The Edmonton Oilers have already started reshaping the organization after a shocking first-round playoff exit against the Anaheim Ducks, firing head coach Kris Knoblauch in an effort to spark some change.
With pressure mounting to maximize the Stanley Cup window during Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s prime years, Edmonton’s front office is expected to stay aggressive this offseason.
Now, one NHL analyst has linked a familiar face to the Oilers as a possible free-agent target, a towering 6-foot-7 right-shot defenseman who Edmonton brass is more than familiar with.
6’7” Right-Shot Defenseman Linked to Oilers in Free Agency
The player generating speculation is former Oilers defenseman Vincent Desharnais, who spent last season with the San Jose Sharks after bouncing around the league over the last two years.
After leaving Edmonton, Desharnais was traded from Vancouver to the Pittsburgh Penguins before eventually landing in San Jose. He is now set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after completing a two-year, $4 million contract.
Now, there’s growing belief he could return to Edmonton as the Oilers search for more size (6′7″), physicality, and defensive reliability on the blue line.
The Athletic’s Oilers analyst Allan Mitchell suggested the Oilers shouldn’t stop with shutdown defenseman Connor Murphy, whom they acquired at the trade deadline, and should also look at adding another physical right-shot blueliner like Vincent Desharnais.
“Edmonton lacked depth in this area (rugged play while also being good in coverage) and specifically had trouble in the playoffs on the penalty kill,” Mitchell wrote.
Mitchell also pointed at Desharnais’ defensive metrics as a reason Edmonton should take a serious look at bringing him back. “Puck IQ has the veteran playing well above average versus elites relative to the team while with the San Jose Sharks in 2025-26. NHL Edge has the big man’s max speed in the 70th percentile last season, an impressive number considering his age and size,” Mitchell added.
Edmonton’s defensive play was a season-long concern throughout 2025-26 and ultimately played a major role in the team’s disappointing playoff exit.
While the Oilers finished first in the NHL with a 30.6 percent power play, their defensive numbers told a completely different story. Edmonton ranked 25th in goals against per game at 3.23 and finished 20th on the penalty kill at 77.8 percent.
Those struggles have only intensified criticism surrounding the organization’s inability to build a championship-caliber defensive group around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. With Edmonton searching for affordable ways to strengthen its blue line, a reunion with Desharnais could make plenty of financial sense as well.
The Oilers are projected to have roughly $16.5 million in cap space this offseason, and Desharnais is unlikely to command an expensive long-term contract on the open market. His familiarity with the organization, combined with his size and penalty-killing ability, could make him an appealing depth option for Edmonton’s revamped blue line.
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For now, it remains unclear how aggressively Edmonton plans to pursue him once free agency opens.
