The Buyout Window is officially open.

It’s become somewhat of a tradition for the Edmonton Oilers to utilize such a window, as my colleague Cam Lewis pointed out Thursday, with the team buying out Lauri Korpikoski in 2016, Benoit Pouliot in 2017, Eric Gryba in 2018, Andrej Sekera in 2019, James Neal in 2021, and Jack Campbell in 2024.

They’ve certainly tried to avoid dead cap money in recent years, but will still have to account for $ 2.3 million in each of the next two seasons for Campbell’s buyout, and $1.5 million for the three years that follow.

But make no mistake, the Oilers are tight to the salary cap — once again — and while they would surely love to avoid cap penalties as best as possible, it may not always be the case.

Still, there are a couple of options for the Oilers if they do want to utilize the window. Let’s dive in with help from our friends at PuckPedia.

This one is obvious.

The Edmonton Oilers and Evander Kane appear destined for a breakup this offseason, with reports surfacing that there could be a market for him, months after the team shopped him ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. A 16-team no-trade list could complicate things in that market, and while they would surely want to get out from the entirety of his contract, there’s a possibility they look to buy him out.

With one year left on a deal carrying a $5.125-million cap hit, the Oilers would save $2,666,667 against the cap next year, and a $-1,333,333 cap hit in 2026-27.

Kane has been a solid player for the Oilers, scoring 62 goals and 111 points in 161 regular-season games, and 26 goals and 42 points in 68 playoff games. He had 16 goals and 22 points across 27 games in his first two postseasons in Edmonton, but has scored just 10 goals and 20 points in his last 41 playoff games over the last two playoffs.

Some of that dip in production came during last year’s playoff run, where he was dealing with a litany of injuries, but the deeper the Oilers got in the playoffs this year, the more Kane faded away. So much so that he took himself out of the series due to penalty troubles, and then in the final minutes of Game 6 against the Panthers, got a slashing penalty and a game misconduct for going after Matthew Tkachuk — declining to come out for the handshake line after the Panthers lifted the cup.

Arvidsson is another player who is likely off to a different pasture this summer.

The signing didn’t work out as planned for the Oilers, as he scored just 15 goals and 27 points in 67 regular-season games, and two goals and seven points in 15 playoff games. His ice time dipped in the postseason, and he found himself in the press box during points of three of the Oilers’ four series.

His buyout looks the same as Kane’s: the Oilers would save $2,666,667 against the cap next year, and a $-1,333,333 cap hit in 2026-27.

Much like with Kane, the Oilers would surely love to move out all of his $4 million cap hit by way of a trade, rather than going the buyout route. His no-movement clause could change things.

The last of the three falls into a similar category as Arvidsson: someone the Oilers were hoping for a little bit more from. It’s not that I think Henrique was bad, per se, but the aging curve has hit him hard at 34, and the Oilers need to get younger and faster. For Henrique, he unfortunately doesn’t fit either bill at this point in his career.

His buyout is simple: one year of $ 2 million in savings, one year of $1 million in penalties. He, like Arvidsson, has a no movement clause, so that could change how things progress, but there was word when he signed in Edmonton that the Winnipeg Jets would’ve been all over him in free agency. Could they still have an interest?

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

Star Mechanical is one of Edmonton’s biggest locally owned and operated plumbing and heating businesses. They have been working within the community for over 20 years, and many of the homes built in Edmonton over the last two decades have had their plumbing and heating systems installed by Star Mechanical.  Visit them at starmechanical.ca to schedule an appointment and let them help keep your home running smoothly.