In a perfect free-agent world — OK, July 1 is as much fantasy as frenzy — the Oilers will find enough money to keep trade deadline additions, third-line centre Jason Dickinson and right-shot defenceman Connor Murphy.
They need both back in this win-now situation, if they can squeeze both into a rising projected $104-million salary cap for the 2026-27 season with eight unrestricted free-agents, along with restricted free-agent fourth-line winger Colton Dach and seventh defenceman Spencer Stastney.
Right now, the Oilers have $16.5 million in available cap space for next season but with only 15 players signed, so something has to give here.
They need Dickinson, who broke his ankle late in the season when hit by friendly fire from Murphy, his ex Chicago Blackhawks teammate, to play significant minutes in the middle especially if coach Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch decides to put Leon Draisaitl on the wing with Connor McDavid so there’s an extra 22 minutes for the centres.
They need Murphy, the back-fill replacement for Brett Kulak defensively after Kulak was moved to Pittsburgh along with goalie Stuart Skinner so the money would work in the Tristan Jarry pick-up last December, to continue as their first-pairing penalty-kill guy, and a shutdown defenceman. He averaged 21:17 a game against the Ducks.
Dickinson, 31 in July, and Murphy, 33, aren’t in any hurry to leave a team with McDavid and Draisaitl, both enthusiastic about their short-time here, on the ice and with their families, but money talks and this is a very shallow free-agent pool with lots of buyers and not much inventory. So we’ll see.
‘Trying to feed off each other’
Despite being injured, Dickinson played well in the playoffs, scoring three points, including two goals in the team’s Game 1 win, but he was severely compromised.
“It was hard seeing what he was going through because I did it. It feels horrible. I hit him with the shot in San Jose and took him out. He’s really tough, as long as I’ve known through him he pushes through injuries,” said Murphy.
“We were trying to feed off each other coming in. You want to see your friends succeed and that first playoff game, the two goals for us, that was really cool.”
Edmonton Oilers forward Jason Dickinson scores a goal against Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal during first period NHL playoff action at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Monday April 20, 2026.
Dickinson jammed his foot in his boot, averaging 12:14 game, but was far from as effective as he wanted to be against the Ducks.
“Really frustrating… I came here with one goal in mind and one thing I wanted to achieve and to go into the playoffs not feeling my best sucked,” said Dickinson.
“It was hard mentally to wrap my head around. I really was day-to-day. I would wake up and if the ankle was swollen I could gauge how much I could do that day. How much pain I could handle or even get on the ice,” said Dickinson, who missed Game 2 and 3.
How did he get those two goals in Game 1, with the broken foot wedged into his skate boot, after he took a shot off his leg while standing in front of the net in San Jose on April 8?
“A ton of adrenaline. To be honest that was the best I felt. I hadn’t been on the ice for 10 days, so it was OK. But putting the foot back into the boot after that, felt worse,” he said.
“A few more days of rest would have been great but the doctors did a great job making me comfortable. Game 2, there was no chance I would play. When I got to the rink, they looked at it and said no way. After that it was manageable.
“In Game 5 I wasn’t feeling great and sometimes I would take 15 or 20 second shifts, analyzing where the puck was turned over and whether we had a chance (to score). Was it worth it to get stuck out there on an extended shift. I definitely noticed (ankle) in that game and in others when the numbing was wearing off and I was feeling the pain again before I could see the doc again.”
Dickinson’s injury should take four-to-six weeks for the bone to heal, and he said his off-season training won’t be compromised.
‘Loved it here’
After playing for the rebuilding Blackhawks, who been high up in NHL draft lottery for the last four years, Dickinson, would like to stick around with the Oilers.
“I want to win, I want to see success and then I want to take care of my family. Where is best for my girls, where it can be stable and secure,” he said.
“Loved it here. The crowd was amazing, the organization treats us fantastic, the city feels like home… I said to my wife it just feels like were driving around home and playing hockey. Everything feels so natural here,” said Dickinson, who made $4.25 million with the Hawks.
Murphy was everything the Oilers wanted in a shutdown defenceman, strong on the puck, strong on the opponent. He worked very nicely with Darnell Nurse as a partner.
“It was exciting from the day of being traded, I don’t know… it gave me a renewed sense of desperation to build my game and play in the playoffs,” said Murphy.
“It’s brutal to be out this early but it’s good to know what that intensity felt like. The pressure was exciting. I’m grateful to have been able to do that here. Definitely gives fuel for the off-season to keep pushing and to go farther.
“I do want to be back with the Oilers. You’re in one place so long, nine years in Chicago, and you build a bond with that city and team but to have a new challenge, new people to feed off is really unique to experience. I’m hopeful to continue that.
Defenceman Connor Murphy speaks to the media after the Edmonton Oilers were eliminated in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, in Edmonton on Saturday May 2, 2026.
‘Being here was awesome’
Maybe the Oilers would rather not go any longer than three years because of his age but he’s younger than Mattias Ekholm, who turns 36 this month. He starts a three-year extension at $4 million AAV this upcoming season. So maybe four years for Murphy, who made $4.4 million in Chicago to keep him.
“There’s always a fit, a team has to want you, your family has to want it. My son, who is almost two, could be anywhere but my wife has really jelled with all the wives and girlfriends here,” said Murphy.
“Winning should be the No. 1 priority for everyone, you want to win a Stanley Cup. That’s why you play. I’ve been at the bottom of the standings for a lot of years and it’s brutal. You feel you’re passing time until you get to the next season to build something.
“Being here was awesome and I want to be part of a good group that can go on deep runs.”
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