Overall, general manager Stan Bowman added seven players to the organization through free agency and trades, while re-signing two more players on July 1.

It’s Bowman’s second complete go-round in Edmonton for free agency, as the 2024 signing season began with CEO Jeff Jackson at the helm. Those manoeuvres have been protected with no-move and no-trade clauses, and have largely been swings and misses.

One thing Oilers fans should like about the signings is that they still give Edmonton flexibility, unlike the Trent Frederic signing, for example. As they continue their business, the Oilers have $7.253 million in cap space, but multiple restricted free agents like Colton Dach and Shakir Mukhamadullin who need new deals.

While Frederik Andersen’s contract is a little complicated, the rest are fairly straightforward. There are some clauses worth knowing.

Ryan Shea: Five years, $20 million

Shea signed for the most money among Bowman’s deals. His contract has a cap hit of $4 million.

In year one, Shea’s salary is $2.5 million, while $1.5 million applies against the cap as a signing bonus. There are no performance bonuses. Otherwise, the remaining four years of his contract are straightforward. Each season, his base salary and cap hit mirror each other at $4 million.

For the first two years, Shea has a full no-trade clause, but that changes in the last three seasons to a modified no-trade clause. That means in years three-to-five, he has a 10-team no-trade list he can enforce if the Oilers are looking to move him to an undesired destination.

Shea was previously on a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Upon his signing on July 1, Shea’s annual average compensation takes 3.9 per cent of the Oilers’ total salary cap. His deal ends in 2031, when he turns 34.

Frederik Andersen: One-year, $2.8 million (incl. bonuses)

Andersen’s contract is a little tricky. For example, his cap hit is $1 million, which is also his base salary.

But the average annual compensation over the term of the contract, including potential performance bonuses – explained by PuckPedia as the total contract value divided by the contract length – is $2.8 million.

Here’s how the bonuses are laid out.

If Andersen plays 10 games: $600,000
If Andersen plays 20 games: $400,000
If Andersen wins a playoff round where he plays half or more of the games: $200,000

So for Andersen to earn the full $2.8 million, he would have to play 20 regular-season games, and the Oilers must win the Stanley Cup with Andersen playing a feature role in each series victory.

Otherwise, his deal includes a no-move clause, meaning he can’t be sent on waivers, and a modified 15-team no-trade list. Overall, his contract eats up 0.96 per cent of the Oilers’ salary cap.

He’ll be 37 when it expires in 2027.

Kasperi Kapanen: One year, $2.6 million

The Oilers re-upped Kapanen with a fairly straightforward deal. Kapanen’s AAV and cap hit are both $2.6 million, but his base salary is $2 million. He took home a $600,000 signing bonus.

There was neither a no-move nor a no-trade clause, nor any performance bonuses. Kapanen doubles his money from the one-year, $1.3 million contract he signed with Edmonton last off-season.

Overall, it represents 2.5 per cent of the Oilers’ cap. It expires in 2027, when he will be 30.

Mathieu Joseph: One year, $1 million

Nothing special to know about this contract. His cap hit, AAV, and base salary are $1 million. There are no clauses or bonuses, so nothing is stopping Joseph from going on waivers.

It’s worth noting Joseph’s contract history, which featured a contract termination.

In July 2022, Joseph signed a four-year deal with the Ottawa Senators at a $2.95 million cap hit. After two seasons in Ottawa and a career-high 35 points in 2023-24, he was traded to St. Louis as a cap casualty. The Sens needed to sign Shane Pinto and attached a third-round pick to take Joseph’s contract. After a season and a half in St. Louis, Joseph was placed on unconditional waivers this March for the purpose of termination.

Subsequently, the Los Angeles Kings then signed Joseph to a pro-rated one-year, $900,000 contract. He went pointless in a dozen regular-season games and two playoff appearances with LA.

Joseph’s deal represents 0.96 per cent of the Oilers’ cap. He will be 30 when it expires next summer.

Max Jones: One year, $850,000

Another straightforward deal where the $850,000 represents the cap hit, AAV, and base salary. Again, there are no clauses or bonuses, so nothing is stopping Jones from going on waivers.

This is a slight downgrade in pay for Jones, who just finished a two-year deal signed by the Boston Bruins, earning $1 million per season.

In total, this contract represents 0.82 per cent of the Oilers’ cap, and Jones will be 29 when it expires.

Eduards Tralmaks: one year, $850,000

Tralmaks’ contract is a one-year, but two-way contract for the journeyman pro, who has not played an NHL game. The $850,000 represents the cap hit, AAV, and base salary. However, his minors salary would drop to $400,000.

It is noted by PuckPedia that he is guaranteed $450,000.

This is Tralmarks’ second NHL contract and a raise for the Latvian. The Detroit Red Wings signed him from the Czech League last March at a $775,000 cap hit and base salary, where minor league salary was $225,000.

The contract represents 0.8 per cent of the Oilers’ cap and Tralmaks will be 30 when it expires.

Shakir Mukhamadullin: (RFA) No current contract

Part of the Darnell Nurse trade, Mukhamadullin will need a contract.

He is 24-year-old restricted free agent who just completed a one-year, $1 million contract with the San Jose Sharks. Mukhamadullin is eligible for arbitration, as well as waivers eligible. He could also be signed to an offer sheet.

San Jose did give Mukhamadullin a qualifying offer at $1 million. His UFA year is 2029.

Devon Levi: One year remaining

Perhaps the most intriguing move by the Oilers on July 1, Devon Levi has one more year remaining on his two-year contract with a cap hit and AAV of $812,500. His base salary increases in 2026-27 to $850,000, which is the same if he plays in the minors.

He’ll be 25 when the contract expires and remain a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. Levi is also waivers eligible. The Oilers control his signing rights until 2029, when he becomes a UFA.

Zach Sharp: No contract

Sharp was a fourth-round pick by the Sharks in 2025 and has not signed an NHL contract yet in his career. Thrown into the Nurse trade, the young defender has played two seasons with Western Michigan in the NCAA.

It’s anticipated he’ll return to Western Michigan for the 2026-27 season.

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.