 2014, Kapanen was picked up off waivers from the St. Louis Blues last season and scored five goals and 13 points in 57 games. Added to the Oilers’ post-season lineup in the Vegas Golden Knights series, he ended their season with a Game 5 overtime winner and scored three goals and six points in 12 games.

He’s had poor luck with injuries this season, but has been a productive player when healthy, scoring seven goals and 15 points in 30 games. The Oilers were looking for more players like him ahead of the deadline, so you have to imagine there’s interest in bringing him back, given he can play up and down the lineup.

Connor Murphy

The Oilers acquired Connor Murphy from the Blackhawks ahead of the 2026 deadline, and he hasn’t been great in the nine games since the trade. While he’s scored a goal, Murphy is a -5 and the Oilers have 45.42 per cent of the expected goals while he’s been on the ice during five-on-five action. They’ve also been outshot and given up more scoring chances, but have generated one more high-danger scoring chances than the opposition.

Since joining the Oilers’ penalty kill, they’ve allowed just two goals with him on the ice, which totals about 17 minutes. He’s also playing a shutdown role, which means usually playing against elites, so his numbers aren’t going to be particularly great. I do like how he stepped in for Evan Bouchard on Saturday, though.

For me, it’s a “wait-and-see” type situation with Murphy. His only playoff action came with the Blackhawks during the 2019-20 season, also known as the bubble year. Even in junior hockey, he played just six playoff games. We’ll see how he does if the Oilers make it.

Edmonton Oilers Kasperi Kapanen Connor Murphy

Mar 13, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Edmonton Oilers right wing Kasperi Kapanen (42) reacts after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Max Jones

Traded alongside Trent Frederic before the 2025 trade deadline, Max Jones was all over the place in his first game as an Oiler, ending his 2024-25 season with a goal and two points in 19 games with the Oilers.

Jones has mainly played with the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors this season, scoring 10 goals and 18 points in 39 games, but he’s been a noticeable fourth-liner when in the Oilers’ lineup this season, scoring twice with three points in 12 games.

Sometimes, it feels as if the Oilers have had an issue with complacency this season, but Jones is playing for a job. Sign me up for a league-minimum deal for a player who’d split his time between the AHL and NHL.

Curtis Lazar

Former Edmonton Oil King Curtis Lazar has just three goals and five points in 38 games this season, but here’s a hot take for you: The Oilers are better with Lazar in the lineup. When he is in the lineup, they are 22-13-3. Without him, the Oilers are 12-15-6.

Can Lazar carry a team like Connor McDavid? Of course not, but Lazar is a defensively reliable right-shot centre with a 61.4 faceoff percentage this season. Like Jones, if there’s a possibility of getting Lazar on a league-minimum deal, the Oilers should do it as he’s a solid 13th forward.

Connor Ingram

As I write this, Connor Ingram’s numbers are shockingly similar to Stuart Skinner’s before he was traded for Tristan Jarry. Ingram has played one more game, but has the same goals against average, played just four fewer minutes, and has a similar save percentage and record. Really, the Ingram/Skinner tandem should’ve been given a chance before any trade for a netminder.

Unfortunately, that trade happened, and the Oilers acquired Jarry, who has an .855 save percentage and 4.17 goals against average in the 15 games. They can’t run back a tandem of Jarry and Ingram, and that’s not really indicative of Ingram.

If they can somehow get out of Jarry’s contract and get a legitimate starter (like Juuse Saros), bringing back Ingram on a show-me deal wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.